Community Investment Fund Program

Per the Community Investment Fund Policy, $500,000 will be allocated annually to events, organizations, and Supervisorial District priorities. The funds available for this category are divided equally among Supervisorial Districts.

The Board of Supervisors invites non-profit organizations to apply for grant funding for local events that will support businesses or enhance culture, and organizations that provide a benefit to the community. Additionally, the Board of Supervisors may award funding to County Departments, to fulfill Supervisorial District priorities. Organizations can submit applications for funding via an online application system.

These grants are awarded throughout the fiscal year. 

Link to FY 2022-2023 Local Events, Organizations, District Priorities Grant Application

List of FY 2021-2022 Grant Award Recipients (PDF: 465 KB)

On April 16, 2019, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved updates to the use of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), including the Community Investment Program. The updated program includes a revised Community Investment Fund Program Policy and four year funding allocations for Transient Occupancy Tax. These updates will be implemented for Fiscal Year 2019-2020.   

These updates come in the wake of two significant natural disasters, and new fiscal realities. As a result, the recommendation re-directs a significant amount of funding from grants to priority projects to help the County develop resiliency after the 2017 Sonoma Complex Fires and the 2019 Flood Disaster.

For more information:

Summary Report (PDF: 1.6 MB) 
Community Investment Fund Policy, Adopted 4/16/19 (Effective 7/1/19) (PDF: 256 kb)
Transient Occupancy Tax Four Year Allocation (PDF: 205 kb)

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors established the Community Investment Fund Program (formerly known as the Advertising Program) in 1986 utilizing Transient Occupancy Tax (Hotel/Motel Tax or Bed Tax) funds. The Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) is currently charged at a rate of 12% for accommodations at lodging and camping facilities in the unincorporated areas of the county.

In the early hours of October 9, 2017, the County of Sonoma responded to the Sonoma Complex Fires, which burned 17 square miles and destroyed over 7,000 structures, including 5,143 homes. It will take years to recover fully from the devastating fires. As a result, the Board of Supervisors approved and updated Community Investment Fund Policy that provides a four-year funding plan to maintain consistent funding for critical services that support the community’s recovery efforts. 

The Community Investment Fund Program utilizes a portion of the TOT to encourage tourism, economic development, community engagement, and community services through a variety of grant award and funding avenues. The Program provides various grants to community non-profits for local events that will support businesses or enhance culture, and organizations that provide a benefit to the community. Additionally, the program provides grants to address impacts on safety due to tourism. The Program also provides funding to the Regional Parks Department, Economic Development Department, the Policy, Grants, & Special Projects Division, and a number of other county department activities.

In addition, the Board of Supervisors will track and distribute the 3% Measure L increase to TOT separately. The categories for these funds are as follows: Roads Repair and Improvement, Fire Services, Affordable Housing, Code Enforcement and Operator Compliance, Event Facilities Improvements, and the Tourism Impact Fund.

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