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The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) is accepting Concept Proposals for Round 4 of the Youth Community Access (YCA) Grant Program. Approximately $15 million is available for projects that provide youth from low-income and disadvantaged communities with meaningful access to California’s natural and cultural resources. Awards will range from $30,000 to $300,000, and Concept Proposals are due November 4, 2026.

What is the purpose of the program?

The YCA Grant Program supports projects serving California youth from kindergarten through age 26 who live in low-income and disadvantaged communities. Funded projects must provide immersive experiences with natural or cultural resources that participants may otherwise be unable to access because of economic, social, physical, transportation, or other barriers.

Projects must primarily serve youth from communities with a median household income below 80 percent of California’s median household income, as demonstrated using the Statewide Parks Program Community FactFinder tool.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• State and local public agencies;
• Nonprofit organizations; and
• California Native American tribes.

A fiscal sponsor may also apply on behalf of an organization that is not a qualified nonprofit or does not have the capacity to administer the grant. Organizations may submit only one application during the YCA solicitation.

What types of projects are eligible?

Concept Proposals must include at least one of three eligible project types:

• Field trips to natural or cultural resources in California, including day trips, multi-day trips, or camp experiences;
• Educational programming that combines classroom instruction with field experiences related to natural or cultural resources; or

• Workforce development or career pathway training that provides hands-on training in natural or cultural resource fields. Eligible workforce activities may include trail construction, habitat restoration, wildland fire prevention, urban greening, and projects incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Transportation to natural or cultural resources must be included in proposed projects.

What are the funding priorities?

CNRA will prioritize projects that serve underserved youth populations, incorporate substance use prevention and early intervention practices, and/or provide youth leadership opportunities. Each priority incorporated into a Full Proposal can earn up to 10 additional points during review, for up to 30 additional points.

Priority populations include youth with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ youth, current or former foster youth, youth from families involved in the criminal justice system, youth from tribal communities, youth experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness, youth from park-poor communities, and youth from communities experiencing widespread substance use and addiction.

What funding is available?

Approximately $15 million is available for Round 4. Applicants may request between $30,000 and $300,000. Projects awarded through the 2026 funding round must be completed no later than March 1, 2030.

Eligible costs may include staff labor, staff training, materials and supplies, equipment, consultants, subcontractors, transportation, participant travel, food for youth participating in grant-funded activities, and youth incentives or stipends. Indirect costs may account for up to 20 percent of the grant.

How does the application process work?

YCA uses a two-stage competitive application process. Applicants must first submit a Concept Proposal through CNRA’s Project Tracking and Reporting system, RAPTR. CNRA will review Concept Proposals for eligibility and program fit, and applicants with competitive proposals will be invited to submit a more detailed Full Proposal.

Concept Proposals are due November 4, 2026. Invitations to submit Full Proposals are anticipated in January 2027. Full Proposals are expected to be due in March 2027, and grant awards are anticipated in April 2027. CNRA is also offering technical assistance workshops and office hours for prospective applicants throughout the Concept Proposal period. The YCA R4 Guidelines can be found here.

For more information on this grant or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.