Baldwin Hills & Urban Watersheds Conservancy (BH UWC) Proposition 4: Community and Climate Resilience Grant Program

Portal ID:
171510
Status:
Forecasted
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:
 | 

Details

Purpose:

The Baldwin Hills & Urban Watersheds Conservancy Proposition 4: Community and Climate Resilience Grant Program aim to award projects and programs that protect biodiversity; restore watershed function; and expand equitable access to parks and open space. 

Description:

The Climate Bond, Proposition 4: the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Senate Bill (SB) 867), was approved by voters in November 2024. It added Division 50 (Commencing with Section 80000) to the Public Resources Code (PRC). Section 93020 (a)(1) of Chapter 6: Protect Biodiversity and Accelerating Nature-Based Climate Solutions authorizes the Legislature to appropriate $48,000,000 (forty-eight million dollars) to the Baldwin Hills & Urban Watersheds Conservancy (Conservancy) for projects and programs that reduce the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources, and increase public access. Grant funds shall be awarded to projects and programs that: 

  • Produce direct, measurable, and non-speculative benefits; 
  • Improve climate resilience for Disadvantaged Communities (DACs), Severely Disadvantaged Communities (SDACs), Tribes, or vulnerable populations;  
  • Avoid creating burdens or harms to any vulnerable community; 
  • Demonstrate community engagement, co-design, or community-identified need; and/or 
  • Provide benefits reasonably proportional to the project’s scale and cost. 

The Conservancy shall ensure that Proposition 4 investments provide meaningful and direct benefits to Vulnerable Populations, DACs, SDACs, and Native American Tribes. These requirements implement the California Natural Resources Agency’s Meaningful and Direct Benefits Assessment Framework and ensure that climate-resilience investments advance equity, reduce climate burdens, and strengthen community capacity to adapt to climate impacts.  The Conservancy will utilize the BH UWC Community and Climate Resilience Framework to evaluate proposal applications for their ability to advance one or more of the Conservancy’s eight Community and Climate Resilience Goals: 

  1. Empower Safe and Resilient Communities
  2. Increase Access to Parks and Open Spaces
  3. Protect and Manage Water Resources
  4. Increase Biodiversity
  5. Advance Urban Forest Health
  6. Remediate Degraded Lands
  7. Mitigate Impacts from Extreme Heat
  8. Prevent Wildfire 

These goals ensure that Proposition 4 investments advance the Conservancy’s statutory mission and deliver direct, measurable, and equitable benefits to communities experiencing persistent underinvestment.  

Applications will be submitted in two phases: a Concept Proposal and a Full Application. It is strongly recommended that prospective applicants contact BH UWC staff and attend a grant workshop for a consultation prior to submitting a Concept Proposal. 

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Nonprofit
  • Public Agency
  • Tribal Government

  • State and Federal Entities
  • Local Public Agencies
  • Tribal Governments: Federally Recognized Native American Tribes; and Non-federally recognized California Native American Tribes listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.
  • Non-profit Organizations/Community-Based Organizations: U.S. Federal Income Tax-exempt organizations, 501(c) (3) designation or fiscally sponsored.

Eligible Geographies:

The jurisdictional territory extends approximately 70.2 square miles. Click here to see if your proposed project is within the service area: Map.

Matching Funding Requirement:

Matching funds may be provided in the form of:

  • Cash contributions,
  • In-kind services,
  • Staff time,
  • Donated materials or land value, or
  • Other eligible non-state funding sources

Important Dates

The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
Upon Board Approval
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
Typically 2 Years
Anticipated Open Date
Summer 2026

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$48,000,000
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
Yes ( see Description for details )
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
25%
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • State

Funding Source Notes:

The Climate Bond, Proposition 4: the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Senate Bill 867). Division 50 (Commencing with Section 80000) to the Public Resources Code; Section 93020 (a)(1) of Chapter 6: Protect Biodiversity and Accelerating Nature-Based Climate Solutions.

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Advances & Reimbursement(s)

Funding Method Notes:

BH UWC Grants are reimbursement-based, meaning funds are received after cost have been incurred for a BH UWC Board approved project. BH UWC, at its sole discretion, may honor advances, if warranted by a documented, compelling and immediate need.

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
Gail Krippner, 1-563-753-1736, info@bhc.ca.gov