Program details
Shine Awards are available to incorporated nonprofit organizations located in and serving communities within SMUD’s service area. Read the FAQs to learn about eligibility, funding and application details.
Funding levels |
MatchingIf awarded, recipient nonprofits must match funds for their project as follows:
Collaborative projects and joint applications between nonprofits are encouraged. |
Spark: Up to $10,000
Amplifier: $10,001 - $50,000
Transformer: $50,001 - $100,000
Funding levels |
MatchingIf awarded, recipient nonprofits must match funds for their project as follows:
Collaborative projects and joint applications between nonprofits are encouraged. |
We highly recommend that you attend an online webinar to learn about Shine Awards funding.
Register for a Shine program webinar
Award recipients
What an honor it was to celebrate our 2022-2023 Shine Award community partners. We’re working together to bring our 2030 Clean Energy Vision to life.
“As a community-owned organization, SMUD constantly strives to improve the lives of all community members,” said SMUD CEO and General Manager Paul Lau. “This year’s Shine funding reflects our commitment to environmental leadership, community wellness and our ambitious 2030 Zero Carbon Plan.”
Congratulations to our Shine partners! We look forward to seeing all the positive impacts from this year's Shine Award projects.
Our partners
80 Watt District PBID
Awarded: $ 25,000
Project Description: Aligns with inclusive economic development strategy to increase public safety and energy efficiency practices for local business corridor along Watt Ave.
916 Ink
Awarded: $10,000
Project Description:
Provides a new garden shade structure for students and community members to decrease the “heat island” impact. Also provides education workshops with climate change and STEM curriculum.
Architects of Hope
Awarded: $25,000
Project Description:
Educates and trains youth leaders on computer technology programs and build skills to identify and repair computers as part of their Youth Leadership Cohort curriculum.
Atrium 916
Awarded: $31,000
Project Description:
Provides an all-electric trailer for mobile “art upcycling” workshops in under-resourced communities; participants learn how to upcycle materials for re-use as well as promoting entrepreneurship.
Center for Land Based Learning
Awarded: $30,000
Project Description:
Focuses on climate change through habitat restoration projects by providing a youth workforce skill and job readiness development program.
Center of Praise
Awarded: $15,000
Project Description:
Provides energy efficiency upgrades to interior lighting for the Midtown Legacy Center.
Downtown Sacramento Partnerships
Awarded: $29,350
Project Description:
Supports Cesar Chavez Park revitalization efforts. This includes increasing economic development in the business corridor by adding outdoor family friendly areas, an imagination playground, chairs, tables and lawn games. Increases availability of SMUD resources and information.
Fitrah
Awarded: $25,000
Project Description:
Supports workforce development skills and stipends for diverse population of foster youth. Will add computer equipment for warehouse retail training space.
Folsom Economic Development Corporation
Awarded: $12,500
Project Description:
Provides economic development and entrepreneur training, support and technical assistance for under-resourced community members interested in starting businesses.
HomeAid
Awarded: $10,000
Project Description:
Provides energy efficiency through installation of all-electric laundry equipment and community room for Volunteers of America Veterans and families.
Lutheran Social Services
Awarded: $25,000
Project Description:
Provides workforce development skills for foster youth.
Meristem, Inc.
Awarded: $35,263
Project Description:
Provides energy efficiency by upgrading interior lighting for residential school campus supporting students with disabilities.
Midtown Association
Awarded: $20,000
Project Description:
Supports the Alhambra Blvd Revitalization Project with landscaping and placemaking. Development of micro mobility hub by adding accessible bike racks, increasing cross walk safety and economic development through business corridor.
National Academic Youth Corps (Sojourner Truth African American Heritage Museum)
Awarded: $18,000
Project Description:
Provides workforce development and job readiness skills and entrepreneur development opportunities to youth entrepreneurs in the South Sacramento area.
Northern California Valley Sheet Metal Foundation
Awarded: $50,000
Project Description:
Provides new electric equipment for training new apprentices, and upgraded training for existing journey people on electric HVAC systems.
Oracles of Truth Academy
Awarded: $25,000
Project Description:
Provides youth education focused on clean energy and sustainability practices in home and at school sites in South Sacramento.
Project Optimism
Awarded: $30,000
Project Description:
Provides under-resourced youth access to STEAM skill competencies and curriculum. Includes monthly meetings with parents with tools to improve zero carbon outcomes in under-resources communities.
Rosemont Community Foundation
Awarded: $10,000
Project Description:
Supports neighborhood revitalization through economic, education and community revitalization with STEM programming and increasing inclusive economic development for businesses in under invested corridors.
Sierra Service Project
Awarded: $10,000
Project Description:
Provides youth workforce development opportunities to learn and practice their skills in construction trades.
Square Root Academy
Awarded: $15,000
Project Description:
Provides access to STEM education and career exploration for under-resourced community. Increases exposure to STEM career and college opportunities and job readiness in STEM.
Sunrise Marketplace
Awarded: $20,000
Project Description:
Provides upgraded indoor LED lighting for Sunrise Marketplace.
YMCA of Superior California
Awarded: $42,550
Project Description:
Provides upgrade to LED lighting for outdoor play space to increase access and safety.
350 Sacramento
Awarded: $10,000
Project Description:
Leadership development program that engages with youth in under-resourced communities. Will develop four new environmental student groups at high schools and connect youth throughout the region.
80-Watt District
Awarded: $25,000
Project Description:
Crime prevention through environmental design assessment and recommendations for improved security lighting with energy-efficient lighting options and interior lighting upgrades with business partners on Watt Ave. in North Highlands.
