City of Sunnyvale
Agenda Item
25-0593 Agenda Date: 12/1/2025
REPORT TO SUBCOMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Review of Calendar Year 2025 Grants and Consideration of 2026 Community Events and Neighborhood Grant Program Applications
BACKGROUND
In fiscal year 2025/26, City Council allocated $150,000 to support community and neighborhood events through the 2026 Community Events and Neighborhood Grant Program (CENGP). This is a significant increase in funding compared to $48,000 in 2025 CENGP. For the first time, the 2026 program will have two application cycles, Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. For the Fall cycle, funding requests for Community Events included 9 applications for a total of $178,500, the Neighborhood Grants category received 13 applications for a total of $47,975, and there were ten applications for block parties totaling $4,900.
The Community Event and Neighborhood Grant Distribution Subcommittee (Subcommittee) makes funding recommendations. The Subcommittee consists of three members of the City Council tasked with conducting an annual grant review that includes: 1) reviewing the grant application process; 2) recommending changes to City Council for approval; 3) reviewing grant applications; and 4) presenting recommended funding levels to City Council for approval.
At the August 6, 2025 Subcommittee meeting, the following recommendations were presented and approved:
1. Review of the current 2025 cycle.
2. Adopt revisions to the program that included two grant cycles per year (Fall & Spring), increased funding level for Community Events to 50% of event budget, added an additional tier of funding for Neighborhood Grant Program and added Block Party application for smaller events within registered Neighborhood Associations.
3. Approve 2026 Community Events and Neighborhood Grant Applications and Process.
The Subcommittee met to review and approve the grant application materials for Calendar Year 2026. The Fall application period was open between September 2 and October 10, 2025. Outreach included contacting grantees and applicants for the last three years, local non-profits, neighborhood associations, and community partners. Additionally, multiple City communication channels shared CENGP application information, including the City’s website, City Council announcement, Update Sunnyvale, and Recreation E-newsletter.
The purpose of this report is to review the grant applications received for the 2026 Fall funding cycle and seek direction from the Subcommittee on the recommended funding for each. The Subcommittee is scheduled to present its recommendations to City Council in January 2026.
Attachment 1
25-0593 Agenda Date: 12/1/2025
EXISTING POLICY
Council Adopted Strategic Goal - Welcoming Community
An accessible, engaged and welcoming community
Council Policy 7.2.1, Community Engagement - Goals and Policies Goal B: Achieve a community in which all community members can be actively involved in shaping the quality of life and participate in local community and government activities. Goal C: Create a strong, positive community identity, rich in cultural diversity.
Council Policy 7.2.18, Special Events
D. Community Event Program
The City may fund community events through this program.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action considered does not constitute a "project" with the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4) in that is a fiscal activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potential significant impact on the environment.
DISCUSSION
2025 Grant Cycle Update
The 2025 grant cycle was from January 1 to December 31, 2025. The table below highlights the organizations that received funding and their requested reimbursement.
Neighborhood Association Grant Award Reimburseme
nt
Bidwell Resident Association $2,000 $1,722.58
Cherry Chase $2,000 $538.93
Cherryhill $2,000 Pending
Cumberland South $1,225 $1,225.00
Lakewood Village $2,000 Pending
Ortega Park $2,000 $1,274.55
Panama Park $1,000 Pending
SunnyArts $1,500 Pending
Sunnyvale Neighborhood of Arbor
Including La Linda (SNAIL)
$2,000 $2,000
Valley Forge Neighborhood Group $1,000 $1,000.00
Neighborhood Grants Total $16,725 $7,761.06
Community Event Grant
Award
Reimbursement
South Asian Cultural Association (SACA) $7,635 Pending
South Asian Cultural Association (SACA) $3,000 Did not host event / approved to apply funds to
Diwali for one-time
Sunny Sagarmatha Society $4,800 $4,800
Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce $12,000 $12,000
Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum $1,440 Pending
Sunnyvale Swim Club $2,400 $2,400
Community Events Total $31,275 $19,200
Attachment 1
25-0593 Agenda Date: 12/1/2025
Community Event Grant
Award
Reimbursement
South Asian Cultural Association (SACA) $7,635 Pending
South Asian Cultural Association (SACA) $3,000 Did not host event / approved to apply funds to
Diwali for one-time
Sunny Sagarmatha Society $4,800 $4,800
Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce $12,000 $12,000
Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum $1,440 Pending
Sunnyvale Swim Club $2,400 $2,400
Community Events Total $31,275 $19,200
Grant Award Reimbursed Pending
Neighborhood Grants $16,725 $7,761.06 $8,963.94
Community Events $31,275 $19,200.00 $12,075.00
CENGP TOTAL $48,000 $26,961.06 $21,038.94
2026 Grant Application Summary
For the 2026 Fall grant cycle, 9 applications for community events were received, 13 applications for neighborhood grants and 10 applications for neighborhood block parties.
