🦮

Resources

🦮

Resources

Ask the Ref – Bereau of Automotive Repair Smog Check Referee Program

Car

everyone

🔧

Auto Body Inspection Program - Bureau of Automotive Repair

Car

No content

California vehicle owners

➕

Calculate Used Vehicle Fees

Car

California vehicle buyers and owners

🚗

California's Low Cost Auto Insurance

Car

$250

Income-eligible, good drivers

Eligibility and Application $12000 EV incentive

Car

Up to $12,000 incentive toward purchase or lease of a new or used EV

Income-qualified California residents; call 1-833-202-DCAP for details

eMotion Autos | Used Electric Vehicle Dealership

Car

Up to $15,000+ in stacked incentives on a used EV for income-qualified buyers (federal $4,000 + MCE/SJCE rebates + DCAP grant).

everyone

🚗

ENDED Sept 30, 2025 — Federal Used-EV Tax Credit (was 30% up to $4,000)

Car

$4,000

Everyone

Home - North Lake Tahoe Express

Car

Everyone

Lease EV Discounts – Ride and Drive Clean

Car

$17,400

MCE customers

Leasing New EVs and Incentives - Electric For All

Car

Browse new EV models with available federal, state, and local incentives by ZIP code

All U.S. residents considering an EV purchase or lease

🚍

Low-Income Bus Pass (referral) — Nevada County Connects

Car

Six months of subsidized, reduced-fare riding at a time — via FREED, Social Services, or Behavioral Health referral

Households with income between 138% and 200% of the federal poverty level

⚙️

Parts Locator Service (PLS) – Ask the Ref

Car

$0 (free service; parts cost varies)

everyone

🔧

Repair Cost Waivers – Ask the Ref

Car

$650

Everyone

Sacramento's Clean Cars 4 All

Car

$9,500

Income-qualified residents in disadvantaged communities

🚌

Kids & teens ride the bus FREE (Nevada County Connects)

Car

Children

No content

youth ages 6‑17 and children 5 and under

🎫

Golden Ticket — free bus for life at 80+ (Nevada County Connects)

Car

Senior

Lifetime free rides on all regular Nevada County Connects routes (1-7) — proof of age is the whole application

Seniors 80 and over. Proof of age (CA ID or driver's license) is the whole application. Not valid on Nevada County Now paratransit.

🎮

Free Games | Download A Free PC Game Every Week - Epic Games Store

Children

Everyone

🧾

Free Reading Coach Preview

Children

$500

everyone

Homeschool Discount Laptops | NFS is a Nonprofit Organization

Children

Any U.S. homeschool family. No income test, no paperwork — self-identify at checkout by entering 'Homeschool' as the educational institution.

Museums for All

Children

SNAP/EBT (CalFresh) card holders

Programs - MAIN - Games for Love

Children

Kids in hospitals (via hospital partnership); any child/teen for free coding; students with childhood adversity for STEM scholarships; aspiring engineers for internships

The information you need to find child care you can trust. - My Child Care Plan

Children

Free tool to find quality licensed child care providers in California by answering a quick survey

Families in California seeking child care

Who is eligible for a CalKIDS account? | CalKIDS

Mindfulness Practices for Families | ZERO TO THREE

$120 per eligible child loaded onto an EBT card for summer food purchases

Children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, or receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal at or below 185% FPL

Find a Dentist | InsureKidsNow.gov

Children

Health

Free or low-cost dental care for California kids and most adults through Medi-Cal Dental and CHIP, plus directory tools to find a participating dentist.

Kids up to age 19 on Medi-Cal or CHIP — full dental coverage. Adults on Medi-Cal also covered (note: July 2026 changes for some adults based on immigration status; kids unaffected).

✈️

Miracle Flights. A Cure For Distance

Children

Health

Children age 17 and under who are medically cleared to fly commercially and have a confirmed appointment at a treatment site too far from home; household income at or below 3× federal poverty guideline; up to 2 adult parents/guardians fly with the child. Apply 14+ days before travel.

🦷

Pediatric FAQS - Lindsey A Robinson DDS - Grass Valley, CA

Children

Health

Children and parents in the Grass Valley, CA area seeking pediatric dental care

🎊

Children's Community Chest: Emergency Funds - Sierra Nevada Children's Services

Children

$40-$500

Children 0-18 in Nevada or Sierra County, CA; request must come from a public or nonprofit agency on the family's behalf

Free College Saving Accounts - CalKIDS

Children

Student

Free college savings accounts with seed deposits to help pay for future higher education expenses

California public school students identified as eligible through the Local Control Funding Formula and newborns born in California

🔖

Free Library Resources | Nevada County, CA

Children

Student

No content

Anyone — resident or visitor

Free hotspot Project 10Million Direct to Parent/Guardian Eligibility | T-Mobile Support

Children

Tech

Free mobile hotspot with 200GB data per year for 5 years plus access to at-cost laptops and tablets

K-12 students in households enrolled in NSLP, SNAP, EBT, TANF, CEP, FDPIR, Medicaid, or Head Start

Tumblebooks - Apps on Google Play

Children

Everyone

💉

COVID.gov/tests - Free at-home COVID-19 tests

Health

everyone

🌿

Free Cannabis Compassion Program • Elevation 2477'

Health

California residents in need, patients with a current MMIC or Doctor's Recommendation

💉

The Clinic! - Nevada County Citizens For Choice

Health

everyone

💉

United Way Programs - A Healthier Nevada County

Health

Nevada County residents, community members, everyone

🌡️

$75 off Smart thermostats | Golden State Rebates

Home

Up to $60 (up to $100 on promo)

Residential customers on a residential rate with an active meter serviced by a Participating California Utility

♨️

$900 off Heat pump water heaters | Golden State Rebates

Home

$700

California homeowners or renters with a residential electric account (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, or SoCalGas)

📶

Borrow a Hotspot | Nevada County Library

Home

Adults and teens with a Nevada County Library card in good standing

🛖

Energy Smart Homes - Whole House Rebate - Single Family | The Switch Is On Incentive Finder

Home

Up to $5,500 (waitlisted 2026)

Contractors, Homeowners

🔙

FREE Backup Power Transfer Meter Program

Home

$500

PG&E residential customers in Tier 2 or Tier 3 High Fire‑Threat Districts (or High Fire Risk Area/EPS S circuit) with 200 A or less service, a SmartMeter, and a compatible portable generator.

