Community Composting for Green Spaces, Cycle 5 (FY 2021-22)

Departmental Grant ID:
883
Portal ID:
173703
Status:
Closed
Open Date:
3/15/26 00:00
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:
 | 

Details

Purpose:

The purpose of this program is to provide opportunities to increase the number of small- scale composting programs supporting green spaces and expand community knowledge about the benefits of compost use and proper composting techniques. This cycle is dedicated to continuing supporting the work of Cycle 2 grantees that were originally awarded with FY 2021–22 funds.

Description:

Staff proposes to use the same eligibility criteria and evaluation process that was used in FY 2021-22, Cycle 2 - Regional Cycle, except as described under the Proposed Changes section and summarized below.

1. Limited eligible applicants to grantees funded in Cycle 2 of the Program.

2. Change in funding distribution.

3. Allow ongoing support costs to previously funded sites.

4. Change from application scoring to evaluation process.

This is the fifth cycle of the Community Composting for Green Spaces Grant Program. The purpose of this grant program is to increase the number of community groups operating small-scale composting programs supporting green spaces within Priority Population communities. This effort will also increase local composting capacity while expanding community knowledge about the benefits of compost use and proper composting techniques. Green spaces include community gardens, urban farms, and other public spaces where small-scale composting is appropriate. This program will assist community groups in overcoming barriers to starting and managing community-based composting programs by providing targeted resources. 

Eligible Projects Eligible grant projects include regional plans for outreach for the grant project and collaboration with community groups on the creation, improvement, or expansion of community composting sites throughout the Region to increase composting of organics and reduce generation of methane from organic waste decomposing in landfills with a focus on providing benefits to Priority Populations. Project Requirements • All project sites must be located in California. • Site selection must include a focus on project sites within or benefiting Priority Populations and prioritize that population in the following order. 1. Project sites located in and serving communities identified as disadvantaged communities. 2. Project sites located in and serving communities identified as low-income communities. 3. Project sites providing benefits to, but not located in, communities identified as disadvantaged or low-income communities. • All project sites must result in the creation of new, improved, or expanded community composting sites. o Support costs for previously funded sites are allowed. • Grantee must provide proof that the project site is authorized for use for the grant term. • Project sites must be within the Region the applicant applies for. Exceptions may be made to allow project sites in or overlapping with a neighboring region near the border upon approval by the Grant Manager. • Project sites must be publicly accessible for at least four hours per week. • Project sites must include testing of compost produced at each project site at least once during grant term for quality and safety, including metal concentrations, physical contamination levels, and pathogen levels; and for specific characteristics, including pH, soluble salts, nutrient content, organic matter, maturity, stability, and physical contaminants (i.e., inerts, including glass, metal, and plastic). 

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Nonprofit

Limited eligible applicants to grantees funded in Cycle 2 of the Program.

Eligible applicants include Nonprofit organizations limited to California Alliance for Community Composting and LA Compost.

Nonprofit organizations must be registered with the federal government under 501(c)3, (c)4, (c)6 or (c)10 of the Internal Revenue Code and must be registered in the State of California with the Department of Justice.

Eligible Geographies:

Project sites must be within the Region the applicant applies for.

California Alliance for Community Composting will be eligible for funding to assist with community composting throughout all regions of California except for the Greater Los Angeles Region.

LA Compost is eligible for funding to assist with community composting in the Greater Los Angeles Region (Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties).

Important Dates

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.
The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
4/6/2026
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
2 years

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$2,758,311
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.
2
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.
$689,578 – $2,068,734
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
No
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
No
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:

California Climate Investments uses billions of Cap-and-Invest dollars to fund projects that reduce harmful emissions, protect public health, strengthen local economies, and support natural environments. With a strong focus on communities most impacted by pollution and limited access to resources, California Climate Investments helps build a more equitable and sustainable future.

Funding reallocated from terminated Organics Cycle 7 grant.

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:

The funding distribution is simplified to mirror the distribution of grant awards in Cycle 2. California Alliance for Community Composting is eligible for up to 75 percent of the available funding and LA Compost is eligible for up to 25 percent of the available funding to assist with community composting in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

How to Apply

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

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
1-916-341-6227, GHGReductions@calrecycle.ca.gov