Human Services Grants

Emerging Needs Fund

The Emerging Needs Fund assists nonprofits serving Palo Alto residents with short-term and/or urgent funding to address emergency, critical or emerging human services needs. For more information, please read the Emerging Needs Policy Information. 

Emerging Needs Fund Recipients

Agency Program Description Funding Amount Fiscal Year
Avenidas Expand services for the Door to Door Program to include escort accompaniment during medical appointments for seniors with cognitive and physical impairments. $7,500 FY24
Move Mountain View Construct and supply a computer lab at the Geng Road Safe Parking Lot. $6,500 FY24
Palo Alto Community Child Care Increase staffing to accommodate the addition of more Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) students enrolled in after school care. $5,000 FY24
NAMI Santa Clara County Provide "Enduring the Silence Program" in four high schools in Palo Alto.   $10,000  FY24
Palo Alto Friends Nursery School Outreach and equipment needed to expand preschool services to 2-year olds.   $6,500  FY24
 DreamCatchers Expand programming through the creation of an improved curriculum.   $9,500  FY24
AbilityPath Removal of hazards on the playground at the Learning Links school site. $7,703 FY25 
LifeMoves Replacement and addition of new storage lockers for client use. $10,000 FY25
Peninsula Healthcare Connection Upgrade to a cloud-based server for secure data management. Repainting for compliance and safety enhancements, purchase of a two-way radio for safety communication. $8,039 FY25 
Downtown Streets Team Domestic violence hotel, transportation, and basic needs funds. $10,000 FY25 
 Karat School Project Distribute gift cards to support outreach interactions with immigrant families to offer updates on legal rights, safety resources, and available services.  $4,258  FY25
PARCA Distribute fresh fruits and vegetable, and other fresh foods, that are no longer available at Second Harvest food bank due to budgets cuts and that are not affordable for developmentally disabled residents at Page Mill Court.  $10,000  FY25

General Policy Information

The Emerging Needs Fund aims to assist nonprofit organizations serving Palo Alto residents with short-term and/or urgent funding to address emergency, critical or emerging human service needs. 

These grants are based on need and an agency may not receive funding more than once in a two- year period. Grants can be awarded up to $10,000. Due to limited funding, partial grants may be awarded.  Please note that all expenses that you are seeking should have been purchased within the last three months or is a future expense. All grants are subject to the availability of funds. 

There are typically four quarterly application periods for non-emergency needs. As there is a limited amount of total annual funding, subsequent applications periods will only be held if funding is still available. If there is still funding available for Quarter 4, all applicants whose grants were not approved during Quarters 1-3, will be invited to update and re-submit their application for consideration as well as any new applicants. 

Funding Categories

The Emerging Needs Fund assists nonprofits serving Palo Alto residents with short-term and/or urgent human services related funding needs. Grant requests will be prioritized for funding in the order of need listed below, with at least 20% of total funding earmarked for Emergency Needs. Community Services Department Director has final discretion as to funding earmarks.

 

Emergency Needs 
  • An unforeseen event that has or will significantly interrupt essential services such as a natural disaster, fire, storm damage, theft, equipment failure or similar such occurrence; and/or
  • A request that is time sensitive in nature and could not have been predicted or reasonably planned for.
Critical Needs
  • An urgent critical need that was not evident during the original funding period for the City’s Human Services Resources Allocation Process (HSRAP). (HSRAP grantees only)
  • An urgent existing critical need for which normal funding is no longer available and for which a demonstrated human consequence will occur if funding is not obtained. (All applicants)
Emerging Needs
  • A need that has not come up before or the approach to addressing the need is new, even though it may not rise to the level of an emergency or critical need; and/or
  • To develop or expand a program/service that will enhance the quality of life for vulnerable populations.

Generally, Emerging Needs Grants are not awarded for:

  • Sectarian or religious purposes
  • Political purposes
  • Paying expenses that should have been anticipated
  • Fundraising and marketing expenses
  • Training expenses unless directly tied to emergency or critical need
  • Operating deficit or retroactive support (no more than three months after incurring expenses).  

Application Process

Emergency Needs: 
An agency may initiate a request for Emergency Needs funding at any time by emailing the Manager of Human Services and providing a short, one paragraph explanation of the need. If the need potentially meets the criteria of the Emerging Needs Fund, the agency will be invited to submit an application. Do not submit an Emergency Needs application unless your agency has been invited to do so.

Critical Needs & Emerging Needs: 
Applications for Critical Needs and Emerging Needs may be submitted on: 
- September 4, 2025
- November 6, 2025
- February 5, 2026
- May 7, 2026

Application

An application consists of a written response addressing the numbered items listed below and should be no more than three pages in length TOTAL. Please respond in question/answer format for each question. Up to four pages of supporting documentation may be attached to the application. Submit the application to alayna.cruz@paloalto.gov.