🧹

How I Earn Reward Points Paying My Property Taxes - With No Extra Fee

PG&E Induction Cooktop Loaner Program

Home

Active PG&E residential or commercial customer. No income requirement.

💉

Crisis Care Services and Support | Nevada County, CA

Health

everyone

📝

Cash App Taxes - 100% Free Tax Filing for Federal & State

Money

Everyone

🏦

First U.S. – Official Site of Better Than FREE Checking

Money

Everyone

💵

Search for Unclaimed Property

Money

property owners, heirs, and anyone with a claim (including deceased relatives’ heirs)

CDFA - Grant Programs

Farmer

Non-Profit, Tribal Gov, Higher Education, Government, Schools (K-12), Farmers and Ranchers, Other Business

🍎

Central Sierra Healthy Soils Program

Farmer

$5,000

Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers

FARMER GRANTS | Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District

Farmer

$150 million

Farmers and operators of agricultural equipment in California; equipment must be used in farming and meet emission tier requirements (when applications are open).

What is Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA)? - Placer Resource Conservation District

Farmer

Farmers, ranchers, backyard and community gardeners, small-scale farmers, forestland owners, residents within the Placer RCD service area, federal land management agencies, county and municipal government, land managers, organizations

Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC)

Farmer

Money

Ended Jan 2025 — reference only (paid producers by sales tier, up to a $125,000 per-person cap)

$3 coupon Email Sign-up - Grocery Outlet

Food

everyone

A to Z: what's in your Mountain Bounty Farm box and how to use it

Food

No content

CalFresh/EBT recipients

🥗

California Fruit & Vegetable EBT Pilot Project

Food

$1-for-$1 CalFresh match on fresh fruits & vegetables, up to $60 per household per month at participating stores

CalFresh recipients, EBT clients

🍎

Free fruit! - Sierra Harvest Gleaning

Food

volunteers, people in need

🍎

Free school meals (every TK-12 student)

Tasty Recipes on Your Budget | EatFresh

Food

CalFresh (SNAP, or food stamps) eligible individuals and families

Propel - America’s #1 EBT app

Free app to check EBT balance, track transactions, and access curated offers for low-income households

EBT cardholders and low-income individuals

CDFA - Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

Food

Nonprofit

Varies by round ($10K–$3M)

Agricultural producers or processors, Nonprofit organizations, Local government entities, Tribal governments, Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals

FoodFinder maps food resources with help from Google

Food

Nonprofit

$120,000

Anyone — no income requirement to search. Individual pantries may set their own rules (ZIP code, ID, household size).

🥗

Congregate Lunch Café | Gold Country Senior Services

Two hot lunches per week, suggested $4/meal donation, no one turned away for inability to pay

Home-bound seniors age 60+ in Western Nevada County who have trouble preparing meals or shopping

Enhanced Care Management QIP

Health

people experiencing homelessness or housing instability, frequent ER or hospital users, individuals with serious mental health needs or substance use disorder, those at risk of nursing home placement who wish to stay in the community, individuals leaving jail or prison, children or youth in foster care or the child welfare system, pregnant or postpartum individuals at higher risk for complications

Get COV ID Tested | Nevada County, CA

Health

Uninsured, Underinsured, and/or have poor access to other testing resources

Get Started - CA Department of Rehabilitation

Health

Free personalized employment services including job search skills, training, educational assistance, disability equipment, and support services (childcare, transportation)

People with disabilities in California seeking employment or independent living support

IDD Thrive | SCDD

Health

People with intellectual or developmental disabilities in California; their family members and caregivers; direct support professionals and service providers.

🤰

Medi-Cal for pregnancy (full coverage while pregnant)

Health

$5,809

Pregnant people (including undocumented) and their unborn babies

🎨

ncagrassvalley | Art. Advocacy. Opportunity.

Health

Adults in Nevada County, CA who are developmentally disabled or intellectually challenged

Neurodiversity Resources Database | Stanford Neurodiversity Project | Stanford Medicine

Health

Free searchable database of curated resources for the neurodiverse community, with personalized solutions and quality-evaluated listings

All neurodiverse community members; no stated restrictions on access

Request Assistance for Free Medical Transportation | Mercy Medical Angels

Health

Free medical transportation via airline tickets, gas cards, bus and train tickets for patients in need

Patients needing transportation to healthcare who meet financial eligibility requirements

Services · The Arc of Placer County

Health

Adults and youth (16+) with intellectual or developmental disabilities living in Placer County or surrounding areas.

