CFMC Grants

Community Fund for Carmel Valley

Founded in 2020, the Community Fund for Carmel Valley (CFCV) is an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County.

The CFCV provides grants to organizations that benefit the communities of the Carmel Valley/Cachagua area which is defined as Highway One to Cahoon Grade.

2026 Application Due: August 7, 2026 by 11:59 PM or earlier

Eligibility

Grants will be considered for projects and programs serving Carmel Valley and Cachagua communities.

501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
Public programs, such as school activities and programs not included in normal curricula, parks, public health, etc.
Organizations and collaboratives that are not legally incorporated—for these, CFMC requires an agreement with a “Fiscal Sponsor” defined as a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization accountable for financial management of the grant
Faith-based sponsored activities with benefits to the entire community (e.g. a food pantry)
Organizations may only submit one application. However, if an organization is serving as a fiscal sponsor for a collaborative or unincorporated group, they can also apply for a grant to benefit their organization

Funding will be considered for the following types of requests:

Program Support: for the expansion or refinement of existing programs, as well as new programs that show the promise of impact and sustainability
Operating Support: unrestricted grants to organizations

Guidelines and Application

The CFCV seeks to support nonprofit organizations that have the leadership and capacity to provide important community resources and services in Carmel Valley and Cachagua communities. In 2025, priority is given to the following types of requests:

Community Development: Build community, improve infrastructure, and meet local needs
Youth & Seniors: Expand youth and/or senior programming and services
Resident Programs: Support education, cultural, and historical programs

Special consideration will be given to grant applications addressing:

Organizations currently providing services directly located in Carmel Valley/Cachagua, with ease of access for residents
Basic needs of Carmel Valley/Cachagua residents (food/housing security, youth programs, etc.)
Emergency Prevention and/or Response related to:
- Fire/Disaster needs (e.g., neighborhood organizing, education for disaster preparedness, etc.). Please contact us if you have questions about applying for a fire relief grant.

Preference is given to locally based organizations that have less access to other sources of support, and where a small grant can make a meaningful difference. Proposals selected for funding will demonstrate strong community support for the project or program and a viable plan for achieving results.

Read our Grant Guidelines for further details.

2026 CFCV Grant Guidelines

Important Dates


Applications Available	June 2026
Proposals Due	August 7, 2026
Funded Proposals Announced	October 2026

Apply

Evaluation

Within 12 months of the grant date, recipients will be expected to provide a written evaluation.

Recent Grants


Organization	Purpose	Amount Awarded
Carmel Valley Community Youth Center	Water Safety Classes	$4,000
Central Coast YMCA	Summer Camp at Tularcitos Elementary School	$4,000
Friends of Cachagua Children's Center	Summer Camp and Extracurricular Activities	$4,000
Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula	Support for Carmel Valley Residents' Meals	$4,000
MEarth	Healthy Food, Outdoor Learning and Summer Camp Access	$4,000
Monterey Bay Power Over Parkinson's	Support Carmel Valley residents with targeted exercise and wellness education	$3,000
Santa Lucia Conservancy	Integration of Local Indigenous Culture into Environmental Education	$4,000