Please include the following:

  1. Name and email address for agency contact. 
  2. Amount of funding requested ($10,000 max).
  3. Brief history and mission of the organization.
  4. Indicate whether you are requesting funding in order to address a critical or emerging need.
  5. How your application meets the fund's criteria.
  6. The cause of the unanticipated or non-budgeted costs for which there are no other resources.
  7. Why these needs have risen to the level of an urgent response.
  8. How many Palo Alto clients are affected and how?
  9. What needs to be done to address the need? Describe any services/programs you plan to offer.
  10. Why will these specific funds only be needed once?
  11. How will you address these needs in the future?
  12. The past sources of the agency’s resources and other options to cover the funding need and any other funders sought or already committed to addressing this need. Include in-kind and voluntary contributions and collaborative assistance as well as financial support.
  13. A budget narrative specifically showing how City of Palo Alto funds will be used and a simple table of the itemized expense and income budget for addressing the request. Please indicate the time period covered.
  14. Supporting documentation for all requested reimbursements (i.e. repair bill, new piece of equipment) must accompany the request.

Review and Selection Process

When reviewing Emerging Needs Grant applications we look for: 

  • A complete application. All questions clearly and concisely answered and budget attached. 
  •  Organizations that have the capacity to respond to the emergency, critical and/or emerging need and present a reasonable plan to address the need along with a sound financial plan. 
  •  Organizations and programs that meet a documented need of Palo Alto residents.
  • Organizations whose requests are in closest alignment with purpose of the fund 

Applications are reviewed by City staff and representatives from the Human Relations Commission. Staff in the Office of Human Services will oversee the grant process but will not sit on the Selection Committee. The selection process may include follow-up questions, clarification of material submitted, requests for additional information, and/or an interview process or as deemed appropriate by the Selection Committee. 

The final decision is made by the City Manager or his designee. 

Grant Award and Reporting Requirements

All applicants will generally be informed via email regarding the status of their funding request within three weeks of submission. All successful requests will be funded within approximately two weeks after receiving an “invoice” by the organization.  

Reporting requirements involve the submission of a simple report that describes the following: 

  1. How the funds were spent. 
  2.  How the Palo Alto clients of the affected program/service were impacted as a result of the grant.
  3. Progress on plans to address this need on an ongoing basis (if applicable).  

The report will be due one month after the funds have been expended or three months after the Emerging Needs grant is awarded, whichever is earlier. 

Human Services Resource Allocation Process

Human Services Resource Allocation Process (HSRAP) is a grant program open to organizations who deliver direct services to Palo Alto residents so that they have a safety net of services. Money is allocated through the City’s General Fund. Current funding priorities include senior services, early care and education, youth services, developmentally disabled services, homeless services, and low-income healthcare. Applications for funds are solicited and reviewed on a biennial basis.

The period to submit a HSRAP proposal, for the Fiscal Year 2028-29 funding term (July 2027-June 2029), will open in fall/winter 2026. Visit the HSRAP page for more information about the grant and application process.

HSRAP Awards FY26
Agency Program Description Award Amount
AbilityPath Adult Services for people with developmental disabilities. $67,556
Ada's Cafe Employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. $57,000
Adolescent Counseling Services Support and empowerment for LGBTQIA+ youth. $45,125
Alta Housing Academic support and skill-building opportunities to low-income students and increase food and financial resiliency for families. $43,878
Counseling and Support Services for Youth (CASSY) Therapy for students to increase social-emotional wellbeing, self-regulation, and coping strategies. $23,764 
Children's Health Council Provide transportation to access in-person therapy, basic food needs, and clinician recommended therapy supplies for families with children ages 5-22 with Medi-Cal. $9,815
Downtown Streets Team Work experience program that empowers and supports individuals experiencing homelessness. $73,234
Heart and Home Collaborative Winter shelter for women experiencing homelessness. $56,583
Kara Comprehensive grief support, crisis intervention and education to individuals and families facing grief and loss. $28,500
Karat School Project RV Community Outreach program to build relationships and meet immediate needs of families living in RVs. $35,180
La Comida Provides nutritious and affordable lunches to seniors while creating a socially stimulating atmosphere. $58,900
LifeMoves Provides critical food services for individuals experiencing homelessness. $47,087
Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen Meals on Wheels; fully-prepared meals delivered to vulnerable seniors. $23,750
Parents and Advocates of Remarkable Children and Adults (PARCA) On-site support services for developmentally disabled adults living in a residential program. $27,075
Pathwise (DreamCatchers) After-school tutoring and mentorship program for low-income middle school students. $56,857 
Peninsula Healthcare Connection Provide basic needs through community-based services that target the immediate health needs of hard to reach individuals experiencing homelessness. $77,781
Ravenswood Family Health Network Provides health care access to vulnerable residents to ensure they receive patient-centered health care services. $67,687
Senior Adults Legal Assistance Provides a wide range of legal services, from advice/referrals to comprehensive legal representation, for adults aged 60 and older. $22,800
Vista Center Provide visually impaired seniors with the skills and support necessary to remain independent, safe, employed and mobile. $59,313
YMCA Palo Alto Senior fitness programming and financial assistance for senior memberships. $17,100
Youth Community Service Youth well-being and leadership program services through community service projects. $42,750
TOTAL $941,735

To receive notices and updates for both funding opportunities, please send an email to alayna.cruz@paloalto.gov.

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