About the Youth Community Access Grant Program
The Youth Community Access (YCA) Grant Program serves youth from low-income and disadvantaged communities and provides access to natural and cultural resources. The program is funded by the Youth, Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account (YEPEITA), created by Proposition 64.
Awarded projects will provide California youth with fieldtrips to national, state, and regional parks; cultural sites; events, and practices; and provide educational programming and workforce development opportunities in natural and cultural resource fields.
The YCA Grant Program helps advance the efforts of California's Outdoors for All initiative, which seeks to expand park and nature access in communities with little outdoor space, support programs to connect people who lack access, and foster a sense of belonging for all Californians in the outdoors.
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2026 YCA Grant Cycle: Round 4 Status
The Draft Guidelines
Public Comment period has closed as of August 14, 2026. Final Guidelines and the Concept Proposal Solicitation (Step 1) will be released September 2026. |
Youth Community Access Project Highlights
Program Information
Round 4 Available Funding
Approximately $15,000,000
Eligible Applicants
- State and local public agencies
- Nonprofit organizations
- California Native American tribes
Competitive Application Process
- Concept Proposal Submission
- Eligibility/Program Fit Review
- Full Proposal Submission
- Competitive Review/Scoring
- Awards
Anticipated 2026 Timeline:
July 1
Public Comment Period Begins
August 14
Public Comment Period Ends
Late August
Process Public Comments
September
Concept Proposals Solicitation (Step 1) in RAPTR
The YCA Team
Ka-Ryn Escovedo, Program Manager
Rebecca Griffin, Program Lead
Michelle Maghari, Program Lead
Email: ycagrants@resources.ca.gov
Phone: 916-653-2812
Please subscribe to CNRA Grants Announcements to stay informed on future YCA funding opportunities.
