Community Investment Grants

The average grant term is up to $300,000 over three years. Research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy shows that large, multi-year grants enable organizations to plan strategically, invest in their capacities, adapt and innovate, measure impact comprehensively, and build stronger community relationships — all of which contribute to deeper and longer-lasting impact.

Grant Summary: The induction grant initiative aims to educate and raise awareness by disseminating knowledge about the health benefits and ease of switching to induction cooking, as well as promote community energy resilience, through live induction cooking demonstration events.

Grant Term: $300,000 over two years.

Grant Recipient: Channing Street Copper Company, the selected grant recipient, is a local business building battery-enabled induction ranges.

Grant Summary: The Clean Energy Jobs and Training for Youth Awareness Grant is aimed at empowering young individuals through education and exposure to employment opportunities and hands-on training in clean energy technologies. This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between education and employment, fostering a skilled workforce for the ongoing energy transition. This program is specifically designed to reach youth (ages 15–24) including recent high school graduates, college students, and young professionals. Two strong proposals from local organizations were each awarded this grant.

Grant Term: $300,000 over three years

Grant Recipients:

Grant Summary: This grant initiative aims to empower local communities to develop and manage EV charging infrastructure to promote sustainability and electric mobility within Alameda and San Joaquin Counties.

Grant Term: $300,000 over three years

Grant Recipient: Currently accepting and evaluating proposals

Ecology Action designed a scalable multi-unit dwelling (MUD) EV charging program delivery model for low- and moderate-income residents within the Ava service area. This is a proof-of-concept initiative that will result in a fully tested and vetted program design that could be implemented by Ava.
Final Report (PDF) from Ecology Action

People Power Solar Cooperative organized its second community-owned solar project to provide a critical model for community investment and ownership of renewable energy in California and other states that lack shared solar laws.
Final Report (PDF) from People Power Solar Cooperative

Through their unique community empowerment model, RE-volv constructed four solar installations at local nonprofits in the East Bay, while raising awareness about the benefits of clean energy and creating dramatic electricity bill savings to benefit the community.

Community Impact LAB empowered and educated Alameda County families and businesses to tackle climate change through energy conservation and literacy. The project includes two conservation challenges that utilize technology to audit and reduce usage, a Clean Energy mini-conference and Business/ Career Fair, a three-part workshop series, and an online educational campaign.

Rising Sun Center for Opportunity hosted a Climate Careers program, aiming to employ and train youth as Energy Specialists to conduct Green House Calls in hard-to-reach households, helping residents save energy and money. In a new pilot program, the youth will enroll Alameda County residents in a service that analyzes their energy bills and coaches them to reduce energy use.

West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project’s West Oakland Renewable Project (WORP) developed a business model for partnerships between local communities and commercial property owners/developers. It generates profits from energy sales to support various energy resilience programs for income-qualified residents.