Alianza (La Familia Counseling Center)
Awarded: $10,000
Project Description:
Creating powerful Latina trailblazer murals and education components, that celebrate the actions and impact on social justice issues by local Latinx women trailblazers. Their stories will be shared with students through a moveable art piece that will be presented to K-12 schools starting in the South Sacramento region.
Architects of Hope
Awarded: $21,270
Project Description:
The Architects of Hope Fellowship Program provides youth development, leadership, mentoring, civic engagement for underserved youth with 3 projects-based deliverables in design, build and architecture.
Atrium
Awarded: $35,000
Project Description:
Technical assistance and training for small business entrepreneurs in marketing their business on television and social media. Focus on women owned, sustainable practice businesses.
Capital College and Career Academy
Awarded: $25,000
Project Description:
Provides infrastructure for workforce skills development and training in STEM, construction and trades careers for youth in the North Sacramento/Del Paso Heights area.
Carmichael Park Foundation
Awarded: $21,200
Project Description:
Providing community center improvements, including the installation of a new electric HVAC and upgraded windows, for veterans resources and local childcare program.
Central United Methodist Church
Awarded: $15,000
Project Description:
An electric bread oven will be purchased and used to establish a learning kitchen, supplying fresh bread distribution in partnership with the South Sacramento Interfaith Food Closet in South Sacramento.
FITRAH
Awarded: $5,000
Project Description:
A workforce skills development and training program that provides equipment to develop operations and infrastructure that will increase capacity to train and empower the most vulnerable foster youth.
Folsom Economic Development Corporation
Awarded: $25,000
Project Description:
Creates online platforms for workshops and training to engage neighborhood and community organizations to enhance small business creations, growth and collaborations.
Franklin Neighborhood Development Corporation
Awarded: $15,000
Project Description:
Franklin District Lighting Project with business and community partners.
Freedom Through Education
Awarded: $10,000
Project Description:
Supporting community development for formerly incarcerated adults in transitional living homes. Also providing restorative justice model of community engagement and neighborhood beautification for disabled and senior community neighbors.
Galt Chamber of Commerce
Awarded: $20,000
Project Description:
Provides community art installations with free, inclusive education, connectivity and community involvement to revitalize the downtown corridor in Galt. Art installations will include STEM education, renewable energy options and promote zero carbon strategies.
International Rescue Committee
Awarded: $10,000
Project Description:
Improving infrastructure of Creekside Garden to increase accessibility for immigrant/refugee families to grow food for their families.
Junior Achievement of Sacramento
Awarded: $5,000
Project Description:
JA Inspire is a virtual expo that provides an in-depth career development and exploration experience for students, including high-tech digital workbooks, pre-event preparation lessons, engaging videos, STEM education, webinars and communication with mentors.
Los Rios Community College Foundation
Awarded: $25,000
Project Description:
Promotes education and equity in workforce development by providing support for students in STEM and energy career pathways at Los Rios Community College campuses. Includes funding and access to safety equipment for internships and basic equipment needs for post-education employment.
Natomas Garden and Arts Club
Awarded: $23,000
Project Description:
Creates a half-acre of pollinator habitat along the Ninos Parkway to mitigate adverse environmental impacts, including ADA-compliant nature loops and pathways with interpretive signage in English and Spanish.
Pacific Rim Foundation
Awarded: $5,000
Project Description:
Upgrade indoor lighting and weatherization for Filipino community gathering space in South Sacramento.
Paratransit
Awarded: $13,200
Project Description:
Connecting youth and parents to their community by increasing independent travel options through the use of public transportation, Smart Ride Micro Transit and electric bikes, with a focus in the South Sacramento area.
R Street Sacramento Partnership
Awarded: $5,000
Project Description:
Utilizes innovative technology to help ease our cleaning and safety issues on R and S Streets with a solar powered cordless trash and recycle compaction system.
Rebuilding Together Sacramento
Awarded: $24,000
Project Description:
Supporting home repairs in North Sacramento and Rancho Cordova areas for under resourced Senior homeowners.
ReIMAGINE Mack Road Foundation
Awarded: $22,000
Project Description:
Youth workforce development and readiness program that increases academic success, improves social emotional wellbeing and socioeconomics, and increases access to high quality, culturally relevant, youth-focused expanded learning opportunities.
Roberts Family Development Center
Awarded: $10,000
Project Description:
Technology hub and security locker for laptops and electronic equipment for their teen center.
Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates
Awarded: $14,000
Project Description:
A bike mechanics internship program for youth and community members that helps decrease carbon emissions by enabling more people to choose a bike for everyday use.
Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation
Awarded: $54,000
Project Description:
Increases energy efficiency by providing electric HVAC upgrade and indoor lighting of community center for youth, adults and senior services including youth mental wellness program, health and exercise access and education, creative arts and support for cultural entrepreneurial programs.
Sacramento Food Bank (Rio Linda Site)
Awarded: $10,158
Project Description:
Pelican wireless system to support food bank site located and serving the Rio Linda community.
Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation
Awarded: $10,000
Project Description:
A free, fun, experiential learning program, with expansion into Promise Zone area schools, that teaches youth how to start, own and operate their own business using a lemonade stand. Lessons include creating budgets, setting profit-making goals, serving customers, repaying investors and giving back to the community.
Sacramento Valley Conservancy
Awarded: $20,000
Project Description:
Funding the Lower American River Native Nursery and Demonstration Project in collaboration with the Center for Land Based Learning and Sierra Nevada Journey.