Statewide Self-Advocacy Network SSAN | SCDD

Health

self‑advocates and persons with disabilities

Free Medical Transportation Services

Health

Car

$200

Medi-Cal members who lack a valid driver's license, have no working household vehicle, or cannot travel or wait alone due to physical, cognitive, mental, or developmental limitations

🧒

Medi-Cal for kids (free coverage to much higher incomes)

Health

Children

Kids get free full coverage at much higher family incomes than adults — up to about $4,796/mo (parent + child) or $7,315/mo (family of 4), regardless of immigration status

Kids 0-18 in households up to 266% FPL (~$4,796/mo parent + child, ~$7,315/mo family of 4), regardless of immigration status. Kids on SSI or in CalWORKs families auto-qualify. Enrolls year-round; coverage runs to age 19.

Welcome to the DDS Autism Resource Hub : CA Department of Developmental Services

Health

Children

Comprehensive autism resource hub with links to free services, mental health support, family resources, employment programs, and educational tools

Individuals with autism and developmental disabilities, their families, caregivers, and professionals in California

Community Beyond Violence

Health

Legal

survivors of interpersonal violence and their families

(DEPRECATED) NMHA | Caring 4 Cal

Health

Money

Direct care workers and caregivers

🩺

Covered California (discounted health plans)

Health

Money

$190M

Individuals and families earning up to 150 % of the federal poverty line (partial help up to 165 %), and those earning under $1,835 / month (single) qualify for Medi‑Cal.

Check Your Eligibility | SilverSneakers

Health

Senior

Free gym access, fitness classes, and on-demand workouts through eligible Medicare plans

Seniors with eligible Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plans

♿

Services – FREED Center for Independent Living

Health

Senior

People with disabilities, older adults (60+), family members or caregivers

📱

Banish An App A Day: The Smartphone Spring Cleaning Challenge 🧹

$8000 mini split TECH Public Reporting HEEHRA Rebates

Home

Up to $8,000 rebate for heat pump equipment through HEEHRA

Income-qualified California single-family and multifamily residents

All Residential Services - Northern Rural Energy Network

Home

No content

homeowners and renters in the listed counties

Battery storage for homeowners

Home

SMUD: up to $5,400 per Powerwall + $110/qtr ongoing. PG&E: free permanent battery via RSI (if eligible) or up to $500 for portable backup. Federal 30% tax credit ended 12/31/2025.

SMUD program: SMUD residential customers with Tesla Powerwall on Solar and Storage Rate, enrolled within 90 days of PTO. PG&E options: income-qualified households (SGIP RSSE waitlist), fire-risk areas (RSI free battery, $500 portable rebate).

CAEATFA GoGreen Home Energy Financing

Home

$1,000-$75,000 loans for home energy upgrades; rates from ~4% APR; up to 20-year terms; 0% or 2% rates available for income-qualified households doing heat pump projects

Any California homeowner or renter (single-family, townhome, condo, mobile home, or 1-4 unit building). Open to customers of all utilities — IOUs (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, SoCalGas) and publicly owned utilities (SMUD, LADWP, etc.). Credit scores from 580 accepted. Low-income households in disadvantaged communities qualify for 0%/2% rate buydowns on heat pump projects.

California State Library Parks Pass | Nevada County, CA

Home

$10–$25 saved per park visit (one car, one day)

Anyone with a free California public-library card. No income test.

CalWORKs Homeless Assistance — motel nights + move-in help

Home

$2320

Families with a child under 18 (or 18 and finishing high school) who receive CalWORKs or are apparently eligible, and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Curry Resource Center

Home

people experiencing homelessness or housing instability in Nevada County

Desire database

Home

No content

Homeowners, renters, anyone planning a clean‑energy upgrade

💡

Discount LED bulbs - Pioneer Community Energy | LED Discounts

Electric Vehicles rates for residential PGE customers

Home

$15

Residential EV rates: everyone Business low use EV rate - BEV1: smaller workplaces and multi-unit dwellings Business high use EV rate - BEV2: sites with fleets and public fast-charging stations

Environmental Quality Incentives Program | Natural Resources Conservation Service

Home

agricultural producers, forest landowners

🗞️

Free New York Times | Nevada County, CA

Home

$3455

Any California resident. No income limit. Library card helpful but not required for in-branch access.

Free paint! Nevada County Household Hazardous Waste

Home

Free disposal of household hazardous waste and free reuse paint and products

Nevada County residents

👝

Free Sand & Sandbags - City of Grass Valley

Home

City of Grass Valley residents; Nevada County residents

👝

Free Sand Available | Nevada County, CA

Home

Nevada County residents

Free shipping label to donate your old clothes! Give Back Box

Home

anyone with usable clothing or household goods wanting to donate

Home - Northern Rural Energy Network

Home

Free home energy assessments, free energy efficiency kits, and rebates for energy upgrades to reduce bills and improve home comfort

Residents in 17 rural Northern California counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter, Tuolumne, and Yuba. Customers of PG&E, Pioneer Community Energy, Sonoma Clean Power, or Redwood Coast Energy Authority.

Home Buyer | Nevada County Habitat for Humanity

Home

Affordable homeownership with below-market mortgage terms, 500 hours sweat equity requirement, ongoing homeowner support and financial counseling

Nevada County residents who meet income criteria and demonstrate need for affordable housing; selection based on need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner (500 hours sweat equity); no discrimination based on race, sex, color, age, handicap, religion, marital status, or income source

Hospitality House

Home

Homeless single adults and families in Western Nevada County with 45+ days of county residency; approved pets welcome; no photo ID required.

Incentives & Rebates - Nevada Irrigation District

Home

Toilet rebate up to $100; turf removal $1/sq ft up to $1,000; raw-water storage tank rebate (500+ gal). Currently paused — call to confirm funding.

Nevada Irrigation District residential and business customers

LIHEAP — Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Home

low-income households

💦

Low Income Rate Assistance Program - Nevada Irrigation District

Home

$9.50

Residents of single‑family homes in Nevada, Placer, or Yuba County with a household member enrolled in Medi‑Cal/Medicaid, SSI, CARE utility discount, or BIA General Assistance.

