Funding catalysts
Redwood City-based Casa Circulo Cultural is among 96 organizations receiving Community Action Grants from Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The Mountain View-based foundation is awarding a total of $2.4 to small local nonprofits in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties that are working with communities that have historically faced discrimination and lack of access to resources.
An organization building community through culturally rooted arts, Casa Circulo not only serves the needs of families but also works to shift who creates, leads and defines culture in its service area.
Local nonprofits working in arts and culture, environmental protection, faith-based initiatives, local journalism, health services, and movement and power-building activities are receiving grants. The average grant size is $21,000, and the nonprofits funded under this program all have annual budgets of $3 million or less.
“The Community Action Grants program grantees don’t just provide services; they’re catalysts for positive change, led by and accountable to the communities they serve,” foundation president and CEO Nicole Taylor said in a release.
For a full list of grant recipients, visit https://www.svcf.org/impact/grants-catalog/grantees-list.
Get green for going green
Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) recently launched a financing pilot program designed to make clean energy home upgrades more accessible and affordable for residents of 13 Santa Clara County communities, including Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.
The Sunnyvale-based nonprofit’s Zero Interest Financing Program offers homeowners no-interest loans for up to 100% of the cost to install energy-efficient heat pump systems and water heaters. The pilot program also includes bill monitoring and ongoing support for new equipment to ensure that the energy savings realized offset the loan payments.
This new financing pilot is expected to serve approximately 200 homes initially and target customers with a high-bill savings potential. For more information and to apply, visit https://svcleanenergy.org/financing.