Sacramento, California – A century-old charity fund is opening another round of help for Sacramento nonprofits working directly with people in crisis. This time, roughly $225,000 is available for groups providing food, housing assistance, clothing, transportation and other basic support.
The opportunity comes with a tight schedule. Applications for the Ann Land and Bertha Henschel Memorial Fund’s 2027 grant cycle must be submitted by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, through the City of Sacramento grants portal.
The amount available is larger than last year, when about $190,000 was distributed. The commission has often supported between 20 and 30 organizations in recent years, with many individual awards close to the $10,000 maximum request. The final number of 2027 grants will be determined at the funding meeting Nov. 4.
The fund has roots stretching back more than 100 years. Former Sacramento Mayor William Land left $200,000 in 1914 in memory of his mother, Ann Land. Bertha Henschel added $275,000 in 1952, while later contributions came from Emma Hotfilter, Annie Zacariah and Warren Reed.
The principal remains invested. Only earnings can be distributed, under City Council supervision, “to the benefit of destitute men, women and children of the city.”
Eligibility is narrow. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits with an office or facility inside Sacramento and must serve destitute residents within city limits. Required documents include proof of nonprofit status, current charitable registration or exemption documentation, a city business license or tax-waiver letter, financial records and a detailed grant budget.
Funding cannot be used for salaries, administration, overhead or unexpected expenses. Requested money must be tied to direct assistance described in the application.
Incomplete applications will be disqualified. Organizations must also send a representative to the Nov. 4 meeting at 10 a.m. in the New City Hall Chambers, 915 I Street. No formal presentation is required from every applicant, but someone must be available to answer commissioners’ questions.
Last year, 23 organizations received funding, including Sacramento Loaves & Fishes, WEAVE, Wind Youth Services, Women’s Empowerment, My Sister’s House and First Step Communities.
The 2027 opportunity is listed as GRANT-2026-000030. Successful applicants will fund work conducted from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2027, and must submit semi-annual reports to remain eligible for future cycles.