Capital Grants

About this Grant Program — Pasadena Community Foundation’s Capital Grant Program has been established to support agency capital needs for significant capital projects or important equipment purchases. Lower priority will be given to requests for capital purchases that should typically be a routine part of your organization’s annual operating budget, such as periodic replacement of office equipment.

PCF welcomes grant applications from qualified organizations serving the Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre area. The purpose of the Capital Grant is to make a significant contribution towards a tangible and enduring (useful life of at least 3-5 years) capital need. Funding is not available on a retroactive or reimbursement basis. We encourage the use of Pasadena area vendors when appropriate.

As in recent years, PCF has funds available for two larger Capital Campaign Grants of $50,000 each. The Capital Campaign Grants would support large-scale transformational projects that will greatly impact capacity, quality, and effectiveness of mission delivery. To qualify for this grant, an organization must document that they are currently engaged in a public effort to raise significant dollars as described above. If you have questions about whether your project qualifies as a capital campaign, please contact Program Department staff.

Deadline for Applications — The 2025 Capital Grant cycle is no longer taking place this year due to Eaton Fire.

Online application system — PCF’s online application system is available by clicking here.

NOTES ON THIS APPLICATION — This application has the ability to pull information from your organization’s Candid profile. We encourage you to update that profile as needed to keep it current.

Grant Amounts

• Capital Grant requests will be accepted for $2,500 – $25,000
• Capital Campaign Grant requests may be submitted for $50,000

Geographic Restriction — The applicant organization must be in and provide significant service to the area defined by the boundaries of the Pasadena Unified School District (Pasadena, Altadena & Sierra Madre). Any equipment or capital refurbishment paid for with PCF grant funds must specifically serve Pasadena-area residents.

Eligibility Requirements —If your organization was awarded a 2024 Capital Grant, you are not eligible to apply for a Capital Grant in 2025. Organizations that were denied in 2024 can apply in 2025.

Organizations seeking funding from the Pasadena Community Foundation may only receive ONE of the following grants per year:

Arts & Culture
Capital
Education
Animal Welfare
Senior
Vista Nova (Grants for nonprofits serving the visually impaired)

Grants may be made only to tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) or 170(c)(1) or (2)(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. None shall be made to Private Foundations under Section 509(1) of the Code.

An organization must have been in existence for at least two years (based on the ruling date of the IRS determination letter) and have achieved a record of effective service and sustainability. Organizations currently operating under a Fiscal Sponsor must have a strong record of operations, fundraising and implementation of programs for at least four years. Recently registered 501(c)3 organizations with less than two years but with fiscally sponsored operating history as described above are also eligible to apply.

All previous grants awarded by PCF to prospective applicants must be in good standing. A grantee with an “open” grant will not be eligible for new funding. Grantees who have not complied with previous grant deadlines, reporting or submission of receipts may not be eligible for new grant consideration.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Pasadena Community Foundation does not make grants from its discretionary funds to organizations that discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, age, color, gender identity, marital or parental status, military service, national origin, physical or mental ability, political affiliation, sexual orientation or religion.

The Foundation Will Not Make Capital Grants For or To: 

• Direct aid to individuals.
• Retirement of debt or costs of capital items already acquired.
• Reimbursement of expenses paid prior to grant award announcement.
• Influencing legislation or elections.
• Individual public schools or their support and activity groups. This includes, but is not limited to PTA/PTO, sports teams, music programs, or booster clubs. PCF only supports PUSD schools through the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF).
• Private educational institutions, preschool, K-12, college, or vocational institutions. PCF will, however, consider funding of non-public schools primarily serving special needs population or a diverse socio-economic or disadvantaged population.
• Sectarian religious organizations or churches. PCF will, however, consider requests from sectarian religious organizations for support of community social service-oriented activities sponsored by such organizations, provided that such activities meet all other eligibility requirements.
• Agencies not engaged in the actual performance of direct services to individuals consistent with PCF purposes.
• Building improvements of leased property. PCF typically will not invest in building improvements to property not owned by the nonprofit applicant organization. Some exceptions may be made at the discretion of the board to property owned by the city or school district or other public entity or for exceptionally long-term lease arrangements.

GRANT REPORT DEADLINES AND COMPLIANCE
Strict reporting requirements must be followed to qualify for future grants. Agencies are also requested to review PCF’s Grant Recognition Guidelines.  We encourage the use of Pasadena area vendors when appropriate.