Sierra Service Project
Awarded: $30,000
Project Description:
Provides home repairs for under-resourced communities and immigrant/refugee workforce training.
Single Mom Strong
Awarded: $10,000
Project Description:
Funding the expansion of the childcare center and developing work appropriate clothing resources in support of women re-entering workforce.
Sisters Inspiring Sisters
Awarded: $10,000
Project Description:
Promotes women businesses in North Highlands through an entrepreneurial technical assistance and support group.
Stockton Boulevard Partnership
Awarded: $15,000
Project Description:
Engaging business owners and community, using crime prevention through environmental training, to support façade and parking lot lighting upgrades for safety for 5 blocks of Stockton Boulevard.
Voices of Youth
Awarded: $20,000
Project Description:
Summer Nights of Impact: Community and youth development, workforce/job skills training and job placement. Includes career fairs for youth and adults in underserved community around the Fruitridge Community Collaborative.
World Relief Sacramento
Awarded: $25,000
Project Description:
Providing workforce development skills, access to digital literacy and emergency needs for the Afghan refugee community.
AGC of California Construction Education Foundation
Award: $40,000
Project Description:
Career exploration and Workforce Development with high school population in underserved communities. Creating variety of outreach strategies to increase Girls in Construction through online platforms with video until in person outreach is safe.
Alchemist Community Development Corporation
Award: $10,000
Project Description:
Friendliest Bus Stop in Town at 3834 MLK Blvd. Adding a bench, shade structure, solar power kiosk cell phone charger/Wi-Fi for public use, free little library, bike rack, bike pump and repair stand.
Asian Community Center Senior Center
Award: $16,400
Project Description:
ACC will provide 80 refurbished laptops to seniors sheltering in place to participate in technology education and job skills development workshops. Laptop set up will be in home as health interns visits the seniors.
Breakthrough Sacramento
Award: $25,000
Project Description:
Online academic support in math and science for middle school students in an academic year long as well as summer program for students in Sacramento Unified School District, San Juan Unified School District and Twin Rivers Unified School District.
Center for Land-Based Learning
Award: $10,000
Project Description:
Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship in Del Paso Heights at Grant Union High School.
Christ Temple Apostolic Church
Award: $20,100
Project Description:
Upgrading HVAC units for multi-use gym.
City Year Sacramento
Award: $35,839
Project Description:
City Year Sacramento will provide academic support during school hours and after school hours to teachers and students through multiple online formats. Social engagements and resources will also be provided to the families.
Cosumnes Community Services District
Award: $42,000
Project Description:
Elk Grove Nature Park co-located next to Jessie Baker School, California Montessori Project and for public use. This Park with a Purpose will have ADA accessible pathways over wetlands for close interaction with habitat for education curriculum and social inclusion.
Eta Gamma Omega Chapter Foundation
Award: $51,000
Project Description:
Highlighting Global Opportunities: Historic landmark in Oak Park; facilities and equipment improvements including electrical upgrades, technology infrastructure.
First Step Communities
Award: $25,000
Project Description:
The Grove Emergency Bridge Housing: Electrical System Upgrade.
Food Literacy Center
Award: $15,000
Project Description:
STEM curriculum development for outdoor classroom. Nutrition, curriculum translation for multiple languages, kitchen tools and recipe book for 700 families for interactive educational workshops.
Freedom Through Education
Award: $8,000
Project Description:
Providing technology education and employment skills to 30 justice involved adults through a new computer lab located in South Sacramento.
Gateway Community Charter Foundation
Award: $24,000
Project Description:
Development and implementation of Firehouse Café at the Firehouse Community Center in the Del Paso Heights area. Workforce development opportunity for 24 students as well as a Community Living Project at the Firehouse Community Center.
JUMA Ventures
Award: $35,000
Project Description:
Juma Ventures Sacramento Youth Connect 2020: Workforce development in STEM with underrepresented populations and in collaboration with Los Rios Community College District.
National Academic Youth Corps/dba Sojourner’s Truth African Heritage Museum
Award: $35,500
Project Description:
Four installations of art sharing the history of the African American heritage with interactive technology engagements with small learning sessions facilitated by educators in South Sacramento.
National Coalition of 100 Black Women of Sacramento
Award: $1,725
Project Description:
Support STEM online mentoring with female students at Natomas Middle School and professional women in STEM fields to promote interest and engagement in STEM careers through Saturday sessions and some academic supports sessions afterschool.
NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center Sacramento
Award: $10,000
Project Description:
Del Paso Heights Energy Olympics. Energy kits/track usage in collaboration with Brother to Brother mentoring program.
Orangevale Food Bank
Awarded: $9,000
Project Description:
Food Bank capacity improvements to meet increased needs: new roof LED parking lot lights, electrical pallet stack jack, shelving and concrete walkway for forklift.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northern California
Award: $22,000
Project Description:
Upgrade family kitchen and flooring in Home-Away-From-Home program.
Sacramento Native American Health Center
Award: $10,000
Project Summary:
Infrastructure support for new Medical Center in South Sacramento.
Sacramento Public Library
Award: $10,000
Project Description:
Electric vehicle charging station at Sacramento Public Library’s Southgate Library.
Shiloh Baptist Church
Award: $39,040
Project Description:
Upgrade kitchen and food pantry: Energy efficient all-electric kitchen equipment, upgrade HVAC unit.
Soil Born Farms
Award: $17,000
Project Description:
Edible City Initiative: Outdoor classroom space in Rancho Cordova serving diverse community of cultural gardening. Collaboration with FCUSD, SCUSD and CA Native Plant Society.
