MARIN COUNTY — October 26, 2026. Marin County is accepting community project proposals for grants ranging from $10,000 to $250,000 in its second Participatory Budgeting cycle. The county has set aside $2.5 million in total funding and says applications are due by 11:59 p.m. December 2, 2026.

Who may apply

Eligible organizations include certain nonprofits with 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) status. Marin also allows people ages 14 and older who live, attend school or work in the county to apply with an appropriate fiscal sponsor. Merely living in Marin does not automatically make a personal expense grant-eligible: applicants must propose a project meeting the program criteria.

Marin says it is particularly interested in ideas from communities experiencing greater disparities, including Marin City, the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael, parts of Novato and West Marin. More than 280 ideas had been submitted when the county announced the application window. Residents and nonprofits can use those ideas or propose projects of their own.

How decisions will be made

The Office of Equity is offering optional free project and budget coaching through November 30, as well as English- and Spanish-language workshops. Eligible projects will be placed before the public for voting in March–April 2027, with grant awards expected later in spring and implementation after that.

The $250,000 figure is a maximum award, not a guaranteed payment to every applicant. Check the county’s Office of Equity grant portal for formal requirements.

Source: Marin County Office of Equity, October 14, 2026.

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