Mattress Disposal in California

Home

Household, Business

Nevada County - Reusable 1 lb. Propane Cylinder Redemption Form Survey

Home

eligible residents

🛢️

Nevada County Used Oil & Filters

Home

Everyone

Permanent Battery Storage Rebate

Home

Up to $7,500 rebate for permanent battery storage (potentially stackable with SGIP)

PG&E residential electric customers who experienced 5+ Wildfire Safety outages since Jan 1, 2024

Pioneer Community Energy | HVAC $75 rebate Tune-Up Program

Home

$75

Pioneer customers; single-family residential dwellings

Placer County Chipper Program - Placer Resource Conservation District

Home

$80

Placer County residents; landowners who meet the “Very Low Limit” criteria.

💸

REACH Program - Dollar Energy Fund

Home

$1,000

low‑income households (≤200 % of federal poverty level), seniors 62 + years, residential single‑family homes or apartments (including Section 8/government‑subsidized housing) with an outstanding utility balance of at least $100 (or $50 for seniors)

Recreation Collection | Nevada County, CA

Home

Regional Housing Authority- Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, & Colusa Counties

Home

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, project-based vouchers, USDA rural-development rentals, and Homes2Families homeownership in the 4-county region — Nevada County's HCV waitlist is run through RHA

Low-income households, seniors, people with disabilities, and current/retired ag or cannery workers in Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, or Colusa counties

Residential Storage Initiative

Home

Free battery storage system installation valued at over $15,000 for outage resilience

PG&E residential customers with 5+ EPSS outages since Jan 1, 2024, enrolled in CARE/FERA/Medical Baseline/Self-Identified Vulnerable program; single-family home with own meter

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher

Home

low‑income individuals and families

Transfer station live CAM | Nevada County, CA

Home

❄️

Winter Preparedness | Nevada County, CA

Home

All Nevada County, CA residents. No income or age restrictions. General public winter preparedness resource.

🔥

Woodsmoke Reduction Program | Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District

Home

$12,000

Residents of Nevada, Sierra, or Pumas County who use a non‑EPA‑certified wood‑burning stove or fireplace as their primary heat source and whose stove was manufactured before July 1 1988.

🛻

Vehicle to Everything (V2X) Pilot Programs for Ford F-150 Lightning

Thrift Stores in Nevada County

Home

Children

Open to everyone. Salvation Army Clothing Closet provides free clothing for those in need.

♨️

2 free mini splits $1000 rebate X2, TECH Clean California - Single Family HVAC | The Switch Is On Incentive Finder

PG&E Medical Baseline (not income-based)

Home

Health

Extra energy at the lowest baseline rate + extra advance warnings before fire-season power shutoffs, when someone at home relies on a medical device

PG&E residential customers where a full-time resident relies on a qualifying medical device — based on medical need, NOT income. A doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant signs the initial enrollment.

🔥

Senior Firewood Program | Gold Country Senior Services

Home

Senior

# Senior Firewood Program | Gold Country Senior Services  Category: Home, Seniors URL: # Senior Firewood Program Since 1979, the Senior Firewood Program has provided extra warmth to low-income seniors by delivering firewood for winter. The group of dedicated volunteers cut, split and deliver the firewood to seniors in need in our community. ## Program Details ## Eligibility - Low-income seniors 60 or older who live in Western Nevada County and are struggling to heat their home. - Lives alone or with another age-eligible, low income senior ## Enrollment - Our enrollment is full for the winter of 2023-2024. We are not accepting new clients at this time. ## Firewood Removal Thank you to our generous community! We are not currently adding softwood removals to our waitlist; oak wood removals can be added to the list but there is still a significant wait. GCSS gladly removes wood under the following conditions: - Trees must be down (we cannot fell trees). - Wood needs to be located within 10 miles of Grass Valley and accessible by vehicle. - We do not accept Grey or Foothill Pine, kindling or remove slash; sorry! - At this time, our Softwood Yard is full – we currently have a long waitlist to remove wood. Thank You! To donate wood, please call (530) 615-4541 or email us at: . ## Some of our Amazing Volunteers

Low-income seniors 60 or older who live in Western Nevada County and are struggling to heat their home. Lives alone or with another age-eligible, low income senior

⛽

Consumer Assistance Program Smog Repair Assistance - Bureau of Automotive Repair

Vehicle Retirement $1500 - Bureau of Automotive Repair

Free Childcare: Sierra Nevada Children's Services - The Official Childcare Resource and Referral Agency for Sierra and Nevada Counties

Children

Income Eligible

🧒🏾

Free Prenatal, Birth, Day Care, and Preschool Programs: Head Start and Early Head Start - How to Apply

Children

Household income at or below 2026 federal poverty guideline (family of 4 = $33,000), OR receiving TANF/CalWORKs, SSI, SNAP/CalFresh, OR child in foster care, OR family experiencing homelessness, OR pregnant (Early Head Start).

🚗

KeySavvy — Safe Payment and Title Transfer for Private-Party Car Sales (~$99)

Car

$12,000

PG&E residential electric customers; income‑qualified households (CalFresh, Medi‑Cal, CalWORKs, LIHEAP, etc.); low‑income households (≤300% FPL) eligible for DCAP.

🔌

Free Electric Vehicle Charger (Level 2) - Empower EV Program

Home

Car

$5,000

Active PG&E residential customers who own or lease a qualifying EV; households with income ≤ 80 % of area median income or enrolled in CARE, FERA, Medi‑Cal, CalFresh, SSI, etc.

