2025 California Men’s Service Challenge
Published: September 28, 2025
Application Due Date: October 30, 2025
Assistance Listing Number: 94.006
Contact Information: Funding@CaliforniaVolunteers.CA.GOV
Grant Description
On July 30, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-31-25, underscoring “California’s growing crisis of connection and opportunity for men and boys.” The Executive Order directs GO-Serve to identify opportunities for promoting and enhancing the participation of men and boys in service through California Volunteers.
California Volunteers has a decades-long history of offering paid service opportunities for Californians in a variety of focus areas; service positions focus on tapping into an individual’s skills and resources for the betterment of the community. Relatedly, these service opportunities provide professional development, leadership training, and skills enhancement for participants.
Historically, women have represented a large majority of service participants both in California and nationwide. California recognizes the unique and valuable skillset of young men and boys, particularly as role models and mentors to younger generations of boys. To this end, California Volunteers is launching the California Men’s Service Challenge to encourage young men’s participation in paid service, to build career and leadership skills while modeling a positive experience of manhood.
Eligible Applicants
Nonprofit organizations and state and local government agencies are eligible to apply. All applicants must have active registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/SAM/
Funding Priorities
Applicants must address at least one of two priority goals to qualify for funding under this initiative:
Goal 1: Scaling Service
Programs funded under this goal will expand existing service models with proven capacity to engage young men and boys as beneficiaries of member service. Service members addressing this goal will engage in direct service activities aligned with the organization’s existing program model with the capacity to serve men and boys.
Service members in this category may serve a variety of service term types including:
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- 1A: 1700-, 1200-, 900-, 675-hour AmeriCorps slots or
- 1B: 300-hour AmeriCorps slots or 100- and 50-hour non-AmeriCorps slots
Goal 2: Organizational Capacity Building
Service members addressing this goal will serve as capacity builders providing indirect service to organizations with the goal of promoting, creating, and/or expanding service opportunities for young men and boys
Notice of Intent to Apply
Prospective applicants are encouraged to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by completing this short survey by October 8, 2025
Application Deadline
All application components must be received by Thursday, October 30, 2025. See Application Instructions for submission guidelines.
Application Documents
- Request for Applications
- Mandatory Supplemental Guidance
- Application Instructions
- Performance Measure Instructions
- Application Forms
To begin the application process, register for a California Volunteer Grants Portal account by clicking here.
Questions & Answers
California Men’s Service Challenge Office Hours, October 23, 2025, 11:00 am
This open session is available to support applicants with questions related to: the application process, technical issues, budgeting/calculations, and clarifying application instructions. There will be no content presented at this session; applicants are welcome to join with questions.
Funding Opportunity Overview and Q & A (October 10, 2025, 10:00 am)
This session will provide an overview of the funding opportunity and serve as a forum for applicants to ask questions about the Request for Applications and/or associated documents.
- Webinar Recording (password to access: dd9@?J1Y)
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions received by email will be collected and answered on a Frequently Asked Questions document posted below.
The following templates are provided to allow for offline development of application components that must be submitted in an online form.
- California Performance Measurement Worksheet Templates
