Responses are due Monday, October 7, 2024.
For complete Call for Proposals and instructions on how to apply, please see the 2025 Peninsula Clean Energy Outreach Grants Call for Proposals. Submit questions to Vanessa Shin by September 16, 2024 at vshin@peninsulacleanenergy.com.
Call for Proposals Overview
Does your organization work with residents in San Mateo County or in the City of Los Banos? Harness the power of your existing communications, outreach, and services to assist residents in saving money, improve local air quality and health, and help the environment.
Peninsula Clean Energy invites 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving San Mateo County or the City of Los Banos to apply for grants to collaborate with our agency. We partner with community-based organizations to help our customers reduce their energy bills and enroll in programs that will save them money on home appliances and transportation.
Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $45,000 per organization for work to be completed within one year. Applications must be received by October 7, 2024.
Grant Program Eligibility
All 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or their fiscally sponsored projects with an established track record of public outreach, communications, providing social services, or case management in San Mateo County or in the City of Los Banos are eligible and encouraged to apply.
Grant Program Goals
All proposed work plans must include general outreach and education about Peninsula Clean Energy (1-3). Proposals should also address any combination of additional goals as described below (3-10). Peninsula Clean Energy encourages applicants to focus on the goals that align best with their organization’s mission, audience, and existing efforts. We also encourage collaboration with other organizations to achieve these goals.
Goals for General Outreach and Education about Peninsula Clean Energy (Required for All Grants)
- Communicate basic messages about Peninsula Clean Energy, including explanations of Peninsula Clean Energy, how it works, and its community benefits.
- Facilitate customer feedback to Peninsula Clean Energy on energy programs and messaging.
- Help residents to take further action by familiarizing them with the Peninsula Clean Energy website and/or enrolling them in energy programs.
Goals for Grants Focused on Income-Qualified and Equity Priority Communities (Optional)
- Assist residents in signing up for Peninsula Clean Energy rebate and savings offerings, such as helping clients fill out online enrollment forms in English and other languages.
- Communicate eligibility for energy discount programs such as Medical Baseline, CARE, and FERA, and help customers enroll. Help residents avoid the PG&E disconnection process.
- Explain how Peninsula Clean Energy savings appear on residential energy bills.
- Conduct outreach and/or facilitate customer feedback on Peninsula Clean Energy’s electric vehicle programs, electric appliance programs, and other income-qualified offerings.
Goals for Grants Focused on General Public Education (Optional)
- Drive adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by providing education on benefits and available offerings. Facilitate deeper engagement through one or more of the following actions:
- Help customers enroll in EV discount and rebate offerings.
- Direct customers to the Peninsula Clean Energy website to apply for EV rebates and discounts.
- Organize logistics for EV showcase events, especially in Spanish and Chinese. Peninsula Clean Energy can recruit EVs to be displayed at the events.
- Drive adoption of electric appliances by providing education on benefits and available programs. Examples include electric heat pump water heaters, heat pump heating and cooling systems, and electric cooking. Facilitate deeper engagement through one or more of the following actions:
- Help customers enroll in electric appliance offerings.
- Direct customers to the Peninsula Clean Energy website to apply for relevant offerings.
- Facilitate opportunities for customers to experience cooking on electric stoves, including planning cooking demonstrations and lending portable induction cooktop units.
- Organize focus groups and/or workshops to receive customer feedback about electric vehicles, electric appliances, and other energy topics. Peninsula Clean Energy can provide the content.
Grant Application Process and Requirements
Please send email application materials by October 7, 2024 to Vanessa Shin, vshin@peninsulacleanenergy.com with the subject line “Community Outreach Grant Application.”
The estimated timeline for this process is outlined below. This timeline is subject to change.
- August 30, 2024: Call for Applications posted on Peninsula Clean Energy website
- September 16, 2024: Questions due for Q&A. Please send questions to Vanessa Shin, vshin@peninsulacleanenergy.com with the subject line “Community Outreach Grant Questions”
- September 23, 2024: Q&A posted on Peninsula Clean Energy website
- October 7, 2024: Proposals due
- January 1, 2025: Grant period begins
Complete applications must include:
- Narrative (up to 5 pages)
- Work plan and budget using table format provided below, submitted as an Excel or Google Sheets document
- Your 501(c)(3) letter OR fiscal sponsor materials
- Current outreach grant recipients must include a summary of progress that has occurred since submission of the mid-cycle report
Outreach Grant Documents