🚗

$1000 or $4000 off a Used Electric Vehicle

Car

$4000

PG&E residential electric customers; Rebate Plus requires income qualification or enrollment in CalFresh, Medi-Cal, SSI, WIC, LIHEAP, CalWORKs, or similar assistance program

🥗

Free Food - Get Food Here - Food Bank

Free Food - How To Get Food - Interfaith Food Ministry

Food

Income eligible

🥕

Fruit and Vegetables Every Week: Mountain Bounty Farm — Pay with EBT Calfresh

$15 Bonus Calfresh at the Nevada City Farmers Market

Food

$30/week

Nevada County CalFresh recipients (EBT card + photo ID showing Nevada County residency required for the Market Match bonus)

👜

Free paper bags when paying with Calfresh 270 / Proposition 67)

Food

CalFresh / EBT / WIC / SNAP recipients

🥗

Stores Accepting Calfresh Online

Food

Everyone

🍠

Use EBT SNAP for Grocery Delivery or Pickup | Instacart

Free nutritious food benefits (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk, eggs, cereal, juice, peanut butter, and more)

Children, pregnant women, mothers with new babies, young children under age 5 years

🥬

Free Medical Care, and Food | BenefitsCal. Together, we benefit.

Food

Health

$150

Income eligible individuals, migrants or seasonal farmworkers

♨️

$200 off per ton mini split

2x Free Whole House Batteries - Participating in Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP)

Home

$1.10/Wh battery + $3.10/W solar (waitlist)

Low income and medically vulnerable customers, communities living in high fire-threat areas, communities that have experienced two or more utility Public Safety Power Shut-off (PSPS) events, "critical facilities" that support community resilience in the event of a PSPS or wildfire

📴

40% off PG&E CARE and FERA enrollment

Home

Income-qualified households (any size for both CARE and FERA as of 2025) OR participation in qualifying public assistance programs (CalFresh, Medi-Cal, SSI, WIC, etc.). Tenants of sub-metered residential facilities apply through a separate sub-metered application.

💵

EMERGENCY CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM (ECIP)

Energy Savings Assistance Program pge.com

Home

$8,000

Renters and homeowners; home 5+ years old; household income at or below the ESA limits (e.g. $39,125 for 1 person, $80,375 for 4 in 2026) OR enrolled in CalFresh, Medi-Cal, SSI, LIHEAP, WIC, TANF, NSLP, BIA General Assistance, Head Start (Tribal), or Healthy Families A/B

🔋

Free $350-$1000: HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEAP aka LiHEAP)

Free $500 Generator or Battery Program - PGE

Free Fiber - A Story of The California Line Extension Program Grant

Home

$2500

rural customers; PG&E CARE participants

♨️

Free heat pump water heater and installation

Home

$10,385

Closed — was income-qualified (≤80% AMI or ≤250% FPL), single family, retrofit only, through TECH-enrolled contractor

💵

THE LOW-INCOME WATER ASSISSTANCE PROGRAM (LIHWAP)

Home

$500

Program ended March 31, 2024. No new applications accepted. See page for current alternatives.

🔧

WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WAP)

Home

Low-income households at or below CSD monthly income limits (e.g., $2,660 for 1 person, $5,500 for 4 in 2026). Priority for households below 75% of federal poverty guidelines, seniors, people with disabilities, families with young children, and homes with high energy burden. No asset limit. Renters welcome with landlord permission.

🔌

Free Residential Charger and Splitter $700 Rebate

Home

Car

$5,000

Income-eligible households

⚙️

Free legal service for low income inventors

Inventors in CA, HI, AK, OR, or NV with gross household income under 3× federal poverty level (~$47,880/yr for 1; ~$99,000/yr for family of 4 in 2026). Must have an actual invention and complete a free 39-min USPTO training video.

📝

Free tax help from IRS-certified volunteers. | GetYourRefund

Legal

Money

No content

households earning under $69,000; households earning under $89,000; people with disability or limited English; residents of all 50 states; Spanish speakers

💵

Cash Access - California EBT Surcharge-Free ATMs

Money

$0.00

California residents receiving cash benefits on their EBT card (CalWORKs, Refugee Cash Assistance, General Assistance). CalFresh-only recipients cannot withdraw cash.

Auburn | Legal Services of Northern California

Legal

Free legal assistance with housing, public benefits, Medi-Cal, Social Security, SSI, and more

Low-income residents of Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, and Sierra counties

CalVCB - CA Victim Compensation Board

Legal

victims of crime

🚀

Bright Futures for Youth | Serving Nevada County

Children

$500,000

Nevada County youth ages 10–25 (varies by program). No income proof required for NEO drop-in, SAFE, or Cinderella Project.

🏦

(DEPRECATED) Welcome to Direct File | Direct File | Internal Revenue Service

Money

taxpayers with simple tax needs

💵

$400 Bonus Checking Accounts — Wells Fargo

Money

$400

New Wells Fargo checking customers (first‑time account holders) who haven’t received a Wells Fargo checking bonus in the past 12 months, aren’t employees, and have a U.S. Taxpayer ID (SSN or ITIN)

AARP Foundation Free Tax-Aide Service

Money

Open to anyone; focus on taxpayers age 50+ or with low to moderate income. No strict income limit. Cannot handle small-business-with-employees, rental income, or AMT returns.

Acorns Referrals: How It Works | Acorns $5 or sometimes up to $259

Alliance for Workforce Development – Connecting Job Seekers and Employers

Money

Adults seeking work in Butte, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, or Sierra counties; separate youth track for ages 17-24

Cal-works at BenefitsCal. Together, we benefit.

