Program Description

The Community-Based Organization (CBO) Mini-Grant Program will support community-led outreach and engagement for the City of Ventura’s update to the Local Coastal Program (LCP). As climate change increases risks such as sea level rise and coastal flooding, the City seeks to better understand how these changes are affecting people’s lives, especially in environmental justice and frontline communities. The California Coastal Commission Environmental Justice Framework defines environmental justice communities as low-income communities, communities of color, California Native American Tribes, and other populations that have been historically marginalized and have experienced disproportionate barriers to accessing, using, and benefiting from the coast, as well as greater exposure to environmental burdens within the Coastal Zone. This mini-grant program is intended to help identify and better understand what environmental justice and frontline communities look like in the City of Ventura. What community members share through this program will help shape the Environmental Justice chapter of the LCP and guide future coastal policies related to access to the coast, safety, and climate resilience.

Through this program, the City is providing mini grants to community organizations to lead engagement efforts within their own communities in ways that are culturally relevant and accessible. Community organizations play an important role in sharing information, creating space for conversation, and lifting up community knowledge that may be missed in traditional planning processes.

Mini grants will range from $2,000 to $5,000, with a total of $10,000 available across all selected organizations. Applications are due on April 10, 2026. Grant recipients will be notified by May 1st, 2026. Engagement activities will take place between May - July 2026. For any inquiries regarding the application, please contact jbainsheyward@rinconconsultants.com.

Program Goals

Through their proposed activities, selected organizations will help the City work towards the following goals:

• Share information with community members and receive feedback on observed coastal changes (such as increased flooding, shoreline erosion, or shifts in public access) and anticipated future impacts from sea level rise, including how these changes may affect their neighborhoods and daily lives.
• Create opportunities for community members to share how coastal hazards affect safety, access to the coast, housing, cultural resources, and overall quality of life.
• Gather feedback that can inform the Environmental Justice chapter of the LCP, including ideas and concerns related to coastal access, distribution of coastal benefits, housing stability and displacement prevention, and climate resiliency.
• Identify trusted messengers, communication channels, and preferred engagement methods that work best within each community, helping improve how the City connects with residents over time.

Organizations do not need to address every program goal. Proposed activities should focus on the goals that best align with the community being served and the organization's strengths.

What We Are Looking For

The City is looking to partner with community based and Tribal organizations that are well-connected, trusted, and rooted in the communities they serve. The City will evaluate applications based on meeting one or more of the following criteria:

• Organizations that represent environmental justice and/or Tribal communities through strong partnerships with community leaders, residents, and other community organizations, and/or whose membership includes environmental justice/Tribal residents
• Organizations that serve communities within the City of Ventura and/or Ventura County, with a mission that meaningfully benefits City of Ventura residents
• Organizations that demonstrate strong connections to priority populations (e.g., low-income households, renters, linguistically isolated communities, unhoused peoples, environmental justice/frontline communities)
• Ideas for meaningful, culturally relevant engagement that reflect how your community prefers to receive information and share input
• Engagement activities that help gather community input on climate hazards and vulnerabilities

Prior grant experience, technical planning expertise, or formal facilitation training is not required. The City values community knowledge, lived experience, and culturally relevant approaches for this effort.

Eligible Activities

The activities below are examples of eligible activities that may be supported through the Mini-Grant Program. Organizations are encouraged to propose activities that work best with their community and/or target population(s).

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• A small group (between 4-5 people) discussion held in a language commonly spoken in your community (for example, a Spanish-language focus group);
• Outreach table at an existing community gathering, festival, or meeting;
• A micro-survey or door-to-door outreach aligned with project needs;
• A facilitated small-group discussion on local climate vulnerabilities; and/or
• An organization-proposed activity: We welcome creative, community-driven ideas that align with the program goals.

Grant funds may be used to support staff time, participant stipends or incentives, translation services, materials for the engagement event, among other eligible expenses.

Onboarding, Deliverables, & Reporting Requirements

Following award decisions, grantees will attend one virtual onboarding meeting and may be asked to participate in periodic check-ins or coordination meetings, as needed to:

• Share progress updates;
• Troubleshoot barriers or logistical challenges; and
• Ensure alignment with project needs and timelines.

Selected organizations will be asked to submit documentation of their engagement activities. The documentation may include:

• Photos from engagement activities (with participant consent, as applicable);
• Sign-in sheets or estimated attendance counts; and/or
• Summary of key themes, feedback, and community priorities shared within 30 days of the activity.

Grant Agreement and Payment Information

Selected organizations will enter into a simple grant agreement with the City's project consultants. Additional details about the agreement, necessary documentation (e.g., W-9), payment timing, and any necessary reimbursements will be shared during the onboarding process. The project team understands that payment timing and administrative requirements can affect an organization's ability to participate and will work with the grantees to create a solution that fits their needs and proposed activities.

Support Available to Grantees

The City and the project consultant team are committed to supporting the selected organization through the engagement process. A dedicated coordinator will serve as the primary point of contact. Support may include:

• Background information and materials related to the Local Coastal Program and relevant climate topics
• Copies of other engagement materials supporting the project
• Coordination and guidance on documenting and summarizing community input