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Apply for Grants

The Sonoma Valley Fund funds work that aligns with our mission—to improve the quality of life for residents of Sonoma Valley. We also proactively convene and collaborate with other organizations and funders to create community solutions that benefit from diverse perspectives and healthy discourse.

Grant Eligibility

An organization should be an incorporated 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Competitive grants are intended to serve the residents of Sonoma Valley and your organization must serve Sonoma Valley residents in order to apply.

Ineligible Grant Uses

We generally do not fund competitive proposals involving special events, debt retirement, endowment building, political or religious programs or organizations that discriminate. We generally do not make competitive grants to primary or secondary schools (or those schools’ foundations) or to departments of local government.

How to Apply

The Sonoma Valley Fund, in conjunction with Community Foundation Sonoma County, uses an electronic process for submitting grant applications. Applications to all Sonoma Valley Fund grant programs must be submitted electronically. Mailing or delivering hard copy materials is no longer required and will not be accepted.

To complete the electronic process, you must first:

  • Set up an account by providing an email address and password (this allows you to save a partially completed application and return to it later);
  • Provide your IRS Tax ID number; and
  • Respond to a simple two question eligibility quiz.

To get started, click on program name below (for any one of the active programs).  That link will take you to more detailed information about the grant program and also link you to the application materials and instructions.

  • Ellman Fund Grants of up to $10,000 for projects involving historic preservation, environment and environmental education
  • Todd Trust

Our Grantmaking

Our grantmaking and program initiatives may occur in a variety of ways:

  • Competitive Grants – A federally-designated, charitable organization whose mission/services align with the Grantees' priorities submits a funding application to one of our grant programs support (see above). The application is evaluated by our Grants Committee, whose recommendations are approved by our board.
  • Initiative Grants – The Sonoma Valley Fund provides leadership in more effectively resolving community issues through convening and partnering with organizations, field experts, community groups and civic leaders. Information about our current initiatives is available in our Current Initiatives Tab.
  • Donor-advised Grants - Donors and community-benefit organizations have a common goal – to improve the quality of life for residents of Sonoma Valley and beyond. Through our community knowledge, we match these interests, bringing donors together with effective local resources to make a greater difference.

Please contact Joe Valentine at 707.579.4073 x12

The Ellman Fund

George and Phyllis Ellman were models for leading a passionate life. George invented the Ellman Reagent, a testing method which is now standard lab procedure for measuring enzymes and proteins.

In 2007, George and Phyllis discussed how to make a meaningful legacy gift that would support their life-long passions for the environment, environmental education, historic preservation and classical music. Through a trusted friend, they learned that the Sonoma Valley Fund (SVF) could provide the bridge between their needs and their dream. They could benefit from the financial stewardship of the Community Foundation, and the SVF Grants Committee could evaluate and award grants in their specified areas of interest.

The Ellman Fund’s annual grants, totaling $25,000, were begun in 2008 and will continue each year. “We hope our fund will illustrate the possibilities offered by SVF and serve as a catalyst for others to activate their giving,” said George.