Money

Low-income families with at least one child in the home; eligibility based on citizenship, age, income, resources and assets

CalEITC — California Earned Income Tax Credit

Money

$3,756

Low‑income working Californians — earned income < $32,901, at least 18 years old or have a qualifying child, with a valid SSN or ITIN, California resident, investment income ≤ $12,200, not claimed as a dependent.

CAPI — Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants

Money

$2,324.35

California residents who are 65 +, blind, or disabled and meet the SSI/SSP immigration‑status criteria.

Cash Assistance for Individuals | General Assistance Nevada County, CA

Money

Emergency supplemental cash assistance for individuals ineligible for federal or state aid programs

Nevada County, CA adult residents who are not eligible for CalWORKs, SSI/SSP, or other federal/state cash aid. Employable applicants must register with Cal-JOBS and complete weekly job searches.

ENDED Dec 2025 — California E-Bike Incentive Project (was $1,750-$2,000 voucher)

Money

ENDED December 2025. Was: $1,750-$2,000 voucher toward a new electric bike. See page for current alternatives.

Program ENDED December 2025 — no new applications accepted. Was: California residents 18+ with household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Remaining funds redirected to regional Clean Cars 4 All programs (SB 127).

FIS Financial Literacy for Adults - Overview- Free with EBT

Money

Everyone

🐖

Free You Need A Budget - YNAB.com for Good

Money

People in marginalized or underrepresented communities taught financial literacy (served by 501(c)(3) nonprofits)

How Business Owners Can Use The Augusta Rule Tax Strategy

Money

Tax-free rental income by renting your home to your business for up to 14 days per year under IRS Section 280A

U.S. business owners who own a home that is not their primary place of business

The card that comes with connections - Hello Alice

Money

$50

small businesses

Better Deals for Every Shopper: 5 Tips to Save More at Raley's!

Money

Food

Everyone

Property tax home owners exemption

Money

Home

$7,000 reduction to assessed home value, saving approximately $70 annually on property taxes

California homeowners whose home is their primary residence as of January 1

💵

SSI + State Supplement (monthly cash, 65+ or disabled)

Money

Senior

$2,098.83

people 65+ or blind/disabled with low income

🍲

🌟 TechSoup.org: The First Step to Accessing Technology Grants 🌟

Nonprofit

501(c)(3) nonprofits and qualifying public libraries; not available in U.S. territories

📶

$15 HotSpot. Mobile Beacon Offers Nonprofits Unlimited Data on T-Mobile Network For Just $10 a Month.

Nonprofit

501(c)(3) nonprofits; public libraries; schools; healthcare organizations

4imprint - One by One Charitable Giving

Nonprofit

$500

employed by or board members of a U.S. 501(c)(3) charity, a religious organization, or an accredited school

Application – Seeds of Change

Nonprofit

$500

Everyone

Become a Chapter - Contact Us | The Arc

Nonprofit

existing nonprofit; community members; individual

⚙️

Become a Member | Rotary Club of Nevada City

Nonprofit

Everyone

California Volunteers | California

Nonprofit

College students with financial need (College Corps); Californians 18+ with HS/GED and U.S. citizenship or lawful residency (Climate Action Corps); varies by program (AmeriCorps California).

Camunda for Nonprofits

Nonprofit

Registered nonprofits and NGOs (501(c)(3) or equivalent), humanitarian or philanthropic for‑profit initiatives, universities/research groups/academic projects, hobby and personal‑use projects, small businesses or startups automating small processes

Charitable Giving | Costco

Nonprofit

$250,000

Copalana for Nonprofits

DMV Surcharge Program Fund (AB 2766) Grant Information | Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District

Nonprofit

eBay for Charity

Nonprofit

Nonprofits; sellers; buyers

🪶

Free Adobe Express for Nonprofits

registered charitable nonprofits (U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations)

🌎

Free ready to use website with Notion, Fruition, and Cloudflare

Nonprofit

nonprofits, small businesses, individuals

🧑🏾‍💻

Free Technology Resources for Nonprofits

Nonprofit

$10,000

501(c)(3) nonprofits

grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants

Nonprofit

No content

nonprofits, governments, tribes, schools, small businesses, individuals through a sponsoring organization

Home - Clean Mobility Options

Nonprofit

The maximum grant, incentive, rebate, etc. listed is $1.5 million.

Disadvantaged Community, AB 1550-designated low-income community, California Native American Tribal Government

Home | soroptomist mini grants

Nonprofit

Home | YouTube Social Impact

Nonprofit

Free Donate button + donation cards + nonprofit channel features (via Google for Nonprofits)

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits with Google for Nonprofits eligibility (requires TechSoup validation)

How to acquire surplus Federal Personal Property | GSA

Nonprofit

state and local government agencies, public organizations, and eligible nonprofit tax‑exempt organizations

Industry Leading Insurance for Nonprofits - NonProfits' United

Nonprofit

Stable, affordable workers' compensation and vehicle insurance with dedicated risk management support for nonprofits

California 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Vehicle pool requires 3+ vehicles. Workers' comp requires a safety program and acceptable claims history.

Learn More | Chick-fil-A Apply for a True Inspiration Awards Grant

Nonprofit

$30,000–$350,000 grant (16 nonprofits selected each year)

U.S./Puerto Rico 501(c)(3) public charity (or equivalent in Canada/UK/Singapore); not eligible if awarded in the prior two cycles; program must fit one of four focus areas

Micro Grants for Social Change | The Pollination Project

Multifamily Housing and Small Business EV Charger Program

Nonprofit

Multifamily housing units, not-for-profit organizations, small businesses

🌐

Non-profit discount – DreamHost Knowledge Base

Nonprofit

US-based 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organizations

PagerDuty Impact Pricing for Nonprofits

Nonprofit

$500

501(c)(3) nonprofits, private foundations, nonprofit healthcare, B Corps, educational institutions, and mission-aligned social enterprises. Government agencies and credit unions excluded.

