The Common Sense California Citizen Engagement Grant Program supports municipalities, school districts, and non-profit organizations throughout the state that are attempting to engage citizens in the policy-making process. Common Sense California (CSC) understands that at both the city/region and K-12 school district levels public officials are looking for more effective ways to involve their publics in significant policy decisions. These can range from land use and budget questions on the municipal side to school regionalization and district visioning in the K-12 area. CSC also knows that many organizations and municipalities do not have a budget line item devoted to “citizen engagement”, so we developed the Citizen Engagement Grant Program in order to:

• Offer important resources to municipal, educational, and non-profit organizations that are looking to involve their public in an important policy decision.
• Provide consultation to these organizations regarding possible engagement process approaches, connecting leaders with the top practitioners in this field.
• Promote the processes of civic engagement throughout California, so that municipal leaders can involve their community in producing more informed policy outcomes.

Common Sense California invites you to submit a brief online proposal for grant consideration. Citizen Engagement Grants will be awarded in two ways:

1. Common Sense Grants:
   Four (4) of these top-level grants of up to $25,000.00 each will be awarded on October 1, 2008 after a 3-week review process. Proposals are due by September 10, 2008.
2. Catalyst Grants:
   Multiple grants in amounts ranging from $1,000.00 to $7,500.00 will be awarded on a “rolling” basis beginning June 15, 2008. Proposals for these grants can be submitted immediately and will be reviewed as they are received.