Encinitas Grant Program Now Accepting Applications

The City of Encinitas and Mizel Family Foundation Community Grant Program (CGP) will begin accepting applications Monday, March 3.

Now in its 17th year, the CGP works to support nonprofits that directly serve Encinitas residents. Grants of up to $5,000 each are given to groups in two categories: Civic (social, recreation, education, health and the environment) and Arts (visual, performing and literary arts, and arts education). That money funds many worthwhile community efforts and activities, such as: school and library programs, public art exhibits and concerts, books for children, yoga for seniors and holiday baskets for families in need.

Since 2007, the Mizel Family Foundation has remained steadfast in its commitment to make a dollar-for-dollar matching donation, thereby doubling the funding for the program. “This is the 8th year of our partnership with the Mizel Family Foundation. We are deeply grateful for their significant contribution for the benefit of residents in the five communities of Encinitas,” said Mayor Teresa Arballo Barth.  

Starting Monday, March 3, 2014 applications will be available for download on the Grant page on the city website: encinitasca.gov/grant.  Hard copies of the application are available in the lobby of Encinitas City Hall, 505 S. Vulcan Avenue Encinitas, CA 92024. The deadline to submit applications is Thursday, April 17, 3 p.m.

In an effort to encourage participation, a series of free workshops will also be offered.

For first-time applicants, a New Applicant Workshop will be held on Monday, March 10, 4:00-5:00pm at the Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Dr. A reservation is required and can be made by sending an email to City Manager Executive Assistant Gina Zenns at  gzenns@encinitasca.gov.

“I have applied for CPG grants, the process takes some time but it is not complex,” said Twink Bumann, Encinitas Preservation Association board member. “It’s great that the city holds workshops for first-time grant applicants, I encourage people to attend.”

A Grant Writing Workshop for nonprofit organizations will be held on Monday, April 7, from 2-5 p.m. at Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Dr. Reservations are required and can be made by sending an email to info@coastalfoundation.org  

“Successful grant seeking is a combination of doing research to find the appropriate potential funding source, following the grant guidelines and preparing a well-written proposal. This workshop will cover the essentials of writing a grant proposal,” said Sharon Omahen, Executive Director of the Coastal Community Foundation. Hand to Hand, a women’s fund at CCF and the City are sponsoring the workshop.

Applications will be reviewed by an Evaluation Panel comprised of members from five city commissions.  Recommendations for funding will be forwarded to the City Council; grant allocations will be determined at the council meeting on Wednesday, June 18 at 6 p.m. For more information, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 760-633-2610.

—City of Encinitas