Partners - Grow with Google

Nonprofit

No content

libraries, chambers of commerce, downtown associations, small business development centers, workforce development organizations, state and local government, schools and universities, veteran‑focused organizations, community nonprofits serving small businesses or job seekers

Purchasers - Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project | California HVIP

Nonprofit

$420,000

Individual owner-operators, small businesses, corporate leaders, school districts, and municipal fleets

ReConnect Loan and Grant Program | USDA

Nonprofit

$150M

Alaska Native Corporations, Tribal Governments, Colonias, Persistent Poverty Areas, Socially Vulnerable Communities, everyone

Ross Stores Store-Based Giving Program

Nonprofit

$300-$500 gift cards to Ross Dress for Less or dd's DISCOUNTS for school/professional clothing for disadvantaged youth

501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, or government programs serving at least 60% youth from low-income families, within 25 miles of a Ross or dd's DISCOUNTS store, with ongoing academic or life skills programs for ages 3-24

Search Engine Journal: Google Ad Grants: A Guide For Nonprofits

Nonprofit

$10,000

Charities and nonprofits

🌞

Solar for NonProfits - We Help Nonprofits with Solar Grants

Nonprofit

$0 down; historically ~16%+ off solar installer bids via SPA. Federal 30% credit value via IRA direct pay for nonprofit-owned systems. Time-sensitive: ~July 4, 2026 construction-start deadline under OBBB.

Nonprofits, tax exempt organizations

Spark Good Local Grants Guidelines

Nonprofit

$5,000

501(c)(3) public charities, government entities (state, county, city agencies), K‑12 public or nonprofit private schools, charter schools, community/junior colleges, state/private colleges or universities, churches and other faith‑based organizations

The New Charity Fundraising Experience Has Arrived on GoFundMe

Nonprofit

Free online donation pages; full fundraising platform via GoFundMe Pro (custom pricing)

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits

The Nonprofit Cooperative

Nonprofit

Free training, peer roundtables, vetted vendor matching, and SVP NYC grant-window alerts.

Any U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit. National scope, not Nevada County–only. Free for nonprofits; for-profit vendor tracks are separate and paid.

🦸🏾

Tips and Tutorials - Google for Nonprofits

Nonprofit

$10,000

501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits and their group‑exempt affiliates

Urban Awareness USA $1,000 Mini Grant

Nonprofit

$1,000

At-Risk Youth, Alcoholism, Single Parents, Teenage Boys, Military Families, Christianity, Minority Men, Mentoring Programs, Community & Economic Development, Minority Women, Sports & Recreation, College Scholarships

Youtube Social Impact Playbook

Nonprofit

Free 100+ page nonprofit YouTube strategy guide (PDF, ~13 MB)

Any nonprofit or mission-driven org with some video content (or capacity to film); free, no gate

Zeffy (formerly Simplyk) | 100% Free Fundraising Platform

Nonprofit

Nonprofits

🌎

Free Slack for Nonprofits

Nonprofit

No content

registered nonprofit organizations (e.g., US 501(c)(3) charities and equivalent charities elsewhere)

🌇

Form a Nonprofit in California - a Complete Guide

Nonprofit

$600

everyone

California | Rural Development

Nonprofit

Home

eligible rural Californians; eligible businesses and manufacturers; small business owners; entrepreneurs

KFC Foundation — Kentucky Fried Wishes Grant

Nonprofit

Money

$10,000

Invite-only as of 2026. Must be invited by KFC Foundation. Eligibility floor: U.S.-based 501(c)(3), governmental, or IRS-recognized charity in good standing with the IRS for at least 2 years, operating locally and serving U.S. communities.

🔥

$10/year No Markup Domain Name Registration

Nonprofit

Tech

everyone

AWS IMAGINE Grant Program - Nonprofit Cloud Solutions - AWS

Nonprofit

Tech

Up to $200K unrestricted cash + $100K AWS credits (Pathfinder); $150K + $100K (Go Further Faster); $50K + $20K (Momentum to Modernize). 2026 Round One deadline: June 5, 2026.

Registered 501(c) nonprofits in the US; registered charities in UK & Ireland

Computers for learning Personal Property Management System

Nonprofit

Tech

No content

K‑12 schools and educational nonprofits (U.S. and its territories)

eCAP Home

Nonprofit

Tech

California 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofits, K-12 schools, public libraries, community colleges, government hospitals/clinics, and healthcare CBOs

New Relic.org Observability for Good

Nonprofit

Tech

$400

Nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) or international equivalent)

TechSoup

Nonprofit

Tech

Software, hardware & cloud services at donated or deep-discount rates for a small admin fee

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public libraries, and some public agencies/faith-based orgs (EIN + IRS determination letter required)

Western Digital AV-GP 500-GB Internal Hard Drive, Set of 20

Nonprofit

Tech

501(c)(3) nonprofits, public libraries, qualifying public agencies

Gold Country Senior Services | Gold Country Senior Services

Senior

Range of programs supporting health, well-being, and independence of older adults in Western Nevada County

Age 60+ in Western Nevada County (Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley, Lake Wildwood, Lake of the Pines, Alta Sierra, and nearby). Meals on Wheels prioritizes seniors who can't shop or cook and those recently hospitalized or with chronic illness.

