Clif Family Foundation Open Call Grants – March 2027

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$5,000–$50,000 General Operating Grants for Grassroots Nonprofits

The Clif Family Foundation Open Call provides one-year general operating grants to grassroots nonprofit organizations working to build a healthier, more just, and ecologically thriving world. Funding priorities include regenerative agriculture, food-system worker health and safety, climate justice, healthy food access, inclusive outdoor access, and reducing pollution.

Organization: Clif Family Foundation
Program: Open Call Grants
Support Type: General operating grants
Geographic Focus: United States and U.S. unincorporated territories
Deadline: March 1, 2027 at 11:59 PM PT
Funding Amount: Typically $5,000–$50,000
Grant Term: One year

About the Funder

The Clif Family Foundation was established in 2006 by Clif Bar founders Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford to support grassroots organizations working on food, environmental, health, and community issues.

The Foundation prioritizes people-centered solutions and organizations that are deeply connected to the communities they serve.

Its Open Call program is distinct from the Foundation’s invitation-only grantmaking and is available to eligible nonprofit organizations through a competitive application process.

What This Program Supports

The Foundation has six current strategic priorities.

Regenerative & Organic Farming

Programs that accelerate regenerative and sustainable farming practices may qualify.

Relevant approaches include:

Organic agriculture
Climate-resilient farming
Agroecology
Equitable farming systems
Regenerative agricultural practices

Food Production Workers’ Health & Safety

The Foundation supports efforts to improve working and living conditions for people involved in food production.

Relevant initiatives may focus on:

Worker health
Worker safety
Fair and just working conditions
Worker empowerment
Farmworker protections

Climate Justice

Programs should advance community-centered responses to climate change, particularly those that build resilience and empower historically marginalized communities.

Healthy Food Access

The Foundation supports efforts to make healthy, sustainably produced food:

Accessible
Affordable
Culturally appropriate

The emphasis is on systems change rather than traditional emergency food distribution alone.

Inclusive Outdoor Access

Programs may expand access to safe outdoor spaces that:

Encourage physical activity
Improve mental health
Reduce barriers to outdoor recreation
Increase access for historically underserved communities

Indoors & Outdoors Safe from Pollution

The Foundation supports preventative health approaches that identify and reduce harmful pollutants and toxins in:

Air
Water
Soil
Buildings
Consumer and human-made materials

Eligible Organizations

Applicants must:

Be registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, or
Have an eligible 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor

Priority is given to organizations that:

Primarily work in the United States or U.S. unincorporated territories
Have strong community ties
Operate at the grassroots level
Advance change at the local, state, or national level
Have annual operating budgets under $8 million
Align closely with the Foundation’s strategic priorities and values

Geographic Eligibility

The Open Call gives priority to organizations whose work is primarily focused in:

The United States
U.S. unincorporated territories

This is a national opportunity and is not restricted to communities where Clif Bar has offices or facilities.

Funding Amounts

Typical Open Call awards range from:

$5,000–$50,000

Grants generally last for one year.

A major benefit of this program is that grants support general organizational operating costs, rather than requiring funding to be restricted to a specific project.

General Operating Support

Open Call grants may support the organization’s broader operating needs.

This flexibility can help nonprofits cover costs such as:

Staff
Program administration
Organizational infrastructure
Community engagement
Other expenses necessary to advance the nonprofit’s mission

Applicants should still demonstrate clear alignment between their overall work and the Foundation’s current priorities.

Ineligible Requests

The Open Call does not fund:

After-school academic-based programs
Capital construction, demolition, renovation, or building renewal
Chapters or affiliates of national organizations
Deficit funding
Endowments
Faith-based or religious organizations
Food banks, unless involved in broader systemic change
Fundraising events
Individuals
Local or state government agencies
Media projects such as films, books, or radio
Medical or health centers
Natural disaster or emergency first response
Primarily pass-through grant programs
Product donations
PTAs, PTOs, or individual school booster groups
Sponsorships
Summer camps

Organizations should review these exclusions carefully before applying.

Application Timeline

📅 Application Deadline: March 1, 2027 at 11:59 PM PT
📅 Decision Notification: On or near June 30, 2027

The Foundation reviews Open Call applications twice annually.

The 2027 deadlines are:

March 1, 2027
August 2, 2027

Applicants for the March cycle are expected to receive decisions on or near June 30.

The Foundation’s application portal is expected to reopen in early 2027 for this cycle.

Application / Request Process

Applicants should first complete the Foundation’s eligibility review and confirm alignment with the Open Call guidelines.

Applications are submitted through the Foundation’s online grant portal.

Applicants should be prepared to explain:

Organization mission
Community served
Current programs and activities
Alignment with one or more Clif Family Foundation strategic priorities
Community relationships
Organizational budget
How general operating support will strengthen the organization’s work
Expected community or systems-level impact

Because the Foundation emphasizes grassroots organizations, applicants should clearly demonstrate strong relationships with the communities directly affected by their work.

Apply / Learn More:
➡️ https://cliffamilyfoundation.org/grants-program

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity may be particularly relevant for nonprofits that:

Have operating budgets under $8 million
Need flexible general operating support
Work primarily in the United States or U.S. territories
Have strong grassroots and community relationships
Advance regenerative or organic agriculture
Improve conditions for food-system workers
Address climate justice
Increase access to healthy and sustainable food
Expand equitable access to outdoor recreation
Reduce exposure to pollution and environmental toxins

The combination of $5,000–$50,000 awards and general operating support makes this especially valuable for smaller grassroots organizations that often have difficulty finding unrestricted corporate or foundation funding.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Deadline: March 1, 2027 at 11:59 PM PT
Decision Notification: On or near June 30, 2027
Additional 2027 Deadline: August 2, 2027
Funding Amount: Typically $5,000–$50,000
Grant Term: One year
Support Type: General operating support
Geographic Focus: United States and U.S. unincorporated territories
Preferred Organization Size: Operating budget under $8 million
Best Suited For: Grassroots nonprofits working in food systems, agriculture, climate justice, environmental health, healthy food access, or equitable outdoor access

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