Capacity Building Grant Budget and Ineligible Costs

The budget should be sufficiently detailed to describe project costs. The budget should be divided into five (5) or fewer tasks and consistent with the grant activities and project schedule. Justification must be provided for costs to ensure that they are cost effective and appropriate to the work proposed. Costs should include project management, which will include quarterly invoice summaries of work completed, quarterly virtual meetings, completing surveys, and a final report. Applicants should also budget two (2) hours per quarter for their project manager and other appropriate staff to attend virtual cohort meetings.

Please upload a project budget that matches grant activities with associated costs and includes staff time, contractors, direct costs, and indirect costs. Applicants must use the budget template provided. Please download the Budget Worksheets in your preferred file format (File >> Download). When you are ready to submit, simply save it as a PDF and upload your final file to the application where prompted.

Applicants can include an indirect/overhead rate of no more than 20% unless they have a federally approved NiCRA (Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate). Indirect costs include but are not limited to utilities, office space rental, phone service, and other administrative activities. If a grantee seeks to recover indirect costs, this item should be included as a line item in the approved project budget.

Match or cost share is the portion of the project cost not funded by the grant program, is provided by the applicant and/or other sources, and can be cash or in/kind, such as staff time to implement the project. Cost share is not required but applications with secured cost share that demonstrate contributions towards total project cost will score more budget points. Cost share should be funds that will be used to directly achieve the project objectives and will be spent during the project timeline. 

Availability of match will not be used as part of evaluation if the lead applicant is a land trust whose operating budget is less than $100,000 annually, project is located in or directly benefits a historically underserved community, and/or if partnered with a Tribe or Native-led organization.

Ineligible Costs

Grant funding may not be used for the following. 

• all costs incurred outside of the grant agreement term
• general operating support, including rent or other office expenses (unless part of budgeted indirect rate)
• accreditation or membership fees
• insurance premiums, property taxes, or other state/local/federal taxes
• land or easement acquisition costs
• endowments, legal defense, or reserve funds
• restoration costs and ongoing management/stewardship costs
• projects mandated to address a violation of, or an order to comply with, a law or regulation
• event sponsorship or event fundraising
• travel costs that do not adhere to state guidelines, out of state travel costs
• food, beverage, or entertainment costs
• fines, penalties, damages, and other settlements resulting from violations or noncompliance
• buildings and heavy equipment

Contact Information
Karin Winters, Program Director
E-mail:  [email protected]
Phone: 916-497-0272 x2
Book a meeting with Karin

Grant Guidelines

Resources and FAQs - updated

Webinar Recording & Slides
Download a PDF of the Webinar Slides.

Grant Timeline

*Applications from Native-led land trusts, or applications that include partnerships with underserved community organizations and/or Tribes or Native-led organizations may be submitted at any time. Please contact the CA Onward Program Director by September 20, 2024 to inform us of your intent to apply. For projects submitted after September 20, 2024, Funding is limited and will be provided as applications are received and evaluated.