Direct Community Grants

During the budget development process, City Council has historically awarded grants to community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide services, programs, and resources to Oakland residents. The awarded grants support the organizations by providing a funding source to ensure the continuity or expansion of the service or programs provided. During the FY 2021-23 Biennial Budget cycle, City Council requested that staff return with a process and recommendation to award direct community grants. The process recommended mitigates inequitable grant awarding by conducting a fair process through a Request For Proposal (RFP) where all Oakland CBOs and non-profits are afforded the opportunity to request grant funding for programs or services that align with Council priorities. This process directly supports the City’s efforts to “increase fairness and opportunity for all people”, considers equitable impact in the budgeting of city revenues, significantly reduces the grant agreement execution time, and supports a responsible government by evaluating the grant programs successes or shortcomings for future granting consideration.

In each year, the proposed budget includes $750,000 in the General Purpose Fund (1010) for any governmental purpose and $300,000 in the Measure BB - Paratransit Fund (2220) for paratransit meal access or other eligible expenditures. Click here for the 2023 Direct Community Grant Eligibility List & Proposal Summary.