2027-31 Human Services Grants Program

The City of Santa Monica is soliciting competitive proposals from eligible nonprofit organizations through the Human Services Grants Program (HSGP) for four-year grant agreements addressing identified community needs, with proposals due December 14, 2026. The program is open to all qualifying agencies with human services administration experience, including organizations without prior HSGP application history or previous Santa Monica operations, provided they demonstrate a robust plan for local service delivery.

Grant agreements will run from July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2031, divided into four fiscal years. Annual funding is contingent upon available funds, satisfactory grantee performance, effective program outcomes, and City Council approval each fiscal year—no guaranteed multi-year funding despite the four-year agreement structure. Grantees must implement programs as specified in a Program Plan (Exhibit A) and Program Budget and Performance Workbook (Exhibit B), with City Council–approved Funding Guidelines incorporated throughout the RFP.

Applicants must submit a ten-page maximum Program Plan addressing community need assessment, participant eligibility, evidence-based program description, accessibility and outreach, partnerships, program evaluation metrics, operational capacity, past performance history, and racial equity and employee retention policies. Proposals must include a Program Budget workbook with two to five performance indicators (each containing one output and one outcome). Organizations may choose either a Cash Match option (30% minimum cash match required, staff compensated at agency rates) or a Living Wage option (no cash match required, but all staff at 90% or more FTE to the program must earn the City's living wage rate of $25.00 per hour, adjusted annually with one-year implementation delay). Indirect administrative costs are accepted at 15% or less without documentation, or above 15% only with federally negotiated indirect cost rate documentation.

Required eligibility documentation includes IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter (unless a hospital, health care institution, or educational institution with governing board), proof of good standing with the California Secretary of State, board rosters including client advisory boards, organizational chart, job descriptions for all City-funded staff, equity policies, monitoring reports from the applicant's largest funder for the two preceding fiscal years, audited financial statements for the three most recent fiscal years, and up to three letters of support from program participants. Awarded agencies must maintain Commercial General Liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence, Automobile Liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per accident, and Workers' Compensation insurance in accordance with California state law with Employers' Liability limits of no less than $1,000,000 per accident.

Agencies requesting funding for multiple programs must submit separate proposals, each with corresponding workbook, through the City's OpenGov vendor portal. Proposals are evaluated solely on information provided; late submissions are never accepted.