The following are some of the past initiatives that CFMC has undertaken in partnership with community groups and foundations in Monterey County and beyond.
To support neighborhoods where kids and youth are healthy, safe and ready to learn
2010 – 2020
$2 – $4 million per year
In 2009, the Community Foundation for Monterey County served as the host agency and led the strategic planning of the Building Healthy Communities in East Salinas Plan. The following year, The California Endowment embarked on a 10-year statewide strategic initiative, Building Healthy Communities, with the goal of supporting neighborhoods where kids and youth are healthy, safe and ready to learn. The California Endowment identified a total of fourteen communities throughout California with which they partnered with to achieve the goals in their 10-year strategic investment. Among the fourteen communities identified, East Salinas in one of them.
The Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) coordinated grantmaking and capacity-building efforts through the region’s three community foundations: Community Foundation for Monterey County, Community Foundation for San Benito County and the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County as part of a larger program.
The group provided three-year grants, training, peer learning and mentor support to fourteen community-based organizations serving low-income communities of color in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. The sustained wrap-around support enhanced these organizations’ efforts to become more sustainable and effective. Organizations received:
The CLP grant was the single most influential factor in igniting our continued transformation to a more effective and sustainable organization. It gave the board and staff fresh insight and passion and tools to build a solid future.
The CFMC was selected in 2009 as the local partner for the first phase of the CLP in Monterey County.From 2009 through 2012, the CFMCprovided a total of $375,000 to nine local organizations. These grassroots organizations each received a 2-year grant of $40,000 to support operations and technical assistance services based on an initial organizational assessment.
Participating grantees were offered opportunities for networking and learning with peer organizations. These organizations learned a great deal about nonprofit management and governance. All have grown and made significant improvements in the way they operate.
The CLP is funded through a partnership between The David and Lucile Packard, James Irvine and William and Flora Hewlett foundations to strengthen small nonprofit organizations serving low-income people and communities of color in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley and the Central Coast. For more information visit: www.communityleadershipproject.org.
To strengthen human services organizations with multi-year support.
2012 – 2015
$1.5 million ($50,000 per year for 10 organizations)
Through his estate Rudy E. Futer directed that his fund be used to make grants for direct human services supporting at-risk and underserved populations.The CFMC fulfilled his wishes by investing in organizations through its Community Impact grants program, then took it a step further. In 2012, the CFMC committed $1.5 million in grants and training to ten anchor social service organizations to strengthen the continuum of safety net and basic human services in Monterey County.
Futer Essential Human Services Grants program participants were: Coastal Kids Home Care, Community Human Services, Food Bank for Monterey County, Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra,Housing Resource Center, Legal Services for Seniors, Shelter Outreach Plus (now Community Homeless Solutions), Sun Street Centers, United Farm Workers Foundation, and YWCA Monterey County. The grantees also received wrap-around support from the CFMC’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence.
To support and expand adult literacy services in Monterey County with a focus on parents with young children
2006 – 2011
$2 million (includes other funding partners)
In 2006, the Community Foundation for Monterey County launched the Literacy Campaign for Monterey County a five year campaign between 2007 and 2011 to support and expand adult literacy services. In collaboration with Monterey Peninsula Foundation, First 5 Monterey County and other funders a total of $2,083,000 was contributed to the Monterey County Literacy Campaign from nine grant makers and nonprofit agencies reaching over 5,800 adults between the ages 18 to 35 with a focus on parents with young children. In 2011, the Literacy Campaign for Monterey County was spun off into its own independent nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.
From 2016-2019, the Next Steps for Small Nonprofits program supported nine small organizations with general operating support grant funding, organizational assessments, individualized plans for strengthening the organization, training, peer meetings and one-on-one support from a professional coach/mentor.
Next Steps helped small nonprofits stabilize operations, refocus on mission, plan for growth, and other activities to strengthen the inner workings of the organization. The Community Foundation received additional funding for Next Steps from the Claire Giannini Fund and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. This grant program is now closed. See below for Next Steps grant recipients.
Grant Amount – Up to $18,000/year for three years
Scope and Characteristics
To develop, implement, and monitor impacts of projects to reduce runoff of various sediments
2003 to 2014
Over $4.75 million
Non-point source pollution projects and monitoring funds and grant making were a PG&E Special Environmental Project (SEP) of the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board of the California Environmental Protection Agency. The Community Foundation for Monterey County managed the funds (initially $4.75 million) and grant making process. Multi-year grants have been awarded to nonprofit and public agencies so they can develop, implement, and monitor impacts of projects to reduce runoff of sediment, fertilizer, nutrients, pesticides, herbicides, and other pollutants from commercial agriculture and other activities into Elkhorn Slough, Moss Landing Harbor, and tributary watersheds. Final grant were awarded in 2014.
To improve the healthcare needs of California’s agricultural workers
2006 – 2010
In 2001, The California Endowment launched the Agricultural Worker Health Initiative (AWHI) to address the health-care needs of California’s agricultural workers. Through the AWHI Action Grants Program, the Community Foundation for Monterey County served as the fiscal agent and technical assistance provider to Poder Popular para la Bien Salud del Pueblo (Improved Community Health through Community Empowerment) from 2006 to 2010. The initiative resulted in the development of three health action plans led by residents from each of the three targeted communities; East Salinas, Gonzales, and Greenfield. In 2011, the Community Foundation for Monterey County spun off the program to the Center for Community Advocacy as one of its core programs.
To examine social networks to increase the effectiveness of grant makers, nonprofit organizations, and the business community
2007 – 2010
In 2007, the Community Foundation for Monterey County launched its Social Network Support Project to examine how grant makers, nonprofit organizations, and business community can use social networks to increase the effectiveness of their efforts. Funded by the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, the Social Network Support Project mapped four sub-groups; the adult lieracy providers’ network, environmental service organizations, human service providers in Greenfield, and youth development agencies in Monterey County. In addition to working with these networks and helping them understand the strengths of their partnerships and potential, the Community Foundation supported network leaders in enhancing communication, planning, and cooperation among their organizations. Read the Social Network Support Executive Summary.
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Monterey Office
2354 Garden Road
Monterey, CA 93940
Salinas Office
945 South Main Street, Suite 207
Salinas, CA 93901
Home page background photos
courtesy of Chris Burnham
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