Sustainability

ACT is providing you with a map of 48 different local community foundations. These Community Foundations are a great way for projects to build long term partnerships with local investors that want to fund local projects. Many local community funds focus their investments on specific neighborhoods, cities, or other communities. Developing partnerships with these foundations is optimal because competition for grant funding is limited to the scope of your geography. In other words, you may have a better chance of being mission-aligned with a local community foundation’s investment goals. For a map of community foundations in California, please click here: Local Community Foundations. 

Statewide Foundations

California has many robust statewide foundations that support countless CBOs and organizations such as the ones you run. Understanding a statewide funder’s mission and current priorities may help you in linking what funds are available in the State of California to what you are doing on the ground. This list could be quite lengthy, but we’ve chosen to identify and give you a brief look at just 4 of California’s notable statewide foundations that are most relevant to the needs and missions of ACT’s partnering community-based organizations.

• The California Endowment’s mission is to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. The Endowment invests in projects that address the social determinants of health. These include public spaces, reliable food sources, affordable schools, and equitable conditions inside schools (e.g. affordable school lunches). Grants are by invitation only. For current projects please see: https://www.calendow.org/grants/ 
• Sierra Health Foundation is a private philanthropic organization that funds projects involved in health, racial equity, and racial justice. The foundation is “committed to reducing health disparities through convening, educating and strategic grantmaking”. SHF believes that every person in California should be able to live a healthy life. SHF primarily serves Northern California. SHF has created the Responsive Grants Program, as well as investing in local funds including the Hope and Heal Fund and others. For current grant programs please see: https://www.sierrahealth.org/programs/responsive-grants-program/
• The Kaiser Community Foundation gives grants to nonprofits furthering socio-economic security, health care access, and mental health and wellness. Each request for funding must be accompanied by an application, follow a duly diligent review process and undergo consideration by a committee. Two grant rounds take place, in the Spring and in the Fall. The foundation aims to ensure equitable access to Kaiser Permanente’s grant resources for non-traditional applicant organizations, in addition to those with longevity and traditional structures. Opportunities are by invitation only. For current programming please see: https://community.kp.org/grants-and-volunteering/funding-opportunities
• The Wells Fargo Foundation prioritizes causes related to “financial health, housing affordability, small business growth, and sustainability to address these complex societal issues and help create a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future”. Applicant organizations must have tax-exempt status. They must also demonstrate fiscal and administrative stability and deliver services addressing critical community needs, as well as a broad reach. Opportunities are by invitation only. For current programming please see: Grant application portal: https://www.cybergrants.com/pls/cybergrants/ao_login.login?x_gm_id=1958&x_proposal_type_id=71190. 

Regional Foundations

Regional Community Foundations

The following are three regional foundations that you may find useful.

1. California Community Foundation: Los Angeles County, CA is an exceptional resource for Californian nonprofits. The CCF mission is to lead positive systemic change that strengthens Los Angeles communities: “We envision a future where all Angelenos have the opportunity to contribute to the productivity, health and well-being of our region.” These include nonprofits that work on immigration, housing, health and education. They also offer NonprofitConnect, which connects the nonprofit community and allows you to search funding opportunities. Present Opportunities include the following funds: Health – Integration, Collaboration, Advocacy; Centinela Valley Medical & Community Funds – Integration, Collaboration, Advocacy. For more see: https://www.calfund.org/nonprofits/open-grants/ 
2. Central Valley Community Foundation covers Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare Counties of California. Bills itself as doing “whatever it takes to create a just and thriving Central Valley”. CVCF has given over 900 grants so far to community and social justice nonprofit initiatives. It’s also the only accredited community foundation in the region. So far, this foundation has funded projects related to city economic development/small businesses, parks and recreation, food security, and more. Projects previously funded: https://centralvalleycf.org/community-impact/ 

3 Silicon Valley Community Foundation covers Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Well-funded and extensive grants in the Silicon Valley area. Core impact areas include Black and Indigenous liberation, policy change, housing, early childhood development, financial stability, and emergency response to health and environmental crises. Current opportunities: https://www.siliconvalleycf.org/nonprofits/grants