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.
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.
Generally, Emerging Needs Grants are not awarded for:
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
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:
When reviewing Emerging Needs Grant applications we look for:
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.
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:
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 (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.
To receive notices and updates for both funding opportunities, please send an email to alayna.cruz@paloalto.gov.