Do you have an idea on how to reduce pollution in our waterways?
Or maybe you have a passion to improve your local creek, making it healthier and better for the plants and wildlife that live there.
If you have a creative and innovative project that furthers our mission of providing safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment and economy, we can help you bring that project to life.
Through our Grants & Partnerships Program, Valley Water offers funding that can help make your project idea become a reality and make a difference for your community and the environment.
Grants & Partnership Programs:
Standard Grants Program
Next grant cycle is expected in Fall 2024. Click here for more information.
Valley Water offers various grants to qualified organizations looking to make a lasting change in our communities. We may be able to help if you have a project idea that:
- Promotes water conservation
- Helps prevent pollution
- Restores wildlife habitat
- Increases access to trails and open space
- Helps clean up creeks
- Educates students or the public on any of the issues above
By partnering with schools, businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and other organizations, we can accomplish more. Beginning with the 2022 funding cycle, Valley Water is accepting applications for all grant opportunities. Funding levels vary depending on the project area.
To learn more, visit our Standard Grant Program page.
New Mini-Grant Program
Applications are accepted year-round!
Do you have a small-scale project idea or need help kickstarting a larger project? Valley Water is excited to introduce our new Mini-Grant Program, designed to provide seed funding to encourage activities that further safe, clean drinking water, water conservation, flood protection, and environmental stewardship in Santa Clara County.
Now, you can apply for funding of up to $10,000 per project; no match funding is required! These changes make it easier than ever to get the support you need.
The Mini-Grant Program ensures equitable access to resources for all communities throughout the county. Funding priority is given to first-time applicants to support new projects.
To learn more about our new program and how to apply, visit our Mini-Grant Program page.
Valley Water Refill Station Grant Program
Applications are accepted year-round
Valley Water is excited to partner with the community through the Valley Water Refill Station Grant Program. These grants are designed to provide funding for the installation of water bottle refill stations to expand drinking water access, especially in economically disadvantaged communities or locations serving school-age children and students in Santa Clara County. With clean drinking water from these refill stations and increased use of refillable bottles, let’s do our part to help reduce plastic waste from single-use plastic water bottles.
To learn more, visit our Valley Water Refill Station Grant Program page.
Why partner with Valley Water?
We do better together!
As a public agency, we strive to protect and enhance water supply and habitat, but we can't do it all on our own.
That's why we have made a commitment to partner with our community to empower change and make a difference together. Grant funds are also open to a wide breadth of community members and organizations, allowing resources to be equitably accessed by all communities throughout the county.
Success Stories
Check out the projects Valley Water and the community have worked on together to benefit our waterways and environment. To learn more, visit our Success Stories page.
Where do Valley Water’s grant funds come from?
Funding for Valley Water grants come from a special parcel tax, not water rates. In November 2020, voters in Santa Clara County overwhelmingly approved Measure S, a renewal of Valley Water’s Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program. This program provides approximately $47 million annually for local projects that deliver safe, clean water, natural flood protection, and environmental stewardship to all the communities in Santa Clara County.
In the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program, funding for community grants and partnerships was re-organized and consolidated under Project F9: Grants and Partnerships for Safe, Clean Water, Flood Protection and Environmental Stewardship. “The measure that voters approved in 2020 included four areas where grant funds could be expended: standard grants, water bottle filling stations, mini-grants and partnerships. We are committed to awarding these taxpayer dollars as voters intended and to monitoring and reporting to the public on the status of projects.”
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected] or (408) 630-2080.
Are you interested in staying in touch? Sign up for our mailing list to receive emails on future funding opportunities.
