Partnership Funding Opportunity
Grant Program
Applications open in January 2026
Stay up-to-date by subscribing to our newsletter.
CTE Foundation’s Partnership Funding Opportunity (PFO) is a grant program that allows schools and districts to use awarded funds to experiment with new and innovative education strategies that provide authentic learning opportunities and help students explore and prepare for meaningful careers in Sonoma County.
The following information is designed to provide applicants with a clear understanding of the Partnership Funding Opportunity priorities, structure, and timeline, to ensure a simple and transparent process.
Eligibility to Receive Funding
CTE Foundation provides funding only to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) serving Sonoma County students in grades 6–12, including public schools, districts, and private or charter schools serving student populations considered high-risk, underserved, or under-resourced.
Youth-serving nonprofits interested in requesting funds must partner with a local school or district. In these cases, the LEA must serve as the official applicant and, if awarded, all grant funds will be issued to the school or district. The school or district may then distribute funds to the partnering nonprofit according to the structure outlined in the proposal.
Our “Trust-Based Philanthropy” Approach
CTE Foundation has adopted a trust-based philanthropy model for funding local schools. This simplified approach focuses on building and strengthening relationships with our school partners that is rooted in open, honest, and transparent communication, trust, and mutual accountability. Our aim is to make the application for funds and, if awarded, the reporting process simpler and more accessible to all schools and districts across Sonoma County.
CTE Foundation Funding Priorities
CTE Foundation is willing to explore supporting a wide range of ideas and proposals. Because our funds are limited, proposals that align with the priorities below will increase the likelihood that a proposal is selected to receive funding.
Efforts that expand access to high-quality internships for high school students – particularly through the Path to Purpose Youth Internship Program. This may include staff time and coordination, systems-building, student readiness supports, or the creation of courses or programs such as Work Experience Education (WEE) that prepare students for career-connected learning and allow them to participate in off-campus work experience or internships.
Requests for equipment or consumable materials that are necessary for high-quality, hands-on learning experiences aligned with pathway instruction. Examples include lab supplies, industry-aligned tools, technology, culinary consumables, or materials for engineering, health, agriculture, or other CTE programs.
Professional development, CTE credentialing support, externships, or training that increase teacher capacity to deliver high-quality, career-connected learning. This may include support for new CTE teachers, collaborative learning communities, or educator-industry externships.
Projects that build, strengthen, or integrate CTE pathways, including course sequencing, collaborative structures across schools, and alignment between middle school, high school, and postsecondary education. This includes the development of integrated pathways, which intentionally blend CTE courses with A–G academic coursework and structured work-based learning to create a cohesive, college- and career-preparatory program. These efforts may also include improving connections between academic courses and CTE pathways.
Programs that offer students opportunities to earn industry-valued credentials while still in high school. Examples include OSHA-10, Adobe or Autodesk certifications, ServSafe, CPR/First Aid, Google or IT certifications, or sector-specific credentials aligned with Sonoma County industries.
Structured mentorship programs – provided by teachers, counselors, staff, industry volunteers, or postsecondary partners – that help students explore careers, set goals, and navigate pathways to graduation and beyond. Mentorship may include career advising, support with applications, project-based guidance, or small group coaching.
Note: All proposals should clearly demonstrate how the project aligns with both local economic and workforce needs, and student needs and interests. Applicants are encouraged to reference data sources such as Sonoma County Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) workforce reports, regional labor market information, YouthTruth student perception data, or other collected data. Proposals that synthesize student voice with real workforce demand will be stronger and more competitive.
What to Expect From the Application & Process
CTE Foundation uses a Program Committee made up of community members representing industry, nonprofits, educators, students, and parents. This diverse group has helped build our Partnership Funding Opportunity process and structure and plays an integral role in the funding selection process.
Applications submitted to CTE Foundation within the open application period will be evaluated in Phase 1 using the rubric included in this packet. Those selected for the Phase 2 of the application process will be invited to meet for a 30-45-minute virtual conversation to discuss the proposal. This is an opportunity for brainstorming, questions, and relationship-building. The content of this discussion is also evaluated using the same rubric.
To ensure full transparency, CTE Foundation is sharing the application questions and the rubric that will be used to evaluate all proposals.
