Unlocking California State Funding for CBOs

Community-based organizations (CBOs) are an indispensable part of the public health infrastructure in California. They not only provide essential services but also meet community needs in circumstances where government entities are unable, unwilling, or less equipped to do so. Despite their contributions to the health of priority communities, California CBOs often encounter obstacles when competing for state funds to advance their mission.

The purpose of this issue brief is both to summarize the challenges that CBOs face in obtaining funding from California state government entities and to provide government agencies with concrete actions they can implement to address the challenges that CBOs encounter in contracting and grantmaking processes.

By working to address these challenges, government entities have a valuable opportunity to improve how resources are invested, allowing them to support CBOs as vital public health partners, strengthen relationships between government entities and CBOs, and make funding more accessible and equitable for diverse communities that face the greatest health inequities.