Community Organization Event Funding
Request
Animal Assisted Happiness Happiness Smile Farm Open Hours $4,450 Cupertino Symphonic Band Spring Concert $1,640
Duo Duo Animal Welfare Project Pet Appreciation Celebration $1,500 Ellis School PTA Ellis International Festival $2,500
South Asian Cultural Association
of Sunnyvale (SACAS)
2026 Sunnyvale Diwali Festival $20,000
Sunnyvale Chamber of
Commerce
2026 Art & Wine Festival $20,000
Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church Sunnyvale Pride Fest $5,000 Sunnyvale Swim Club Community Block Party $5,760
The Autism Society SF Bay Area 2026 Spring Spectacular $110,000 TOTAL REQUESTED $170,850
Attachment 1
25-0593 Agenda Date: 12/1/2025
Neighborhood Association (NA) Project Funding
Request
Bidwell Resident NA Summer Block Party & Holiday Events $2,000 Cherry Chase NA Community Events $5,000
Cherryhill NA Expanding Communication Channels $3,750
Heritage District Association Halloween Support $11,175 Heritage District Association Heritage Arch Building Community Event
$4,200
Murphy District Association Community Events $5,000
Ortega Park NA Programs & Socials $3,000
San Miguel NA Block Party, Events & NNO $5,000
Serra North NA Quarterly Neighborhood Socials $350
SNAIL NA National Night Out International
Potluck
$5,000
SunnyArts NA Community Building & Safety $1,500
Sunset Pastoria NA Washington Park BBQ $500
Valley Forge Block Party $1,500
TOTAL REQUESTED $47,975
Neighborhood Association Block Party Funding Request
Challenger West $500
Cherry Chase - Parkington Ave $400
Cherry Chase - Jamestown & Bernardo $500
Cherry Chase - Lois, Blair & Dona Avenues $500
Cumberland West $500
Heritage District - Carroll St. $500
OPNA - Heron Ave. $500
SNAIL $500
Sunset Pastoria - Fall 2026 $500
Sunset Pastoria - August 2026 $500
TOTAL REQUESTED $4,900
The 2026 funding cycle has two application periods, Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. The current cycle, Fall 2025, will allocate up to 80% of the $150,000 available or $120,000. The remaining 20% of funding will be allocated in the Spring application cycle, scheduled for March 2026.
Attachment 1
25-0593 Agenda Date: 12/1/2025
Staff reviewed all applications and adjusted funding requests as needed to adhere to funding guidelines. The number of applications received and funding requested aligned well within the $120,000 available.
For the Community Events Program, staff recommends funding eight applications, including four new events. Six applications are recommended to fund at the requested amount; these events have no revenue so CENGP funding will help pay for up to 50% of the event cost. The Autism Society SF Bay Area’s application for their 2026 Spring Spectacular event requested $110,000, which exceeds the program’s guideline that each funding request should not exceed 50% of the total event budget. Staff reviewed the event budget and made a funding recommendation for 50% of the event costs.
The remaining two event applications, Diwali and Art & Wine Festival, do have revenue listed in their event budget (i.e. booth rentals, refreshment sales, sponsorships). Community Event grant funds are intended to close a funding gap for free community events, not generate revenue for the organization hosting the event. If the event expense exceeds the projected revenue, staff took the remaining expenses and recommended funding levels. For the Diwali event, staff calculated expenses at $47,500, revenue at $29,500 and the difference at $18,000. For the 2026 Art & Wine Festival, the projected revenue exceeds the event expenses, and the event is projected to make a profit of over $25,000. Staff has no recommendation on grant funding for this event.