Street Soccer USA Union Pacific Park
Award: $25,000
Project Description:
Lighting at Union Pacific futsal site serving Marina Vista, Seavey Circle. Formerly homeless adults and youth. Lighting will allow for evening leagues/hours of play for an additional 720 hours. Annual increase of 2720 hours with lights and additional workforce development for youth coaches during evening hours after school.
The River District
Award: $30,000
Project Description:
North 16th and A Street Lighting Project: Improve lighting in pedestrian tunnel, secure water pressure cleaner and art mural.
Volunteers of America
Award: $20,000
Project Description:
Improving the transitional housing for veterans at Bell Street property. 12-unit apartment complex for veterans and their families. Building a laundry room and upgrading washers and dryers.
Washington Neighborhood Center
Award: $27,000
Project Description:
HVAC, electrical and security system upgrades for a Neighborhood Center serving in underrepresented, underserved area near Downtown.
World Relief Sacramento
Award: $1,430
Project Description:
World Relief Sacramento will host gender and culturally specific workshops for computer literacy and workforce development skills for Afghan women and community. Funds will be used to supply internet hotspots and wireless mouse for laptops. COVID shift recently is provide direct support to Afghan families through home visits on behalf of the San Juan Unified School District to assist with digital access for students.
Youth Development Network
Award: $5,000
Project Description:
Nueva Epocha Latinx Emerging Leaders Development Program. Emerging leaders from Hispanic/Latinx community with mentorship for early career professionals.
American River Parkway Foundation
Award: $15,000
Project Description:
Improvements to the River Bend for STEM classes.
California Conservation Corps Foundation
Award: $75,000
Project Description:
Construction of a state-of-the-art Energy Efficiency Training Lab.
Chicks In Crisis
Award: $7,500
Project Description:
Partially pay to purchase and install a new HVAC roof top unit and system and a new tankless, natural gas water heater.
Christ Temple Apostolic Church
Award: $2,066
Project Description:
Replacing existing parking lot lights by replacing the ballast and lamps with LED elements.
City Year Sacramento
Award: $35,000
Project Description:
STEM career curriculum.
Folsom Historic District Association
Award: $30,000
Project Description:
Facility and equipment improvements adding covered shade structure to the outdoor Amphitheater.
Latino Center of Art and Culture
Award: $36,920
Project Description:
Install outdoor lighting on lighting poles to allow greatly increased programming in our outdoor space.
Midtown Parks
Award: $20,000
Project Description:
Light installations including tree lighting, downlight projections on the fort walls and ambient lighting along the walking pathways and pond for Sutter’s Fort.
North State Building Industry Association Foundation
Award: $14,700
Project Description:
Seven, two-hour hands on STEM connected projects in the construction trade.
PRO Youth and Families
Award: $10,000
Project Description:
Energy efficiency improvements to the Fruit Ridge Community Collaborative that houses 23-Non-Profits.
Reading Partners Sacramento
Award: $17,960
Project Description:
Mini STEM Library at the Fruit Ridge Community Collaborative location.
Rebuilding Together Sacramento
Award: $11,950
Project Description:
Home improvements that contribute to the revitalization efforts in a formal partnership between Rebuilding Together Sacramento and Northern California Construction Training Program. 15-additional neighborhoods with residents who have low-income and/or disabilities will be assisted.
Riverside United Methodist Church
Award: $5,000
Project Description:
Construct a multi-use outdoor community gathering spaces on its premises.
Rosemont Community Foundation
Award: $10,000
Project Description:
Volunteers will provide enhancements of Rosemont to include landscaping, weed removal, flowers, greenery and repairs to brick and mortar.
Sacramento LGBT Community Center
Award: $50,000
Project Description:
New Headquarters relocation to 1015 20th Street.
Sacramento Valley Conservancy
Award: $3,921
Project Description:
Camp Pollock Energy-Efficiency & Lighting Improvement Project will install new and upgraded lighting in a community recreational room, with critical updates to the main-hall and kitchen facilities.
Saint John’s Program for Real Change
Award: $47,453
Project Description:
Phase 1 facilities improvements to decrease the energy footprint.
Sierra Service Project
Award: $10,000
Project Description:
Year-long home repair program for residents of North Sacramento and Del Paso Heights.
Stockton Boulevard Partnership
Award: $15,000
Project Description:
Addressing issues in the community such as lighting, security, trash clean-up, graffiti, façade updates and code issues.
Award: $15,989
Project Description
This revitalization and neighborhood cleanup project will address residential blight; cleanup of Pansy Community Garden Park and the renovation of residential blocks in Oak Park.
Cordova Lancers Leaders & Legends
Award: $6,000
Project Description
This workforce development and neighborhood cleanup project provides Cordova High School’s vocational program students basic lawn maintenance skills and how to repair and maintain the equipment they are using.
Del Paso Boulevard Partnership Foundation
Award: $10,500
Project Description:
This crime prevention through environmental design project is to improve safety, reduce crime and raise visibility with the installation of 22 security cameras along Del Paso Boulevard from Highway 160 to Lampasas Avenue. The system includes servers and an upgraded Wi-Fi system for Boulevard business owners in partnership with Sac PD.
Fair Oaks Park Foundation
Award: $5,000
Project Description
This crime prevention through environmental design project will install a solar-augmented electrical system to support security lighting, refrigeration, lighting and power for the Food Closet Farm’s storage shed.
FosterHope Sacramento
Award: $2,329
Project Description
This lighting improvement project increases safety and visibility during supervised visits of foster children by parents and guardians.
