2023 CECO Community Grants

​MISSION: Lend a Hand 
VISION: To provide grants that cultivate opportunities for people and communities to thrive.  
VALUES: Commitment to diversity, equity, and upholding the charitable arm of County employees. 

CECO has distributed $7M to local non-profit agencies, providing funds to improve services and/or develop new programs to benefit the diverse communities of San Diego County. CECO typically funds tangible/durable goods, such as equipment, furnishings, and other durable goods that directly benefit the population being served by the program. See table below for examples of eligible and non-eligible requests.

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GRANT ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible to receive a CECO grant, an organization must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Be a qualified and registered non-profit organization or a bona fide educational institution in good standing. Proof of non-profit status and standing is required by submission of an Entity Status Letter. The letter may be generated by going to the following link: https://webapp.ftb.ca.gov/eletter/.
2. Serve a lawful public purpose(s) and support a region that is healthy, safe, and sustainable/thriving.
3. For organizations that received a CECO grant award(s) between the years 2020-2022, CECO must have received proof of purchase for grant item(s) specified in Grant Award Letter no later than September 30 of the year that the grant was awarded.
4. No more than two (2) grant applications will be considered per organization. Additionally, CECO requests that organizations limit their request to no more than $10,000 per application.

TIMELINE: The Allocations Committee, which is composed of CECO Board Representatives and volunteers, will evaluate each grant application that meets both Grant Eligibility and Grant Application Requirements and make a funding determination for CECO Board consideration.

Grant Recipients will be notified by email and invited to attend the annual Awards event to collect the grant in early 2023 (typically March). Should CECO have a question(s) regarding an application, a CECO representative will call or email the Primary Point of Contact listed on the grant application form. If a response is not received within two (2) business days, CECO reserves the right to disqualify the application.

GRANT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: The following must be completed and submitted no later than Friday, November 4, 2022.

1. Read 2023 CECO Community Grants webpage in its entirety.
2. Complete and submit the online 2023 CECO Community Grant Application. Click here for a list of application questions.​
3. Email the following required attachments/supporting documents to sdceco@sdcounty.ca.gov:
   1. Proof of non-profit status and standing through an Entity Status Letter: https://webapp.ftb.ca.gov/eletter/. 
   2. Parent Organization Operating Budget – The budget must include revenue and expenses for the fiscal year (FY) in which CECO grant will be used. For example, if CECO grant will be spent in FY 22-23 (July 2022 – June 2023), the parent organization budget for FY 22-23 must be included.
   3. Program Operating Budget – The budget must include the revenue and expense for the fiscal year in which CECO grant will be used. For example, if CECO grant will be spent in FY 22-23 (July 2023 – June 2023), the parent organization budget for FY 22-23 must be included.
      Note: If Parent Organization and Program are one and the same (i.e., the organization only offers one program), please clearly indicate in email.
   4. Formal quote or estimate for the item(s) requested – There are only two acceptable forms of documentation: a copy of a vendor quote and/or a copy of a shopping cart from an internet source (e.g., Office Depot, Amazon, Costco, etc.). A URL/link to a website containing product information and/or a listing of items with prices is not acceptable.
      
   5. Proof of CECO acknowledgement – if organization received a 2022 CECO grant award, proof that Organization recognized CECO no later than 09/30/2022 is required. Examples include a copy of a newsletter, brochure, press release, website posting, or a Facebook mention.

If you have any questions about these requirements, please contact sdceco@sdcounty.ca.gov. If any of the above requested supporting documents are missing from the application packet, CECO reserves the right to disqualify the application.
​​Applications received after November 4, 2022 will be ineligible to receive a grant. No exceptions. CECO will notify organization via email that application packet has been received within seven (7) days of receipt. If you do not receive such notification, email sdceco@sdcounty.ca.gov to verify receipt of application. Please note that this notification confirms receipt of application only; packet contents will not be verified for completeness.​

Examples of Eligible Requests	Examples of Non-Eligible Requests
Kitchen equipment (e.g., refrigerator, stove, washer/dryer) Furnishings (e.g., bed, sofa, table, storage unit) IT and AV equipment (e.g., laptop, printer, speakers) Medical/dental equipment Musical instruments Recreational equipment Consumables (healthy food, medications, art supplies)	Staff positions, training expenses Camperships Gift cards/vouchers Bus passes or similar public transportation expenses Rent Underwriting Shipping Labor Insurance

Organizations should not rely on CECO as a yearly funding source. Previous funding does not guarantee future funding.