The Community Events Program’s funding recommendation total is $54,195.
No. Organization Event Request in
Application
Recommended
Funding
1 Animal Assisted
Happiness
Happiness Smile Farm
Open Hours
$4,450 $4,450
2 Cupertino Symphonic
Band
Spring Concert $1,640 $1,640
3 Duo Duo Animal
Welfare Project
Pet Appreciation
Celebration
$1,500 $1,500
4 Ellis School PTA Ellis International Festival $2,500 $2,500 5 South Asian Cultural
Association of
Sunnyvale (SACAS)
2026 Sunnyvale Diwali
Festival
$20,000 $18,000
6 Sunnyvale Chamber
of Commerce
2026 Art & Wine Festival $20,000 No staff
recommendation
7 Sunnyvale
Presbyterian Church
Sunnyvale Pride Fest $5,000 $5,000
8 Sunnyvale Swim ClubCommunity Block Party $5,760 $5,760 9 The Autism Society
SF Bay Area
2026 Spring Spectacular $110,000 $15,345
Total Recommended $54,195
Attachment 1
25-0593 Agenda Date: 12/1/2025
For the Neighborhood Grant Program, staff recommends funding twelve applications received, each aligned with the funding limits established under the new three-tier system. Neighborhood associations with fewer than 250 households (Tier 1) are eligible for a maximum of $1,500, Tier 2, with 251-299 households may apply for up to $3,000, and Tier 3, over 500 households are eligible for up to $5,000. The Neighborhood Grant Program’s funding recommendations total to $36,800.
Heritage District Association submitted two applications; one met the Tier 3 maximum funding allowed and the other exceeded it. Staff recommend funding one application and will follow up with the applicant to recommend the second application, for Halloween support, may be a better fit for the Community Event grant application for the Spring funding cycle.
No. Neighborhood
Association (NA)
Event Request in ApplicationRecommended Funding
1 Bidwell Resident NA Summer Block Party & Holiday Events$2,000 $2,000 2 Cherry Chase NA Community Events $5,000 $5,000
3 Cherryhill NA Expanding Communication Channels$3,750 $3,750 4 Heritage District
Association
Halloween Support $11,175 $0
5 Heritage District
Association
Heritage Arch Building Community Event$4,200 $4,200
6 Murphy District
Association
Community Events $5,000 $5,000
7 Ortega Park NA Programs & Socials $3,000 $3,000
8 San Miguel NA Block Party, Events & NNO$5,000 $5,000
9 Serra North NA Quarterly Neighborhood Socials$350 $350 10 SNAIL NA National Night Out International Potluck$5,000 $5,000 11 SunnyArts NA Community Building & Safety$1,500 $1,500 12 Sunset Pastoria NA Washington Park BBQ $500 $500
13 Valley Forge Block Party $1,500 $1,500
Total Recommended $36,800
No.Neighborhood Association Block PartyRequest in ApplicationRecommended Funding 1 Challenger West $500 $500
2 Cherry Chase - Parkington Ave $400 $400
3 Cherry Chase - Jamestown & Bernardo$500 $500
4 Cherry Chase - Lois, Blair & Dona Avenues$500 $500
5 Cumberland West $500 $500
6 Heritage District - Carroll St. $500 $500
7 OPNA - Heron Ave. $500 $500
8 SNAIL $500 $500
9 Sunset Pastoria - Fall 2026 $500 $500
10 Sunset Pastoria - August 2026 $500 $500
Total Recommended $4,900Page 6 of 8
Attachment 1
25-0593 Agenda Date: 12/1/2025
No. Neighborhood
Association (NA)
Event Request in ApplicationRecommended Funding
1 Bidwell Resident NA Summer Block Party & Holiday Events$2,000 $2,000 2 Cherry Chase NA Community Events $5,000 $5,000
3 Cherryhill NA Expanding Communication Channels$3,750 $3,750 4 Heritage District
Association
Halloween Support $11,175 $0
5 Heritage District
Association
Heritage Arch Building Community Event$4,200 $4,200
6 Murphy District
Association
Community Events $5,000 $5,000
7 Ortega Park NA Programs & Socials $3,000 $3,000
8 San Miguel NA Block Party, Events & NNO$5,000 $5,000
9 Serra North NA Quarterly Neighborhood Socials$350 $350 10 SNAIL NA National Night Out International Potluck$5,000 $5,000 11 SunnyArts NA Community Building & Safety$1,500 $1,500 12 Sunset Pastoria NA Washington Park BBQ $500 $500
13 Valley Forge Block Party $1,500 $1,500
Total Recommended $36,800
No.Neighborhood Association Block PartyRequest in ApplicationRecommended Funding 1 Challenger West $500 $500
2 Cherry Chase - Parkington Ave $400 $400
