Sebastopol West 100 releases its first grant application
West County's new private giving circle, SW100, opened its first grant cycle yesterday with the intention of giving away $295,000 in grants
The SW100 Grant Committee has announced the official opening of its 2025 grant season.
The application portal opened online at SW100.org on Thursday, July 24.
Applications must be submitted by 5 pm, Thursday, August 21.
Awards range from a single $100,000 grant to two $50,000 awards, two $25,000 awards and three $15,000 awards.
According to the group’s press release, “Local non-profit organizations dedicated to creating a positive impact within the SW100 service area [see map below] are invited to submit their proposals.”
Grants are being solicited in the areas of human services, arts, culture, recreation, youth programs, parks, the environment, and other services that will improve the quality of life in these communities.
“We are incredibly excited to launch this new grant cycle and partner with local non-profits doing vital work,” said Kenyon Webster, co-president of SW100. “Our community thrives when we invest in strong, impactful programs, and we look forward to reviewing proposals that demonstrate a clear commitment to these critical areas.”
About the SW100
The SW100 was the brainchild of Craig Boblitt and Craig Litwin.
“It started with Litwin and I meeting at Peacetown last July, right after the city had pulled back all their funding for nonprofits in Sebastopol, and we just looked at each other and said, ‘Could we raise $200,000 to replace that money?’ So we started meeting,” Boblitt said.
They invited five other local movers and shakers to join them on the board, including former Sebastopol City Planner Kenyon Webster; former Senior Center Director Linda Civitello; longtime resident and educator Carlo Rossi; Citizen of the Year and Grange president Lawrence Jaffe; former Sebastopol City Councilmember Craig Litwin; and Former Sebastopol Mayor and former Community Center Director Diana Rich.
This group met throughout the fall of 2024, created a nonprofit and became a regional partner of the Community Foundation of Sonoma County, which agreed to be their fiscal sponsor and will be managing the online grant application for SW100.
SW100 launched on March 28 of this year and has raised $379,441 thus far. The organization has approximately 100 members and is still growing. All it takes to join is a commitment to paying the $1,300 annual membership, which can be contributed in one payment or spread out monthly. Members get to vote on where funds are awarded. Despite the name, membership is NOT limited to 100 people.
The big question: How many will apply?
Boblitt, who is co-president of SW100, jokes that the group is taking bets on how many applications they’ll get.
“There are over 200 nonprofits in the West County,” he said. “Most of them will be excluded because they’re either religious or they’re family foundations. I’ve looked at the list and paired it down myself and came up with a little over 100.”
The group is sending an invitation to apply to those organizations. Also, any local nonprofit that fits the eligibility requirements is welcome to apply.
The Sebastopol Area Senior Center, Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, the West County Museum, and Peacetown have already indicated their intention to apply.
How will the grant recipients be chosen?
The current plan is that the SW100 board (or its grant committee) will do an initial winnowing and then present a selection of grant applicants to the membership for their vote.
“We will pair it down so there’ll be maybe only two possible groups for each grant level,” Boblitt said, noting that there are eight grants being offered overall.
Voting will be online.
“The results will be released at a meeting for members on October 25 at the Balletto Event Center,” Boblitt said. (The Balletto family is donating the use of the event center for this meeting.)
More about the grant application
All applications must be filed exclusively through the link provided on the SW100 website.
Prospective applicants should review the detailed grant eligibility on the SW100 website carefully. Key criteria include:
Nonprofits must have a 501c3 designation. Projects must be located within or directly benefit the West County area of Sebastopol, Graton, Forestville, Occidental and Freestone.
Nonprofits must have been in operation for at least 2 years.
Proposals must demonstrate clear, measurable positive community impact with a realistic plan, timeline, and achievable objectives.
For comprehensive guidelines, application forms and important deadlines, visit sw100.org. For questions about the application, contact grant@sw100.org between July 24 – July 30, 2025.
Want to join the SW100?
SW100 is still accepting new members. Join now.
Bravo!! What an awesome local initiative!! ❤️💰⚡️
Direction action. Fantastic!