January 20, 2026
Department
DATE: January 20, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: LaShonda White, Deputy City Manager – Community
Services
Patrick Seals, Administrative Chief
Jora Atienza Washington, Senior Management Analyst
Nicholas Delgado, Associate Management Analyst
Guadalupe Morales, Associate Management Analyst
Kaitlen Burnom, Management Analyst
SUBJECT:
Release the Fiscal 2026 -27 Environmental Community and Investment Agreement (ECIA) Competitive Grant
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The ECIA provides $90 million in revenue to Richmond over a 10-year period. From this total, $6 million is allocated to fund the competitive grant program to support community programs and non-profits focused on community, youth,
and youth sports. An allocation of $715,000 is proposed for the fiscal year 2026-2027 grant cycle. As in previous grant cycles, additional funding will be allocated to support staff time and a possible capacity building program for
community-based organizations (Account String: 11771018- 400201-2A111).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City of Richmond and Chevron agreed to an
Environmental and Community Investment Agreement
(ECIA), to provide $90 million dollars to the Richmond
community over ten years to support various programs
including a competitive grant program. City staff members are requesting City Council acknowledge release of
guidelines and application for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026- 2027 ECIA Community Grant Program for the 11th grant
cycle.
AGENDA
REPORT
January 20, 2026
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ACKNOWLEDGE the release of the Request for Application
and Guidelines for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027
Environmental and Community Investment Agreement
(ECIA) Competitive Grant Program for Categories 1-4, with an annual allocation of $715,000 – City Manager’s Office (Jora Atienza Washington/Nicholas Delgado/Guadlupe
Morales/Kaitlen Burnom/ Patrick Seals 510-620-6512).
DISCUSSION:
The Environmental and Community Investment Agreement (ECIA) Competitive Grant Program is entering into its 11th funding cycle for Richmond-serving organizations that support community, youth, and youth sports. Typically, the ECIA Competitive Grant Program has allocated $600,000 annually across four (4) categories, including the Competitive Grant Awards (990N and 990), City Council Approved Awards, and the Community Services Mini-Grant Awards. To date, the ECIA has awarded more than 217 grants totaling approximately $4.7 million.
Proposed FY 2026-2027 ECIA Grant Application and Guidelines
ECIA grant staff is bringing forth proposed guidelines and an application for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 ECIA Community Grant Program. To provide opportunities for organizations with different capacities and different financial needs to have access to grant funds, the $715,000 available for grants is allocated in the method described below (See Table 1). Organizations are eligible to apply for and receive funding from multiple categories.
TABLE 1
Cat. Grant Award Options Award Decision
Made By
Award Range Proposed
Award
Amount
1 Competitive Grant
Awards; Gross Receipts
Less than $50,000
City Council
(Recommendations
made by ECIA Review
Panel)
$10,000 - $50,000
$565,000
2 Competitive Grant
Awards; Gross Receipts
More than $50,000
City Council
(Recommendations
made by ECIA Review
Panel)
3 City Council Approved
Awards City Council Based on Council
discretion $50,000
4 Community Services
Mini-Grant Awards
(separate application)
Community Services
Department Up to $10,000 $100,000
January 20, 2026
*Final amounts might differ slightly TOTAL $715,000*
Categories 1 & 2: Competitive Grant Awards – Total Allocation of $565,000 For categories 1 and 2, organizations will be grouped based on their annual gross receipts (verified using 990s, 990-Ns, or audited financials). Organizations whose budgets are similarly situated will be reviewed in context with comparable organizations.
The major components of the competitive grant program include the following:
Funding Allocations:
o $565,000 is available to award organizations under categories 1 and 2 o A maximum of $100,000 is available to organizations with annual budgets over $750,000 (per last completed 990s or audited financials)
Eligibility Requirements:
o Per the ECIA, organizations must provide services focused on the community, youth, and/or youth sports to Richmond and North Richmond residents
o Organizations must operate as a non -profit entity with 501(c)(3) tax status with current financial statements (i.e., Filed I.R.S. Form 990 or 990 -N or current audited financials). Fiscal sponsors may be used. o A minimum of 80 percent (80%) of the organization’s proposed grant-funded program/services must be provided to Richmond residents. Richmond - based organizations will receive extra points through the application review process. If awarded an ECIA grant, grant funds may only be spent serving Richmond residents.
o Organizations that received an ECIA grant award of more than $10,000 during the FY 202 5-26 grant cycle (current grant cycle) are not eligible to apply during the FY 2026-27 ECIA grant cycle.
Application Submission Requirements:
o Applications must be submitted electronically via
http://richmondca.submittable.com/
o Complete all required application sections
o Proof of 501(c)(3) status
o Financial statements
o List of Board of Directors and affiliations
o Letter describing and authorizing collaboration (if with a governmental entity), if applicable
o Signed agreement between the organization and the fiscal sponsor, if applicable
Tentative timeline (subject to change):
TASK DATE
Application Release Date January 23, 2026
FY 2026-27 ECIA Information Session February 2026
Applications Due (No Exceptions) March 13, 2026, by 11:59 p.m.
January 20, 2026
Application Review and Scoring March – April 2026
City Council Review and Approval April 2026
Grant Award Notification May 2026
Grant Award Period July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027
Category 3: City Council Approved Awards - Total Allocation of $50,000
A total of $50,000 is allocated for Category 3 which allows for the re-evaluation of applications submitted by organizations that applied for the ECIA Grant (through categories 1 and 2), met all submission requirements, were evaluated by the ECIA Grant Review Committee, but were not recommended for funding. The City Council Ad Hoc Committee, currently consisting of Councilmembers Bana and Zepeda, will make a recommendation to the full City Council regarding grant awards in June 2026. City staff will then enter into grant agreements with the organizations
Category 4: Community Services Mini-Grant Award Allocation – Total Allocation of $100,000
A total of $100,000 is allocated for Category 4 - Community Services Department (CSD) Mini-Grant Awards. Grant awards will be up to either $5,000 or $10,000, and the number of awards available is determined based on the amount of each award. The Richmond Community Services Department mini-grant program is a component of the ECIA Grant Program. Richmond-serving organizations that provide services that meet the needs of the community and youth, and that partner with and/or consistently utilize facilities managed by the Community Services Departments can apply for the mini-grant (Attachment 2). Grant applications are reviewed and scored by a review panel that may consist of representatives from the Community Services Department, Recreation and Parks Commissioners, and/or community members. Grant award amounts are on a reimbursement basis; however, if needed, organizations can request advance payments. The tentative schedule associated with the application and administration of the CSD Mini-Grant follows that of the ECIA Category 1 and 2 noted above, with an application release date of January 23, 2026, and a due date of March 13, 2026.
Next Steps
City staff are requesting that City Council acknowledge release of the FY 202 6-2027 guidelines and application, and be aware that staff may make changes, as needed, for clarification purposes and logistics.
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
Environmental and Community Investment Agreement - The City of Richmond and Chevron agreed to an Environmental and Community Investment Agreement (ECIA), to provide $90 million dollars to the Richmond community over ten years. This included investments in community programs, competitive community grants, community-based greenhouse gas reduction programs and a photovoltaic solar farm. The initial ECIA
January 20, 2026
("initial ECIA") was adopted by the Richmond City Council on July 29, 2014. The City Council adopted the current amended ECIA ("current amended ECIA") on December 15, 2015.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – FY 2026-2027 Richmond ECIA Community Grant Program Guidelines Attachment 2 – FY 2026-2027 CSD Mini-Grant Program Guidelines