The City is calling upon local organizations providing community, environmental, or social services that benefit our residents to apply for a Council Discretionary Grant. The deadline to apply is March 13, 2026, at 5:00 PM. 

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, organizations must meet the following criteria:

• Must be located within the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea or providing services to its community.
• Must be designated as a non-profit 501 ( c ) organization or a Carmel school.
• Must directly provide the community service(s) for which City funds are sought.
• Must be clear of any outstanding debt due to the City.
• Must not be financially dependent upon receiving City support to meet the organization’s annual budget and operational requirements.

Before applying, please review the eligibility requirements and evaluation process outlined in City Council Policy C17-01 Council Discretionary Funds Grants, and view the grant application questions.

How to Apply

To submit a grant application:

 1) Complete the online application form HERE

• If you would like to view the questions on the grant application first, you may view them here:  

2) Email the following documents to the City Clerk at cityclerk@ci.carmel.ca.us:

• Proof of 501( c ) status or school documentation
• Current annual operating budget
• Past two years’ financial statements

Application Deadline

Applications and the required documents must be submitted no later than the deadline of Friday, March 13, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Review Process

Please be aware that the funding available for this grant program is undetermined and will be decided during the City’s budget deliberation process in May and June. While all applications submitted by the deadline will be considered, it’s important to note that not all applicants may receive funding.  The maximum grant per application is $3,000.

Stay Informed

To receive email updates about future grant opportunities, sign up HERE and select “Discretionary Grants.”

Questions?

For any inquiries, contact Nova Romero, City Clerk at nromero@ci.carmel.ca.us or (831) 620-2016