PRESS RELEASE: Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Awards nearly $1 million to Local Community Organizations, "Building a Climate Strong Future for All"
San José, Calif (March 16, 2026) — Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (Authority) Board of Directors last night voted to award $974,146.56 to local organizations for the 2025-2026 Urban Grant Awards, themed “Building a Climate Strong Future for All.” This competitive grant program, funded by Measure Q and Measure T, was created in 2016 to address the needs of urban communities, including areas that currently have limited access to preserves and parks. The grant program aims to fund projects that will improve health and quality of life by increasing access to nature for urban residents, including parks, trails, urban community gardens and environmental education programs.
“Our Urban Grant Program is intentionally structured to be robust and scalable, meeting organizations where they are," said Jackie McBride, community investment specialist for the Authority. "This year, we awarded nearly $1 million in Urban Grants—an impressive investment for an agency with a revenue of just $12 million. It reflects our commitment to supporting community driven conservation in the places that need it most.”
This round of grant funding was awarded to organizations working across San José and throughout Santa Clara County to deliver hands-on environmental education, urban agriculture, habitat stewardship and climate resilience programming for underserved youth, families and communities.
"Our Urban Grant funding implements a key part of the Authority's mission: To connect people to nature through parks, open space, public access and environmental programming wherever they are in the County,” said Andrea Mackenzie, general manager of the Authority. “We are proud to continue our partnerships with local nonprofits, schools, universities, cities within our jurisdiction and the County to bring more nature into neighborhoods and strengthen community resilience.”
The 2025-2026 cycle of the grant program focused on connecting urban residents to nature while building community resilience to climate change. Program projects include classes, trainings, curriculum-building, special events, program development and other impactful community services. Awards ranged from $30,000 to $75,000, with recipients receiving up to two years to complete their projects.
The 15 recipients of the 2025-2026 Urban Grant Awards are (in alphabetical order by organization):
- Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet
Program Name: You(th) Be the Change: Growing Resilience
Funding Awarded: $75,000.00 - Amigos de Guadalupe Center for Justice and Empowerment
Program Name: Amigos de Guadalupe Summer Under the Sun Program: East San José Environmental Education and Climate Resilience
Funding Awarded: $75,000.00 - Grassroots Ecology
Program Name: Growing Resilience: Native Plant Education and Incubation Project
Funding Awarded: $49,250.00 - Guadalupe River Park Conservancy
Program Name: Enhancing Community Climate Resilience through Nature-Based River Park Programs
Funding Awarded: $75,000.00 - Local Color
Program Name: Reconnect Outdoors
Funding Awarded: $65,000.00 - Marine Science Institute
Program Name: Discover our Bay
Funding Awarded: $60,000.00 - Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation
Program Name: Mexica New Year: Reviving the Túupentak through Ceremony, Climate Resilience & Cultural Revitalization
Funding Awarded: $30,000.00 - Russo McEntee Academy
Program Name: Protect What You Love - Environmental Justice & Sustainability Field Trips
Funding Awarded: $69,951.56 - Sunday Friends Foundation
Program Name: Blooming in Nature
Funding Awarded: $75,000.00 - The Student Conservation Association
Program Name: SCA Urban Green: conservation Stewardship and Education
Funding Awarded: $39,945.00 - The Tenacious Group
Program Name: Thrive2
Funding Awarded: $75,000.00 - Ujima Adult & Family Services
Program Name: Healed By Nature
Funding Awarded: $70,000.00 - University of California Cooperative Extension, Santa Clara County (UC Regents)
Program Name: The Living Loop: Community Agricultural Education at Martial Cottle Park
Funding Awarded: $70,000.00 - Valley Verde
Program Name: Accessible Urban Gardening for Food Security and Environmental Stewardship
Funding Awarded: $70,000.00 - Veggielution
Program Name: Growing Our Urban Roots
Funding Awarded: $75,000.00
Since 2016, the Authority’s Urban Grant Program has awarded $6.6 million to 89 community projects, serving every district within the Authority’s jurisdiction. Past grant funding has supported a variety of organizations and projects, bringing nature-based experiences and environmental education to communities across the region.
“The organizations receiving this year’s Urban Grant funding reflect the strength of local, community‑driven conservation partners and the importance of connecting everyone with nature to build a climate‑resilient future for all,” said Kathy Sutherland, chair of the Authority Board of Directors. “The impact they create is real and lasting, and we look forward to seeing the changes these organizations will make in their communities well into the future.”
The Urban Grant Program is funded by Measure Q, a parcel tax approved by voters in 2014, and extended in 2020 through Measure T. Together, these measures provide approximately $7.9 million annually to protect natural open spaces and expand public access to nature.
For more information about the Urban Grant Program, visit https://www.openspaceauthority.org/grant-programs.
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About the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority conserves the natural environment, supports agriculture, and connects people to nature, by protecting open spaces, natural areas, and working farms and ranches for future generations. Since 1993, the Authority has protected almost 30,000 acres of open space, natural areas and working lands, watersheds, and wildlife habitat – providing ecologically friendly outdoor recreation and preserving the natural beauty and environmental health of the Santa Clara Valley. For more information, please visit openspaceauthority.org
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