San Diego County District Attorney's Office
COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM
Request for Applications (RFA)
2027 Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Program

BACKGROUND:

The San Diego County District Attorney's Office is committed to supporting innovative, community-based solutions that promote safety, stability, and well-being for youth transitioning into adulthood. As part of this commitment, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office is seeking partnerships with organizations providing new and creative approaches designed to address the needs of Transitional Age Youth (TAY) ages 18 to 24.

The Community Grant Program is seeking applications from organizations providing programs addressing the needs of at-risk TAY populations. Programs should address the highest needs of the TAY population and include new and promising strategies that address the challenges faced during transition into adulthood, including but not limited to employment, stable housing, education, healthcare including behavioral health, life skills and independence and community connectedness.

FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:

The TAY Program is a funding opportunity of up to $100,000 for a twelve (12) month period. Program funding is not intended to be on-going but is intended to provide seed funding to support new, innovative projects that have not previously been implemented. Proposals should demonstrate a creative approach, clear outcomes, and a strong alignment with the needs of the TAY population in a manner that demonstrates strong and substantive evidence to seek sustainable funding.

Applicants are encouraged to request only the amount necessary to successfully launch and implement their project. Programs should include a sustainability plan to secure long-term funding beyond the grant term. Funds cannot be used to supplement or replace existing program funding.

Existing partnerships with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office or other County programs will not receive preference. Applicants are encouraged to consider innovation as a priority and not state, imply, or reference serving these populations in their application, as such information will not be considered during evaluation.

Please note the expectation to incorporate the use of evidence-based and/or evidence-informed practices where applicable, including periodic reporting of performance measures, expenditure status and program outcomes.

TAY POPULATION DEFINITION:

Transitional Age Youth (TAY) are defined as individuals ages 18 to 24 who are transitioning into adulthood and may face barriers related to independence, stability, education, employment, mental health, or housing. Effective proposals will demonstrate a strong understanding of the unique needs, vulnerabilities, and strengths of this population.

PROGRAM EMPHASIS:

The TAY Program is designed exclusively for new and innovative approaches. Proposals should clearly demonstrate a new idea, strategy, method, or model. Existing programs seeking continuation or expansion of existing services are not eligible for this funding opportunity.

Selected projects will help guide future program development and may contribute to long-term strategies for supporting TAY populations across the region.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

  • Organizations must be TAY-focused and able to demonstrate experience or readiness to serve youth ages 18 to 24.
  • Organizations must hold a valid Business License or be a Non-Profit Organization with at least one (1) year in operation.
  • Must possess any required licenses, permits, insurances, or permissions needed to carry out the proposed project.
  • Must comply with all laws applicable to wages and hours of employment, occupational safety, fire safety, health, and sanitation.
  • Willingness to enter into an agreement with the San Diego County District Attorney's Office and meet all contractual obligations identified in the Agreement. The Agreement is the County of San Diego's standard agreement; modifications may not be requested: RFA 2027 CGP Agreement (PDF)

ANTICIPATED APPLICATION TIMELINE:

Grant Portal Opening: 9 AM Monday, September 14, 2026 (Link will show at bottom of this page)
Grant Applications Due: 4:59 PM Monday, October 5, 2026
Grant Portal Closes: 5:00 PM Monday, October 5, 2026
Application Review Period: Tuesday, October 6 – Friday, December 4, 2026
Applicant Notifications & Agreement Processing: Monday, December 7 – Thursday, December 31, 2026
Grants Effective: Friday, January 1, 2027

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Portal Opens: Monday, September 14, 2026, at 9:00 AM (Link will show at bottom of this page)
  • Grant Applications Due: Monday, October 5, 2026, at 4:59 PM (PST) (No exceptions will be made for late submissions)

Submission Requirements

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Community Grant Program Application Portal and include:


  • Community Grant Program E-Application – Completed and submitted via the application portal.
  • California Form 590 – Withholding Exemption Certificate – submitted within the application portal as an attachment.
  • W-9 Form – Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification – submitted within the application portal as an attachment.

Important:

  • Tax forms must be uploaded in Adobe PDF format within the e-application.
  • Tax forms must be signed by the authorized representative.
  • Additional attachments beyond these required documents will not be reviewed.

Confirmation of Submission

After submitting the e-application and required documents through the application portal, your organization will receive an automated confirmation email. If you do not receive confirmation, email CommunityGrant@SanDiegoDA.gov immediately.

Applicants are responsible for resolving any technical issues and ensuring timely submission well before the deadline.

Applicant Responsibilities

  • Ensure accurate contact information in your application.
  • If clarification is needed, the Reviewing Committee will contact you via email from CommunityGrant@SanDiegoDA.gov. Failure to respond within the specified timeframe will result in your application not being considered for funding.

Application Questions

Refer to the Sample Application as a tool to assist with reviewing the application questions: Sample Application (PDF)

Application Assistance

Refer to the Crosswalk to Program Definitions and the Crosswalk to Grant Application Requirements as tools to assist with completing your application. The tools can be accessed here:

POST-AWARD REQUIREMENT:

Mandatory Webinar Training: Grant recipients must attend a mandatory webinar training on the Community Grant Program's reporting requirements and reporting portal. The date will be provided upon award notification.

Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements: Grant recipients must meet the Community Grant Program's monitoring and evaluation requirements, which include:

  • Monthly Reports: Submit data on individuals served, including names or unique identifiers, and both unduplicated (new) and duplicated counts. If the scope of the program plan does not include providing direct services to the public or there were no participants served during the month, provide a brief description of the program progress and status.
  • Semiannual Reports: Submit two semi-annual reports, one report at 6 months and one report at 12 months detailing program outcome measurement achievement and progress, goal achievement, successes, challenges, expenditure status and any additional relevant information.

COMMUNICATION POLICY:

The San Diego County District Attorney's Office is committed to the equitable treatment of all applicants.

Applicants who contact District Attorney staff directly regarding their application may be disqualified.

Direct all questions to CommunityGrant@SanDiegoDA.gov.

READY TO APPLY?

Apply here: https://apps.sdcda.org/miscpubapps/auth/communityGrantApplication

Thank you for your interest in the District Attorney's Community Grant Program