Applicants will be asked to respond to the following prompts in the online application:
Student Need:
Describe the needs or challenges your students are facing that will be addressed through this project or program. Please center student needs in your statement and reference data where possible (for example, YouthTruth survey results, school or district data, or local labor market information).
Target Population:
Describe the target population of this proposal. If applicable, break down the population by gender, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, language, ability, and/or other identities, and explain how this project will equitably support the target population.
Proposed Solution:
What are you proposing that addresses the need identified above? Clearly describe your program or project, including key activities, partners, and timeline.
Estimated Number of Students Impacted: Provide an estimate of the number of students that will be directly impacted by this proposal and, if applicable, indirectly impacted.
Aligned with Larger Strategy:
Is this solution in alignment with a larger or longer-term school or district strategy? Will this solution help to expand or enhance a CTE pathway within a school or district? Can this funding be leveraged to obtain additional funding from other funders?
Additional Information:
Is there anything else that you would like to share with us about your proposed project? You may want to address how you will measure success, how you will engage industry and community partners, and what other funding you anticipate for this project.
Upload or Link Additional Documents:
Upload or link to any additional information relevant to this proposal, including budgets, expense breakdowns, videos, or materials that help make your case.
Requested Grant Amount:
Provide the total amount of funding you are requesting from CTE Foundation through this Partnership Funding Opportunity.
Each question is evaluated on a 1-5 scale for a total of 50 points possible.
Student Need & Impact
1. Stated need
Proposal identifies a significant need or challenge and substantiates it using data or stakeholder feedback, such as YouthTruth surveys, focus groups, or regional labor market data.
2. Proposed solution
The proposed solution clearly addresses the stated need and is likely to positively impact the target population as intended.
3. Student impact
The proposal has the potential to serve a large student population and/or provide high-quality, in-depth support to a particular target student group.
4. Career-connected learning & relevancy
The proposal provides high-quality career-connected learning (such as internships, integrated academic-CTE experiences, industry-recognized credentials, or on-campus mentorship) and outlines plans to engage industry and community partners to ensure alignment with real local workforce opportunities
Strategic Approach
5. CTE pathway enhancement
The proposal strategically invests in building, enhancing, or integrating CTE pathways – potentially including equipment, consumables, mentorship structures, certifications, or alignment across middle, secondary, and postsecondary systems. The proposal considers scalability, sustainability, or long-term pathway impact.
6. Connected to larger strategy
The proposal is part of a larger or longer-term school or district strategy designed to improve the student experience (for example, strengthening CTE pathways, developing integrated coursework, improving work-based learning systems, offering early college credit, or leveraging CTE Foundation funding to obtain additional resources). This funding is critical to the success of that broader strategy.
Equity
7. Diversity & inclusion
The requester demonstrates experience and provides a plan to serve a diverse student/educator population among gender, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, language, disability and/or other identities in a thoughtful and equitable manner.
8. Equity
The proposal is aimed at lifting and supporting students who are high-risk, underserved, under-resourced or furthest from opportunity and offers tailored support to students with the highest needs.
9. Engagement and feedback of those served
The requestor has, or demonstrates a plan to, actively engage and obtain feedback from a diverse student or educator population and use that feedback for continuous improvement.
Past CTE Foundation Funding
10. Past CTE Foundation Fuding
To promote equitable access to resources, CTE Foundation gives a higher score (1-5 point scale) to schools that have never been funded or have received minimal past funding. This approach helps ensure that resources are distributed more equitably across Sonoma County rather than concentrated within a small number of schools.
Application Phase 1
January 12, 2026 – February 20, 2026
Accepting applications from schools and districts through CTE Foundation’s online grant portal.
March 2026
The CTE Foundation Program Committee reviews all applications and selects which proposals advance to Phase 2.
Application Phase 2
March – April 2026
The CTE Foundation Program Committee holds virtual meetings with each Phase 2 applicant to further assess and refine their proposal.
Final Funding Decision
June 2026
CTE Foundation Board reviews Program Committee funding recommendations and makes final funding decisions. Notices to LEAs are sent soon after.
Funding Distribution
July 2026
Checks issued to schools and districts for implementation during the 2026–2027 school year.