Franklin Neighborhood Development Corporation
Award: $51,000
Project Description
This new construction project for Mercado marketplace for low to middle income entrepreneurs will include food trailers and a commercial kitchen that supports new food business incubator programs.
Freedom Through Education
Award: $11,975
Project Description
This workforce and neighborhood cleanup project will provide workplace training for those reentering Sacramento communities from prison and work opportunities to improve the low-income, high-crime community nearby. The neighborhood cleanup project offers free landscaping to low income and disabled residents.
Girls Scouts Heart of Central California
Award: $50,000
Project Description
This facility and equipment improvements project brings STEM education to under-served, low income girls with a new Mobile STEM Center + MakerSpace. Through collaboration with 25 schools and their after-school program providers, GSHCC will deliver a combination of STEM and leadership programming to 500 low income girls in the first-pilot year of operation.
Girls Self-Esteem Program
Award: $5,000
Project Description
This facility and equipment improvements project renovates the spring dance floor, replaces the broken ballet barre and mirrors of a deteriorating dance studio in Oak Park.
Improve Your Tomorrow
Award: $45,926
Project Description
This STEM program for Decoders Anonymous summer coding camp – in partnership with Square Root Academy, CA State University, Sacramento and Cosumnes River College – will place 100 rising juniors in an intensive four-week coding boot camp.
La Familia Counseling Center
Award: $25,000
Project Description
This facility and equipment improvements project for the renovation of Maple Neighborhood Center on Franklin Boulevard serves as a hub for civic engagement, continued learning, entertainment, social interaction and economic empowerment.
Los Rios Colleges Foundation
Award: $48,157
Project Description
This workforce development project for Tiny Home Village and sustainable landscape will provide workforce training in designing and building energy-efficient tiny homes and sustainable landscaping that can serve as a living lab on the Cosumnes River College campus.
Midtown Sacramento PBID Corp (MBA)
Award: $3,040
Project Description
This lighting improvements project for the installation of LED tree lighting at the corner of 24th and K Streets will enhance the optics of multiple restaurants, entertainment and residential customers.
Parent Teacher Home Visits
Award: $27,505
Project Description
This STEM program is for STEM educators who are trained to detect biased behaviors in high-needs schools in Sacramento County. The 4-phase STEM program will:
• Train STEM teachers on using PTHVs relational model of home visits and current research to understand and disrupt unconscious bias in the classroom;
• Utilize PTHVs model to build relationships with their students and families by visiting their homes;
• Provide training to understand the current research on unconscious bias and the role it plays in STEM education;
• And develop a professional process that helps teachers recognize and change thoughts and behaviors that have a basis in their own unconscious bias, and that could be inadvertently limiting their students’ achievement.
Pioneer Congregational United Church of Christ
Award: $15,000
Project Description
This energy-efficiency building upgrades project will renovate a defunct kitchen, which serves approximately 1,800 homeless residents. Pioneer is a winter shelter for the homeless and year-round resource for the housing insecure.
ReIMAGINE Mack Road
Award: $16,837
Project Description
This lighting improvements and workforce project installs new and upgraded lighting in a community recreational space and provides supportive employment opportunities to at-risk youth residing in the Valley-Mack neighborhood in South Sacramento.
Roberts Family Development Center
Award: $51,000
Project Description
This energy-efficiency building upgrades project will update the bathroom and kitchen facilities and a portion of roof repairs and a sprinkler system in the Main Center Hall. The Main Center serves 10 youth daily, 50 parents weekly and 25 outside agencies annually. The Hall is used for over 15 family events annually.
Sacramento Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. / NeighborWorks
Award: $10,000
Project Description
This workforce development and neighborhood cleanup project with NeighborWorks, in partnership with “Brother to Brother” organizes groups of former gang-affiliated men with criminal history who are now active in improving their community and providing leadership to mentor young men. This neighborhood beautification project organizes cleanups and gleans produce from neighbors’ yards.
San Juan Unified School District
Award: $2,500
Project Description
This STEM program will provide materials and equipment for Rio Americano High School’s Robotics Team World Championship International Robotics Competition in Houston, Texas.
Sierra Nevada Journeys
Award: $2,500
Project Description
This STEM program and workforce development project assists with a teacher boot camp to help educators implement the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) adopted in 2013. The Boot Camp focuses on teachers in under-served communities, such as North Sacramento.
Watt Avenue Partnership (80 Watt District)
Award: $20,000
Project Description
This crime prevention through environmental design project will make the district a safer place, while increasing business/customer traffic through the installation of security cameras to address pervasive crime, increase property values, attract businesses and improve the neighborhood's image.
California FFA Foundation
Award: $11,500
Project Description:
The Streaming Towards Your Future project will allow students the opportunity to stream videos that highlight career pathways and give them real-life examples of former FFA members who are currently employed in those jobs within the area. Our project will develop a series of 4 videos’ that will each highlight an individual that is an in-demand career pathway. Pathways will be based on employer needs within the SMUD service territory and will relate to skills currently being honed by local high school FFA chapters.
Center for Land-Based Learning
Award: $9,384
Project Description
Habitat restoration at Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is the perfect opportunity to provide a real-world learning experience for Valley High School students. This project offers high school students and community volunteers the opportunity to positively contribute to local environmental stewardship efforts while learning. The program is designed around a series of four full-day field trips to an adopted restoration project where high school students participate in a wide variety of habitat restoration tasks. These activities follow the restoration cycle and include planting native vegetation, installing drip irrigation, removing invasive species, building and installing nest boxes for secondary cavity nesting birds and monitoring plant survival.
