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SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) today announced it has awarded more than $3.3 million in CalMoneySmart grants to 12 nonprofit organizations to help provide financial literacy tools to a diverse group of California communities, including people with disabilities and tribal groups who have been historically underrepresented. The grant funding for the 2026-2028 cycle helps to expand economic opportunity and strengthen financial resilience across the state.
“CalMoneySmart is an important program that helps Californians improve their financial footing and begin building long-term stability for their families, a critical step toward generational well-being,” said DFPI Commissioner KC Mohseni. “I am delighted that the DFPI can once again be a catalyst for financial empowerment that can improve fortunes for a wide range of Californians.”
The CalMoneySmart program was created in 2019 through funding from the Financial Empowerment Fund, established by Senate Bill 455. It authorizes the DFPI to run a competitive grant process and distribute up to $2,000,000 per year, with individual awards capped at $200,000 per organization.
Entering its seventh year, CalMoneySmart has supported community-based nonprofits throughout California in providing free financial education and empowerment programs to unbanked and underbanked consumers. Grantee organizations offer free web- and classroom-based financial education, individualized coaching, and access to affordable financial products. Since the program’s inception, more than 60,000 people have been served by 45 different community-based organizations.
This year, DFPI’s outreach, combined with unprecedented interest from the nonprofit community, resulted in a record 307 applications for the 2026–28 CalMoneySmart grants. This level of engagement underscores the significant need for support in advancing financial empowerment—particularly for populations most vulnerable to financial insecurity. Each CalMoneySmart proposal underwent a thorough evaluation for program alignment and effectiveness, ultimately leading to grant funding over two years to the nonprofit organizations listed below.
2026-28 CalMoneySmart Grantees
| Organization | Counties Served | Award Amount |
| Chico Economic Planning Corporation | Alpine, Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo, Yuba | $200,000 |
| Family Assistance Program | San Bernardino | $347,000 |
| Homeboy Industries | Los Angeles | $259,328 |
| Del Norte, Fresno, Humboldt, Inyo, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Plumas, San Bernardino, Shasta, Sierra, Sonoma, Yolo | $187,535 | |
| Los Angeles, Orange | $342,225 | |
| Los Angeles | $338,125 | |
| Statewide | $355,000 | |
| Alameda, San Francisco, Los Angeles | $346,225 | |
| Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco | $187,535 | |
| Monterey | $256,000 | |
| San Diego | $304,000 | |
| Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Tulare | $200,000 |
The 2026-2028 CalMoneySmart grants represent the final cycle of available funding, and the Financial Empowerment Fund is expected to be fully exhausted at the conclusion of this round.
Additional information about the CalMoneySmart grant program can be found at dfpi.ca.gov/CalMoneySmart.
About DFPI
The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation protects consumers, regulates financial services, and fosters responsible innovation. DFPI protects consumers by establishing and enforcing financial regulations that promote transparency and accountability. We empower Californians to access a fair and equitable financial marketplace through education and by preventing potential risks, fraud, and abuse. Learn more at dfpi.ca.gov.
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