15 Sep 2025

How Nonprofits Can Secure Grants from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in 2025

Why the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Matters

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), founded by Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, has committed billions to solving some of society's most urgent challenges. From scientific research to education innovation to community health equity, CZI has built a reputation for funding bold, data-backed projects that create measurable change. For nonprofits in healthcare, social impact, and community development, a grant from CZI is not only a significant funding win, it's a mark of credibility that opens doors to further partnerships.

Grant Success Stories

What CZI Funds

CZI focuses on a few key areas:

1. Science & Biomedical Research

  • Developing tools, datasets, and technology that accelerate medical discoveries.
  • Projects improving access to rare disease research.

2. Education & Learning

  • Personalized learning approaches in K–12 schools.
  • Tools that improve teacher and student experiences.

3. Justice & Opportunity

  • Housing affordability initiatives.
  • Criminal justice reform and reentry programs.
  • Local community engagement projects.

4. Community Health Equity

  • Reducing health disparities in underserved populations.
  • Supporting local health initiatives that combine clinical and social services.

Real-World Example

In 2024, Oakland Thrives, a community coalition, secured CZI funding to expand mental health support programs in schools. Daly City Youth Health Center received CZI Community Fund support for youth mental health and health equity programs in August 2022.

How Your Nonprofit Can Win CZI Grants

Take Daly City Youth Health Center (DCYHC) as an example;

Funding Secured : In August 2022, part of a $250,000 CZI-backed investment under the San Mateo County Mayors Mental Health Initiative.

How They Won:

  • Highlighted urgent youth mental health gaps and used local data to make a compelling case.
  • Partnered strategically with local mayors and community health networks.
  • Provided measurable outcomes, committed to delivering over 600 therapy sessions and 100 hours of group therapy.
  • Demonstrated access and equity services in Spanish and built-in staff wellness supports.

Key Strategies to Emulate:

  • Use Local Data & Show Clear Need : Be explicit about who is affected and why your project matters now.
  • Demonstrate Partnership Strength : CZI values collaborative, community-rooted solutions.
  • Quantify Impact : Define your goals, sessions provided, communities served, and lives improved.
  • Address Access & Inclusion : Offer linguistically and culturally responsive programming.
  • Ensure Operational Resilience : Plan for Staff Well-being and Program Adaptability.
  • Prepare for Detailed Reporting : Be audit- and report-ready by tracking progress daily.

How to Apply for CZI Grants

1. Identify Active Grant Opportunities

  • CZI posts open calls on its Grants & Opportunities page. Most programs have specific themes, such as "Rare As One," which focuses on research into rare diseases.

2. Build a Data-Driven Proposal

  • Use local and national statistics to highlight the problem. Present your organization as impact-ready with measurable goals.

3. Show Collaborative Power

  • CZI values networks that partner with local nonprofits, government bodies, and healthcare providers.

4. Demonstrate Scalability

  • Proposals should demonstrate how a successful local pilot could be expanded regionally or nationally.

5. Prepare for Reporting Commitments

  • CZI expects detailed impact reporting during and after the grant period.

Timeline for 2025 CZI Grant Opportunities

San Mateo County Community Fund

  • Application Opens : May 6, 2025, at 8 a.m. PT
  • Application Deadline : June 6, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT
  • Award Notifications : Fall 2025
  • Grant Amount : Up to $200,000 over two years

Other Active Programs

Science Diversity Leadership Awards

  • Letter of Intent (LOI) Due: December 3, 2024
  • Final Application Due: April 8, 2025
  • Award Notifications: Earliest notifications in August 2025

Biohub Global Science Scholars Fellowships

  • Rolling Applications: December 17, 2024, through May 27, 2025

Note: These timelines are verified as of September 2025, based on official CZI grant pages. Prospective applicants should regularly review the specific Requests for Applications (RFAs) and the official CZI website to stay informed about any updates or changes.

Why Pillar by SocialRoots.ai is Your CZI Grant Advantage

CZI is deeply data- and results-oriented; they want proof of real-world impact. Pillar helps you:

  • Aggregate program data from multiple service areas into one platform.
  • Track health and social outcomes in real time.
  • Generate funder-ready reports that meet CZI's transparency standards.
  • Showcase community collaboration through integrated partner reporting.

Instead of scrambling to collect impact metrics after funding, Pillar lets you demonstrate readiness from day one.

Conclusion: Turning Vision into Funded Reality

A grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative can transform your nonprofit's capacity to create change, but competition is intense.

The winners are those who align with CZI's priorities, demonstrate readiness to act, and present measurable and scalable results.

With Pillar by SocialRoots.ai, your organization can turn its vision into a compelling, data-backed story that funders can't ignore.

Scroll