3 Cherry Chase - Jamestown & Bernardo$500 $500
4 Cherry Chase - Lois, Blair & Dona Avenues$500 $500
5 Cumberland West $500 $500
6 Heritage District - Carroll St. $500 $500
7 OPNA - Heron Ave. $500 $500
8 SNAIL $500 $500
9 Sunset Pastoria - Fall 2026 $500 $500
10 Sunset Pastoria - August 2026 $500 $500
Total Recommended $4,900
For the Block Party applications, staff recommend funding all ten applications received. A total of seven registered neighborhood associations submitted applications, with two submitting multiple applications. All adhered to the guidelines provided in terms of the number of applications allowed based on neighborhood association size. Tier 1 may submit a maximum of two applications, Tier 2 may submit up to four applications and Tier 3 may submit up to six applications. The funding recommendation for Block Party applications totals $4,900.
Attached is a summary of the 2026 Community Event and Neighborhood Grant Program applicants, along with all completed grant applications. For privacy reasons, the applicant and project team personal information have been redacted.
The Subcommittee's recommendations for grant distribution are based on the $150,000 allocated for CENGP within the FY 2025/26 General Fund financial plan in project 835490 - Community Events & Neighborhood Grants. For the 2026 CENGP cycle, staff recommendations are summarized above.
The total grant distribution amount available is $150,000, 80% ($120,000) in Fall 2025 cycle and 20% in Spring 2026 cycle.
Based on staff recommendations, Fall funding cycle would be $95,895. This leaves $54,105 available for the Spring 2026 funding cycle.
Funding
Requested
Recommended
Funding
Community Events $170,850 $54,195
Neighborhood Grants $47,975 $36,800
Block Parties $4,900 $4,900
TOTAL CENGP FUNDING REQUESTED $223,725 $95,895
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funding for CENGP is appropriated in the Adopted Budget in the General Fund under Project 835490 - Community Events & Neighborhood Grants.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Subcommittee agenda on the City's official notice bulletin board, on the City's website, and the availability of the agenda and report in the Office of the City Clerk.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Recommend funding levels outlined in the 2026 Recommended Funding Summary tables be submitted to Council for final approval.
2. Take other action as determined by the Subcommittee.
RECOMMENDATION
Attachment 1
25-0593 Agenda Date: 12/1/2025
Alternative 1: Recommend funding levels outlined in the 2026 Recommended Funding Summary tables be submitted to Council for final approval.
Staff recommend approving grant applications with the funding amounts outlined in the 2026 Recommended Funding Summary tables. The total grant distribution amount for Fall cycle would be $95,895, funding thirty events across the City.
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website:
www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html <http://www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html> An ”X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
__x_ Contract or franchise (for grants of $50,000 or more - Autism Society)
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
__x_ Contracts under $50,000 or non-fiscal (for grants under $50,000) ___ Contracts between public entities
___ General policy and legislative actions
*“Competitively bid” means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Prepared by: Angela Chan, Recreation Services Manager
Reviewed by: Laura Jammal, Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Jesus Raygoza, Deputy Director of Recreation Services Reviewed by: Michelle Perera, Director of Library and Recreation Services Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Deputy City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2026 Community Event and Neighborhood Grant Program, Recommended Funding Summary
2. 2026 Community Events Grant Applications Packet
3. 2026 Neighborhood Grant Applications Packet
4. 2026 Block Party Application Packet
Attachment 1