About the Youth Community Access Grant Program
The Youth Community Access (YCA) Grant Program serves youth from low-income and disadvantaged communities and provides access to natural and cultural resources. The program is funded by the Youth, Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account (YEPEITA), created by Proposition 64.
Awarded projects will provide California youth with field trips to national, state, and regional parks; cultural sites; events, and practices; and provide educational programming and workforce development opportunities in natural and cultural resource fields. Three competitive rounds have funded approximately 243 projects for a total of $70 million to date. A solicitation for Concept Proposals for a fourth round of funding is now open.
The YCA Grant Program helps advance the efforts of California's Outdoors for All initiative, which seeks to expand park and nature access in communities with little outdoor space, support programs to connect people who lack access, and foster a sense of belonging for all Californians in the outdoors.
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CNRA is currently soliciting Concept Proposals for YCA grant projects. |
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Program Resources |
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Technical Assistance Opportunities Workshops: September 29, 1:30PM - 3:00PM – Register here October 12, 10:00AM - 11:30AM – Register here Office Hours Sessions:
Office hours are open to all potential applicants and will be facilitated as an open and collaborative group Q&A session with YCA program staff. No registration is required. Session #1: October 2, 9:30AM - 11:00AM – Join here Session #2: October 6, 11:00AM - 12:30PM – Join here Session #3: October 9, 9:00AM - 10:30AM – Join here Session #4: October 15, 1:30PM - 3:00PM – Join here Session #5: November 2, 1:00PM - 2:30PM – Join here |
Youth Community Access Project Highlights
Program Information
Round 4 Available Funding
Approximately $15,000,000
Eligible Applicants
- State and local public agencies
- Nonprofit organizations
- California Native American tribes
Competitive Application Process
- Concept Proposal Submission
- Eligibility/Program Fit Review
- Full Proposal Submission
- Competitive Review/Scoring
- Awards
Anticipated 2026 Timeline:
September 21
Final Guidelines Available
Concept Proposal 45-Day Window Opens
November 4
Concept Proposals Due in RAPTR
January 2027
Invitations to Submit Full Proposals
March 2027
Full Proposals due in RAPTR
April 2027
Anticipated Grant Awards Announced
The YCA Team
Ka-Ryn Escovedo, Program Manager
Rebecca Griffin, Program Lead
Michelle Maghari, Program Lead
Email: ycagrants@resources.ca.gov
Phone: 916-653-2812
Please subscribe to CNRA Grants Announcements to stay informed on future YCA funding opportunities.
