4Rs Grants Program

Mini Grant: Previously, the Mini Grant (for funding requests from $2,000 to $5,000) was available to support and fund small projects that educated and increased awareness around the 4Rs – including reducing waste, increasing recycling, increasing or implementing composting, and increasing reuse. The Mini Grant was designed to serve a variety of potential applicants who needed access to small amounts of funding for a limited time and for a specific purpose.

Mega Grant: Previously, the Mega Grant (for funding requests up to $25,000) was available for qualified entities to help initiate or expand innovative programs that promoted reuse, waste reduction, recycling, and composting or education about these environmental issues throughout San Mateo County (county-wide focus).

• Classroom workshops, trainings, or activities by nonprofits
• School garden start-up funding, which included funding for garden structures such as sheds and garden beds constructed with salvaged lumber
• Fixit Clinics or other reuse/repair projects
• Food waste reduction and reuse programs
• Materials associated with expanding/implementing a campus/facility-wide recycling, reuse or waste reduction program
• Environmental educational field trips to waste or recycling facilities, museums, etc.
• Books, materials and equipment, which were utilized by teachers and students over the years

• PY2018-19 Grantee Snapshot: $200,239 total grant funding, 6 Mega Grants and 10 Mini Grants distributed.
• PY2019-20 Grantee Snapshot: $302,038 total grant funding, 11 Mega Grants and 15 Mini Grants distributed.
• PY2020-21 Grantee Snapshot: $199,615 total grant funding, 6 Mega Grants and 12 Mini Grants distributed.
• PY2021-22 Grantee Snapshot: $245,236 total grant funding, 8 Mega Grants and 12 Mini Grants distributed.
• PY2022-23 Grantee Snapshot: $194,066 total grant funding, 6 Mega Grants and 10 Mini Grants distributed.