Youth Community Access Grant Program (Round 4)

Who can apply

NonprofitPublic AgencyTribal Government

Eligible applicants include local or state public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and California Native American tribes.

Where: Statewide

Purpose

YCA Grants will fund projects that serve youth from low-income and disadvantaged communities and provide immersive and meaningful experiences with natural or cultural resources within California that participants otherwise would not have. Low income and disadvantaged communities are defined in the program guidelines as those that disproportionately lack access to natural and cultural resources.

Description

California voters passed the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64) on November 8, 2016, which legalized the recreational sale and use of cannabis to people over the age of 21 and levied new excise taxes on the cultivation and retail sale of all state-regulated cannabis. Proposition 64 created the Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account (YEPEITA) into which the State Controller deposits 60% of the tax revenue from marijuana sales for youth programs to support youth substance use prevention, which is overseen by the Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS). A portion of these funds are appropriated to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) for grants to support youth access to natural or cultural resources, with a focus on low-income and disadvantaged communities. Funding is distributed by CNRA as grants awarded through the Youth Community Access (YCA) grant program.

Important dates

Opened

Sep 21, 2026

Application deadline

Nov 4, 2026

Expected award announcement

April 2027

Period of performance

March 1, 2030

Funding details

Estimated amount per award

Between $30,000.00 and $300,000.00

Expected number of awards

Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.

Letter of intent required

No

Matching funds

Not Required

Funding source

State

Funding source notes

The Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64) created the Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account (YEPEITA) into which the State Controller deposits 60 percent (60%) of the tax revenues from marijuana sales for youth programs designed to educate about and prevent substance use disorders, and to prevent harm from substance use.

Funding method

Reimbursement(s)

Funding method notes

Payments will be made on a reimbursement basis: the Grantee pays for services, products, or supplies for direct project costs; submits invoices and proof of payment; and is then reimbursed by the State. 10% of the amount requested for reimbursement may be retained and issued as a final payment upon completion. The State allows advance payments of grant funds in certain circumstances, not to exceed 25 percent of the grant amount.

How to apply

Read the full guidelines on the grantor's site, then apply there. Nothing is submitted through this site.

Submission: url: https://raptr.resources.ca.gov/

• Grant guidelines & application ↗
• CA Natural Resources Agency ↗
• Grantor's own update list ↗
• Original listing on grants.ca.gov ↗

Questions about this grant: email: [email protected]; tel: 1-916-653-2812;