CLARA
Award: $9,500
Project Description
Establish a Neighborhood Community Garden at CLARA (the E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts at 2420 N Street). Some years back, we established two neighborhood community gardens in this area - both sites are now developed with housing. However, the lawn area in front of CLARA is ideal to replace with a community garden - and we have a plan initially prepared in conjunction with William Maynard, the city community garden coordinator.
Common Ground Community Development Corporation
Award: $10,000
Project Description
In one of the most diverse areas in one of the most diverse cities in America, The Common Ground CDC Community Garden is establishing an “urban oasis” for the residents of the Valley Hi Community of Sacramento.
The Urban Oasis exists to provide a place of connection, nutritional education, and access to healthy food for all people. The project embodies the idea that everyone should have equal access to live a healthy life, and that we are simply better together. The Urban Oasis is a community garden that will be managed by students from the local high school in an After School Garden Club that will utilize Hands-On STEM: Garden-Based Education curriculum to reinforce STEM learning outside the classroom. In addition to providing continued STEM learning, nutrition and agricultural education will also be provided. Furthermore, the students will have the opportunity to conduct community workshops on health and nutrition. Students will also learn soft skills such as teamwork, appreciating differences, public speaking, and stewardship.
Crocker Art Museum
Award: $20,000
Project Description
The Crocker Art Museum seeks funding in the amount of $35,000 from SMUD to implement Block by Block 2.0, an arts engagement initiative focused on enhancing community life and cultural participation in ways that resonates with diverse audiences, affirms the relevance and value of the arts, supports and encourages creativity and resilience within youth, and most importantly, builds channels for community connectivity and exchange beyond historical, constructed and self-imposed silos. Among other goals, Block by Block 2.0 aims to break down barriers and strengthen connections between the Crocker Art Museum and the community by co-creating neighborhood-based arts experiences with youth, community leaders, and artists interested in using the arts to improve the quality of life in Sacramento’s Promise Zone.
Del Paso Boulevard Partnership
Award: $10,000
Project Description
The Art Nursery of Old North Sacramento will transform a 3/4 acre vacant corner lot and building on Del Paso Blvd into a family-friendly, indoor/outdoor venue with a food and beverage component; a creative placemaking research and design facility; an events center that specializes in community and non-profit events; and, a STEM education facility that includes the arts. Its overarching goal is to create employment opportunities, especially for students, the partially disabled and other disadvantaged sectors.
Fairytale Town
Award: $25,000
Project Description
The Sacramento Adventure Playground is a free after-school youth development program, powered by Fairytale Town and located at Maple Neighborhood Center (formerly Maple Elementary School) in South Sacramento. Essentially a maker lab, the Adventure Playground puts real tools – hammers, nails, drills, saws, paints, clay, and such – into the hands of youth ages 7 to 15 so they can bring their creative ideas to life. The Adventure Playground is open year-round during after-school hours and on Saturdays. In addition, the Playground offers a Community Day once a month so children of all ages can participate in the unique play opportunities that are offered there. The Adventure Playground also offers play activities for children participating in the summer lunch program at Maple Neighborhood Center and for school field trips to the Center. Plus, we are developing programs for specific audiences such as children with disabilities and home-school students.
Greater Broadway Partnership
Award: $10,000
Project Description
The Greater Broadway District is looking to innovative technologies to help ease our clean and safe issues on Broadway. We would like to place two Bigbelly trash and two Bigbelly recycle bins in the Tower District of Greater Broadway. The Bigbelly bin is a solar-powered cordless trash compaction system. They will reduce the number of trash collections as well as eliminate trash overflow. The bins also include Wi-Fi so that a text message is sent out when they require service reducing needless trips.
Health Education Council
Award: $30,000
Project Description
Walk with Friends - Nielsen Park, a project of the Health Education Council (HEC), will partner with SMUD, Valley Hi residents and the City of Sacramento to revitalize Roy J. Nielsen Park located at 7800 Center Parkway, Sacramento, 95823.
The proposed project will expand community alliances and enhance Valley Hi by working with Charles Mack parents and other residents to identify and complete at least two physical improvements to Nielsen Park making it safer and more inviting to residents. Walk with Friends - Nielsen Park will work with residents, SMUD employees, city leaders and Sacramento Parks and Recreation to complete a Park Audit (see attached documentation) which will determine Valley Hi residents’ top priorities for improvements to the Park. The partners will then work together to complete two short-term physical improvements to the park with the help of SMUD volunteers during the award period and will develop a longer-term plan for completing at least two more improvements after the funding ends.
My Sister's House
Award: $20,000
Project Description:
My Sister's House project is to add a kitchen and storage area to its training area so that its domestic violence survivors and staff and volunteers can have a better food prep and clean-up area for trainings and for self-care, This is especially needed as currently, a bathroom sink is where dishes are cleaned. There is no kitchen or storage area at My Sister's House training where more than 30 victims receive training one night a week, with their children and are fed immediately prior to the training. At least 5 days a week My Sister's House holds a group meeting at its training site.
NeighborWorks
Award: $10,000
Project Description
Through our annual Paint The Town home improvement project, NeighborWorks Sacramento will select a street in the Del Paso neighborhood and work with a 6 – 12 teams of volunteers to complete 15 – 20 home and neighborhood improvement projects, all at no cost to the home owner.
