Community Benefit Grant Program

2025 Grant Recipients

Feeding the Foothills – Provides emergency food response and distribution to those in need throughout Placer, El Dorado, and Nevada Counties. With this grant funding, Feeding the Foothills can continue to uplift and strengthen our shared communities with the ability to provide access to healthy foods for people of all ages, genders, race, and ethnicities impacted by a multitude of life-changing circumstances.

Silver Wishes – Supports seniors living in Placer County through granting wishes, helping seniors with everything from overcoming a challenge or reconnecting with separated family. This grant funding will be used to turn more wishes for local seniors into reality.

KVRM Public Radio – Works to raise awareness and mobilize the community to prevent and prepare for wildfires through increased planning, strategic partnerships, and ongoing public engagement. This grant funding will go towards KVRMs mission to connect, inform, and empower their community by developing content that celebrates diversity in music and culture and fosters civic engagement and good will.

Application window has now closed.

Grants of $10,000 - $25,000 will be awarded to non-profit organizations in Pioneer service territory

Pioneer Community Energy (Pioneer) is now accepting applications for its first ever Community Benefits Grant. In partnership with Calpine Energy Solutions (Calpine), this funding opportunity supports local non-profit organizations in Pioneer’s service territory (The unincorporated areas of Placer and El Dorado counties and the incorporated areas of Auburn, Colfax, Grass Valley, Lincoln, Loomis, Nevada City, Placerville, and Rocklin).

The deadline to submit applications is July 15, 2025 The next application window will open June 2026.

Pioneer will host an informational webinar on Wednesday, June 18th at 1:30p.m., to further share grant details. Those interested in attending the webinar can visit our Upcoming Events page.

Requirements

501(c)3 non-profits
Impact and visibility within Pioneer’s territory
Ability to measure/quantify funding impact and benefits
Alignment with 1 or more priority focus areas:
- Research/Planning for Wildfire Mitigation
- Education
- Workforce Development
- Support for Economically Disadvantaged Groups/Individuals

How to apply

Interested organizations should apply using the application linked below, submitting applications by 5 pm pst, on July 15th, to communitybenefits@calpinesolutions.com.

Have more questions? Check out our webinar!

Pioneer hosted an informational webinar with Calpine on Wednesday, June 18th at 1:30 p.m., to share further grant details, and answer potential questions.