Frequently Asked Questions About StopWaste Grants

Recycling and composting projects are not eligible for StopWaste grant funding. These grants focus on waste prevention — reducing waste before it's created.

No. Applicants must choose one grant category and submit only one application per grant cycle.

Yes. Organizations that have previously received a grant may apply for new funding cycles. However, current grantees with open contracts cannot apply for equipment grants. Contact the appropriate grant category contact with eligibility questions.

Entities based in Alameda County are eligible. Organizations outside the county are eligible if their projects are based in and/or prevent waste in Alameda County.

Yes. Both for-profit and nonprofit organizations may apply in all grant categories except Surplus Food Donation Equipment Grants, which are limited to nonprofits.

Yes. Any religious organization in Alameda County with a 501(c) nonprofit designation can apply.

Individual schools and K-12 school districts are eligible for Reusable Foodware Cafeteria Grants and Reusable Transport Packaging Equipment Grants. A letter of support from a school district administrator is required.

No. Alameda County municipalities are not eligible for funding.

Institutions such as research labs, healthcare facilities, colleges, universities, and fairgrounds are eligible for Reusable Transport Packaging Grants and Reusable Cafeteria Grants. Institutions are not eligible for Surplus Food Donation Equipment Grants.

The grants team has previously awarded reduced grant amounts based on applications received, available funding, demonstrated need, and application quality. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient funds to complete the project even if awarded less than the requested amount. Projects cannot depend on raising additional funding post-award for completion.

Recipients of Reusable Cafeteria Grants must maintain insurance for the contract duration. Review insurance requirements carefully to ensure compliance if awarded — insurance must be obtained before contract execution.

Surplus Food Donation Equipment and Reusable Transport Packaging Grants do not require insurance.

No. Grant funds cannot pay for new employees, positions, or payroll expenses. Equipment grants are strictly limited to funding eligible equipment purchases. Staff stipends and payroll costs are not allowable.

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to discuss proposals before applying. Grant category contacts are available to help you refine your project.

StopWaste funding supports upstream infrastructure and services in Alameda County. Ongoing program support requests are eligible, but priority goes to projects that develop or expand these services.

Projects cannot begin until the funding agreement has been signed and fully executed. Work may only start after agreement execution, and awardees must not make purchases until receiving explicit approval from their grant manager. Funding cannot cover equipment purchased before the agreement is executed.

Yes, if the Fiscal Sponsor meets these criteria:
• Accepts tax-deductible donations and grants
• Accepts responsibility for fund use per the project
• Has complete discretion and control over funds per IRS requirements

Equipment grant funds cannot cover fiscal sponsor overhead or administrative costs. Contact swgrants@stopwaste.org for advance approval.

Yes. Applicants can fill out a survey to share feedback on the grant application process.

Eligible items include refrigerators, freezers, combination units, storage shelving, reusable totes and bins, hot/cold boxes, cooler carriers, reusable pallets, thermal blankets, dollies, utility carts, pallet jacks, scales, cooking and food serving supplies, and shipping/handling costs.

Labor and installation costs are not eligible. Vehicles and trucks are not eligible.

No. Funding is available to organizations not on the approved vendor list. Partnerships with pre-qualified providers are encouraged, and providers on the approved list are eligible to apply directly.

No. Projects replacing disposables with reusables at restaurants, cafes, retail food courts, and markets are not eligible for Cafeteria Grants. Restaurants should apply for Reusable Foodware Mini-Grants instead.

Funding supports switching from single- or limited-use packaging to durable reusable alternatives designed for many years of use. Typical eligible examples include:
• Durable plastic totes replacing cardboard boxes
• Reusable mesh pallet wraps replacing disposable plastic wrap
• Durable pallets replacing wood pallets
• Durable intermediate bulk containers replacing single-use gaylords

Contact Michelle Fay at mfay@stopwaste.org for guidance on specific equipment.

No. Applicants must use the online application platform at apply.stopwaste.org. For help, email swgrants@stopwaste.org.

Yes. Registration is required before starting an application. Add goodgrants.com and stopwaste.org to your safe sender list to receive important notifications.

Yes. You must accept essential cookies or all cookies for the application platform to work properly. A cookies banner appears on first login.

Complete the eligibility tab first and click the green "Check eligibility" button. Once approved, a confirmation message allows you to proceed to the next section.

Yes. Save your work by scrolling to the bottom and clicking "Save + next" or "Save + close." Applications auto-save every 12 seconds. After submission, you can make changes until the deadline.

The system does not support multiple simultaneous users with the same credentials. Two people logging in at the same time risks losing unsaved work. Instead, download a blank application PDF to share offline with your team, then have the main applicant enter the content.

Extended account inactivity can prevent accessing or uploading documents. Log out and log back in to continue. Log out after each work session rather than leaving the browser open.

Yes. Log in and go to the "My applications" page. Click the red PDF icon to download a PDF with all completed questions and answers.

Click "Submit Application" at the bottom of the page. The platform checks for completeness — incomplete applications show red error messages highlighting fields that need attention. Completed applications receive a confirmation message. You can make changes after submission until the deadline.

No. There is no way to revert to older versions or undo changes in the platform.

Your browser may be retaining an older version of the page. Clear your browser cache and try again. Good Grants help resources provide instructions for clearing cache across various browsers.