Rosemont Community Foundation
Award: $10,000
Project Description
This grant application focuses on the maintenance and prevention aspect of neighborhood clean up for community and economic development. The work proposed to be done with this grant includes, as prioritized by circumstances at the time;
• community cleanup of occasional illegal dumps;
• providing assistance in immediately abating graffiti that occasionally appears here;
• sponsoring regular “dumpster days” where residents can bring their unwanted items and dispose of them for free (a recent dumpster day collected over 43 tons)
• doing landscaping and weed abatement work at vacant properties where there is no development or responsible owners;
• supporting the communication systems of RCA in the community;
• maintenance and installation of entrance signage to better identify the community to those who may consider living here;
• securing more code and law enforcement support;
• assisting to support other organizations here that provide complimentary community services.
Award: $39,490
Project Description
In 2016, SNAHC completed a major expansion and converted of a pre-1970’s office building into primary care medical and comprehensive dental facilities expanding its midtown footprint to just over 40,000 square feet. Although that project was completed, we have yet to achieve the state of the art health environment we envision; an environment that is energy efficient and accessible for all patients regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability. In order to achieve this goal, we seek SMUD’s support with outstanding items that remain a priority for us including;
1) Energy Efficient HVAC Units
2) Handicapped accessible pro-slide automatic doors at both medical and dental entrances; and,
3) New floors in Community Meeting Room
Award: $12,500
Project Description:
A park improvement project to improve the environment of the park, encourage greater use, and provide amenities that are not currently present at the site. New items include an addition to the children's play area, an off leash dog area, a group use picnic shelter with new tables and a grill, rehab of the existing tennis courts into a multi-sport facility (basketball court, tennis court, volleyball, badminton, pickle ball, and small court soccer); improvements to the parking area and park pathways to meet accessibility standards; and addition of safety lighting on the park walkways and LED lighting in the parking lot.
Sierra Nevada Journeys
Award: $24,958
Project Description
Sierra Nevada Journeys provides Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and outdoor science education to Sacramento area 1st – 6th graders, predominantly from low-income areas, through our Classrooms Unleashed program. The Classrooms Unleashed program will deliver grade-appropriate state science standard based programming to each class during three classroom lessons and a half-day outdoor science experience at a local nature site. In addition to the programming we’ll deliver directly to the children, SNJ will provide their teachers (89 total) with five innovative, ready-to-use STEM lessons that extend and reinforce the concepts, skills and ideas from each unit. SNJ seeks SMUD award to help fund the considerable Classrooms Unleashed program’s growth – nearly double – from last school year. Current funding through grants and in-kind volunteerism covers 68% of this Fall’s project. With SMUD’s help, SNJ will be able to provide Classrooms Unleashed programming to all 18 schools and 89 classrooms.
Square Root Academy
Award: $30,750
Project Description
The Square Root Academy is proposing to expand its existing Saturday program at John Still K-8 by adding a second 30-student cohort to its weekly schedule. Each week, thirty middle school aged, low-income, minority students are led through a hands on STEM based activity (detailed later in this proposal) by a team of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited instructors. To ensure the delivery of high impact and personalized instruction, we maintain a ratio of one instructor for every seven students. Support from SMUD would allow for us to double the number of students being served through this highly successful weekly STEM offering.
Stockton Blvd Partnership
Award: $10,000
Project Description
The purpose of the Block by Block Program is to identify and assess blocks with high crime statistics, chronic homelessness, prostitution issues, or extreme blight using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). This program will address specific issues such as lighting, security, trash clean up, graffiti, facade updates, and code issues. The Block by Block program will enhance the physical environment of Stockton Boulevard in order to reduce criminal activity and encourage a safe environment for businesses to thrive and residents and patrons to live, work, and play. Project goals:
1. Identify specific areas along Stockton Blvd between 2nd Ave and 65th Street which are high in crime to complete the contiguous block by block assessment. 2. Complete assessment identifying CPTED issues, using the principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). 3. Successfully address priority items identified in assessment to encourage a safe place. 4. Educate property and business owners on CPTED, Financial Literacy, Energy Efficiency, and other as needed subjects. 5. Create a new culture that encourages community involvement and sustainability.
Sunrise Little League
Award: $6,067
Project Description
This project is to revitalize and improve safety on two of the four little league baseball fields at C-Bar-C Park located in Citrus Heights. The project is to upgrade the sprinkler system on both fields as well as remove and replace the infield on one of the fields. The watering system is out of date and inefficient to keep the fields in a playable condition year after year. With an update to one watering system of one the fields we hope to be able to bring back life to that field and the other field is to the point where the grass will have to be replaced.
Watt Avenue Partnership
Award: $4,910
Project Description
The proposed project is to make the district a safer place at night, while increasing business/customer traffic, through the installation of five additional nightlights within the boundaries of the partnership.
William Land Elementary - Parent Teacher Association
Award: $4,927
Project Description
Drought tolerant plants and energy efficient drip irrigation will be installed at the William Land Elementary site. The sidewalk landscape will also be improved by putting a material that prevents run off and withstand the demanding foot traffic from students and their caregivers as they walk to and from the school site. In addition, we will add a Community Library Box that will house Grade level books about the science/botany of the plants we reviewed and other STEM material and include the addition of other books from the community.
Wind Youth Services
Award: $100,000
Project Description
Wind Youth Services (Wind) is forging a new model for a youth drop-in center that co-locates youth service providers and anchors a plethora of services at one site. The site for this innovative project has been selected and we are in the final stages of escrow. With the SMUD SHINE program as a partner we will be able to install state-of the-art shower and restroom facilities, laundry facilities and install solar power.