CDFA - Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

Adults 60 years and older with low income (≤185 % of federal poverty level) who reside in California

Medicare-Savings-Programs-in-California

Senior

Health

Helps pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copayments for eligible low-income Californians

Medicare enrollees with monthly income up to $1,330 (QMB) / $1,596 (SLMB) / $1,796 (QI) individual, with proportional couple limits. Asset limit $130,000 individual (reinstated Jan 1, 2026).

Property Tax Postponement

Senior

Money

Home

Defer current-year property taxes on principal residence, secured by a lien against the property

California homeowner age 62+, blind, or disabled; main residence; at least 40% equity; household income $55,181 or less (2025-26); current on mortgage and property taxes; no reverse mortgage.

Free Notion for education

Student

$120/year value — free Notion Plus plan ($10/month) for as long as your school email is active

College/university students, college/university teachers, and verified higher-education student organizations with a valid school email (.edu or institutional). K-12 students and teachers are NOT eligible.

Ride free with student id

Student

Car

Currently enrolled Sierra College students (credit or noncredit)

Schoolhouse | Free Online Tutoring

Student

Children

100% free peer-to-peer tutoring for SAT prep, math homework help, and small-group learning sessions

All students and teachers worldwide; tutors must pass certification

$2,000 Scholarship | Sallie Mae

Student

Money

$2,000

parents with a college-enrolled child; college/university students; parents with a high school senior; high school juniors or seniors planning college enrollment.

Financial Aid Programs - California Student Aid Commission

Student

Money

Cal Grant A: up to $12,570/yr (UC), $9,708 (private nonprofit), $5,742 (CSU). Cal Grant B: tuition + $1,656 access award. Chafee Grant: $5,000/yr for foster youth. Middle Class Scholarship: family income up to $250,000. Golden State Teacher Grant: up to $20,000 with 4-year teaching commitment. Extra $6,000/yr if you have dependent children.

California students meeting income and GPA requirements; specific programs for foster youth, middle class families, military members, and aspiring teachers

Scholarship Finder | CareerOneStop

Student

Money

Searchable database of 9,500+ scholarships, fellowships, grants, and financial aid opportunities

Students at all levels from high school through graduate school and professional development

Scholarship search Scholly

Student

Money

Up to $25,000 per scholarship; ~$13,000/month via Easy Apply

High school students (juniors/seniors), current undergrad and grad students, U.S. citizens or lawful residents, most scholarships require age 13+. No high GPA, transcripts, or recommendation letters needed for most listings.

Student Emergency Fund | Sierra College

Student

Money

Emergency grants of up to $500 for students facing financial hardship to stay in school

Currently enrolled Sierra College students with demonstrated financial need

1yr student Google AI One Plans free

Student

Tech

ENDED 2026-03-11. New signups: free Gemini + 1-month AI Pro trial only. Pre-March enrollees keep access until 2026-06-30.

Offer closed to new signups as of 2026-03-11. Existing enrollees retain access through 2026-06-30.

Autodesk Education & Student Access | Autodesk

Student

Tech

Students 13+ and educators at accredited secondary schools, colleges, universities, or qualifying vocational programs; homeschool documentation often accepted

Cursor · Students free 1 year

Student

Tech

$240

currently enrolled university students (undergraduate, master’s, PhD) with a valid .edu or recognized university email

EasyEDA Campus Promotion Ambassador

Student

Tech

Official ambassador certificate, priority access to new features, limited-edition merchandise, $20 JLCPCB coupon per successful teacher referral

Currently enrolled college or high school students, preferably majoring in electronics or enthusiasts with experience in campus activities, community building, and student leadership

GitHub Student Developer Pack - GitHub Education free 1 year

Student

Tech

Free access to 100+ developer tools including GitHub Copilot, cloud credits, domains, and learning resources for one year

Currently enrolled students aged 13+ with a valid school-issued email or student ID

California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Adoption Account

Tech

$30 million authorized for FY 2025-26. CPUC funds up to 85% of project cost; applicant provides 15% match. No published per-project cap. 24-month performance period. Deadlines every Jan 1 and Jul 1; next is July 1, 2026.

Nonprofits (501(c)(3)), community-based organizations, local governments, public libraries, schools, senior centers, and tribes serving California communities with low broadband adoption. Preference for low-income, senior, and other underserved communities.

📱

California LifeLine + Federal Lifeline — the $0 Phone Plan

Tech

$30

Households meeting income limits, Medi‑Cal recipients, CalFresh/SNAP participants, WIC recipients, SSI recipients, children in the National School Lunch Program

Ebike School presents Ebikes For Good

Tech

Free e-bike

18+, U.S.-based, fill out the entry form on . No income test. Odds are very low; no posted deadlines or current-cycle confirmation as of 2026-05-17.

Free 55" TV - Telly I The biggest thing to happen to TV since color.

Tech

everyone

LeiaPix - Convert 2D to 3D Depth Animation AI Technology

Tech

Free AI-powered tool to convert 2D images into 3D depth animations with export options

Everyone

Notion Ambassadors: Application

Tech

Power users who evangelize Notion in their workplace, school, or community; people comfortable hosting events, creating tutorials, or producing YouTube/TikTok content about Notion

TextNow | Introducing Free Essential Data

Tech

Anyone with an unlocked phone; no credit check

zcal – Fast Free Online Meeting Scheduling

Tech

☑️

This App Creates Step-by-Step How-to Guides for Anything You Do on Your Computer

Free AI Coding Assistant: Complete Guide

Tech

Student

Nonprofit

Free to $20/month AI coding assistant — saves $240-$2,400/year vs paid plans

Students, Google account holders, general public, nonprofit staff (501(c)(3)), open‑source maintainers, ChatGPT Plus subscribers