The City of Martinez has long supported local non-profit organizations that serve the Martinez community. In March 2007, the City Council established the Community Groups Funding Program to annually provide flexible, accessible grants to small and emerging nonprofits that are making a difference in the Martinez community. The City has typically funded this program annually with $12,000 from the General Fund to support a wide range of initiatives and $2,500 from the Recycle/Sustainability Fund for sustainability-focused initiatives.
The City implemented a new pilot partnership with the Martinez Community Foundation (“MCF”) to manage the Community Groups Funding Program on behalf of the City for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. The partnership was aimed at expanding funding access and support for grassroots organizations and local nonprofits. Through this pilot, the City allocated initial seed funding, increasing the General Fund budget contribution to $13,500 and the Recycle/Sustainability Fund budget contribution to $5,000, which MCF administered using its longstanding grantmaking expertise. MCF’s Community Groups Funding Program Committee reviewed and scored applications and the MCF Board approved grant recommendations, with City staff review.
Through the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 pilot, the City and MCF granted 12 Martinez-based non-profit organizations a Community Groups Funding Program grant to support programs or projects related to community engagement, environment, art and culture, economic opportunity, education and skills development, and other community priorities. MCF supplemented the City’s $18,500 in funding with an additional $17,250 in MCF awards to Community Groups Funding Program applicants. An overview of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Community Groups Funding Program awards are shown below:
|
Organization
|
City Award
|
MCF Award
|
|
1. Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa
|
$ 5,000
|
$ 5,000
|
|
2. John Muir Association
|
$ 1,500
|
-
|
|
3. St. Vincent de Paul, St. Catherine of Siena Conference
|
$ 1,500
|
$ 1,500
|
|
4. Worth A Dam
|
$ 1,250
|
$ 500
|
|
5. Grace Episcopal Church
|
$ 1,500
|
$ 1,500
|
|
6. Meals on Wheels Contra Costa
|
$ 2,250
|
$ 250
|
|
7. Bay Area Bike Project
|
$ 750
|
$ 250
|
|
8. Diablo Regional Concert Band
|
$ 750
|
$ 250
|
|
9. Martinez Education Foundation
|
$ 1,000
|
-
|
|
10. RES Success
|
$ 1,500
|
$ 1,500
|
|
11. Joe DiMaggio Hometown Hero Project
|
$ 500
|
$ 500
|
|
12. Safe and Sober Grad Night, Alhambra Bulldogs
|
$ 1,000
|
$ 1,000
|
Additionally, three organizations ineligible for the City’s Community Groups Funding Program Award received funding from MCF to implement their projects.
“It’s inspiring to see these community groups putting their passion into action and making a real difference for Martinez,” Mayor Brianne Zorn commented. “This program shows what’s possible when we invest in local leadership and grassroots ideas. I’m so proud of the collaboration between the City and MCF and I’m excited to see the impact of this partnership in expanding the total contribution to these recipients, and celebrate these deserving recipients who are strengthening our community from the ground up.”
The City and MCF will next assess the pilot program and consider a long-term expansion.
For questions, please contact: Eve Kearney, City Manager’s Office, (925) 387-9081, ekearney@cityofmartinez.org.