The new drop-in Center (Wind Center) is being developed in response to the current lack of services that are not connected to housing, and waits as long as a year for most housing. With such long waits for housing, it is essential that services greet youth on Day 1 so that progress toward diploma, employment, and healing can begin. Without our facilities, they would likely not be able to be employed, and thus will never move out of homelessness.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible to apply for Shine program funding?
All applicants must be incorporated nonprofit organizations within SMUD's service area.
Typical examples of eligible nonprofit organizations:
- Community-based organizations
- Property-based improvement districts
- Chambers of Commerce
- Neighborhood Associations
- Homeowners Associations
An eligible nonprofit must be the lead agency listed on the application and will be responsible for meeting all terms of the funding agreement.
These may apply as co-applicants with an incorporated nonprofit organization. Requirements:
- Identify an eligible nonprofit as the fiscal agent for the project
- Awarded funds will be disbursed only to a project’s identified fiscal agent
Examples of municipal organizations include:
- Cities
- Counties
- Special districts
- School districts
Can an organization submit more than one Shine program proposal?
No. Each primary applicant may submit one application per annual funding cycle. So, pick your best concept and submit the most compelling application.
I’m a partner on an application, but not the primary applicant. Can I still submit my own application for a different project?
Yes. You may be a partner on multiple applications. You may only be the primary applicant on one application in a single annual funding cycle.
How much funding can be awarded for my project?
We have 3 tiers for awards:
Is there a minimum amount to apply for?
No. We appreciate receiving well thought out budgets which satisfy the match requirements.
We’re providing matching funds for several Shine program proposals. May we apply on behalf of more than one program?
Cost-saving collaborations benefit everyone, and we welcome proposals from organizations who receive support by a fiscal sponsor. You may be a fiscal sponsor on multiple applications in the same year, but may only be the applicant on one project during that term.
If we are awarded program funding, can we apply again next year for sustainability funding?
Yes. You may apply for funding – with the required match secured – each year. However, we encourage applicants to design projects with long-term funding sustainability. Applications are scored based on a number of factors, including long-term sustainability.
Can we use the Shine Award as matching funds for another grant application?
Matching funds are required for all Shine program projects:
- Selected projects must have a high likelihood of success
- All matching funds must be guaranteed and not contingent upon any unmet conditions or obligations, such as a pending grant.
- If you have grant funding opportunities that require a match, your Shine program award can be applied to another funder’s match requirement, but Shine program approved project must be independent of those uncommitted funds.
- We want to ensure that the project completion is not contingent on other, non-committed funding.
Please clarify the funding match. How much cash and in-kind is required?
Shine program award recipients are required to contribute matching funds to their projects. Matching funds can be provided as either cash or in-kind contributions. If matching funds are being contributed by an organization other than the applicant, a letter of commitment from that organization must be submitted with the applicant's submission. The letters of commitment need to distinguish between match that is provided as cash and match that is provided in-kind. For Amplifier and Transformer funding tiers, the in-kind portion of the match cannot exceed 50% of the match requirement.
What qualifies as in-kind services?
In-kind contributions are defined as materials or labor that an organization commits to a project in lieu of cash.
In the case of donated labor, use this formula:
- The donor’s hourly rate of compensation based on their specialty or field, multiplied by
- The number of hours that will be contributed over the active term of the project (e.g. Carpenter at a rate of $60/hour x 20 hours labor.
- In-kind services must be valued at market rate
For materials, we request that applicants use the retail value of the goods or materials provided.
How is this program different from SMUD's other sponsorship program? Which one should I apply for?
Here are the key features of each:
Our general sponsorship program:
- Year round application
- Typically limited to awards less than $5,000
- Most sponsorships are for events
Shine Awards:
- Applicants must demonstrate their capacity to contribute matching funds if selected
- Shine applicants will compete for very limited funding
- Shine Awards will only be considered during a specific application period each year
What kinds of projects can be funded with a Shine Award?
Shine Awards are available for a variety of projects. Here are a few examples:
- Promotion of energy efficiency, energy conservation, and greenhouse gas reduction
- New investment in renewable energy resources and technologies
- Community Education related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, STEM-related fields, health and safety and technology skills
- Demonstration of an energy technology for which there is no consumer adoption, or limited consumer adoption
- Services provided to low-income electricity customers
- Community and workforce development, particularly for diverse and under-served communities
- Community revitalization and placemaking
- Public transit access and safety, access and safety for walkability
- Building or site electrification to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Is sustainability of my project a factor?
Absolutely. Proposals should address how you plan to secure funding to keep your program in place after this award cycle. During the review process, specific plans which are sustainable will be ranked higher than general plans.
What information is necessary about our board members?
- Name
- Board position
- Name of their business / community
Are MOU’s (Memorandum of Understanding) required for collaborative partners?
No. We do require a letter of commitment signed by a person authorized to enter into commitments on behalf of each partner organization. These may be combined with letters of commitment for matching funds.
Note: We’ll develop MOU’s between SMUD and winning applicants.
Please clarify "collaboration".
If you’re collaborating with others on this project, please give us each partner’s specific role. If individuals, businesses or others are providing cash or in-kind support, delineate the type and dollar value. These partners can help you achieve the match requirements.
How long do we have to complete our project?
Recipients have as follows:
If SMUD has already provided sponsorship funding for a project, can it also receive a Shine Award?
No. This was allowed only in our inaugural year – 2017.
If our project isn’t selected this year, may we resubmit next year?
Yes! We encourage you to resubmit your proposal.
Contact information
Email shine@smud.org or Betty Low at Betty.Low@smud.org.