Our Project Priorities
The Resilience Fund advances equity-led projects that benefit vulnerable communities, engage cross-sector partnerships & provide direct funding to community-based organizations.
A Regional Solution
Climate action requires strong, interconnected networks and funding that is locally led and rooted in community priorities.
Catalytic Funding for Priority Projects & Programs
Advance projects from concept to implementation and unlock additional funding opportunities through seed and match grants.
- The Resilience Fund offers direct project support through accessible, transparent, and impact-driven grantmaking for SC4-led projects. Funding strategically supports the catalytic advancement of projects through seed and match funding and provides flexible funding for community-based organization-led projects.
Technical Assistance & Capacity Building
Strengthen project readiness, improve grant competitiveness, and help secure public funding for climate solutions.
- The Resilience Fund equips community-led initiatives with hands-on technical support and capacity building to strengthen project readiness, improv competitiveness, and pursue public funding opportunities. Services include but are not limited to:
- Providing Workshops and Training: Offer funding, capacity building and grant-writing workshops, webinar, trainings, and other learning resources to SC4 participants
- Project Ideation and Development: Support project concept, design, and implementation strategies
- Grant & Donor Matchmaking: Provide guidance to help projects identify and pursue the most appropriate funding opportunities
- Grant Writing and Budgeting: Assist project in preparing high-quality proposals and financial plans to maximize their changes of securing funding
- Project Partnership Building: Identify and cultivate strategic project partners to enhance project credibility, expand resources, and advance equitable outcomes in communities
- Grant Management: Support organizations by managing public grant funds and grant compliance on their behalf, minimizing administrative and operational overhead
Long-term Sustainable Financing
Build public and political momentum and align investments to secure sustainable, long-term climate financing.
- Through targeted support and coordinated investment, the Resilience Fund builds public and political momentum to secure sustained financing. This enables the Resilience Fund to leverage catalytic dollars into larger, long-term investments that fund resilience initiatives across local jurisdictions, community-based organizations, and at-risk communities.
Metrics
The Resilience Funds impacts are measures through each of the Santa Clara County Impact Areas. Example impact metrics include:
Empower Communities to Build Resilience to Climate Change
- % of funding generated for underserved neighborhoods and frontline communities
- % of grant funding directed to community-based organizations
- % reduction in climate-driven community displacement
Achieve Net Zero Emissions
- # of kilowatts of increased onsite solar and associated energy cost savings
- # of acres restored through urban greening and carbon sequestration projects
- # of GHG emissions reduced annually
Prepare Communities for Extreme Heat and Impaired Air Quality
- # of people benefitting from Resilience Hubs to escape related impacts
- % increase tree-canopy coverage in vulnerable communities
- % reduction in local ER visits due to extreme heat and impaired air quality
Eliminate Risk from Flooding and Rising Seas
- # acres of resilient shoreline restored
- # of critical assets protected from flood-related hazards
- $ of infrastructure damage prevented by 2050 through proactive mitigation efforts