At the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC), we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. Through data-driven insights, real community voices and strategic investment, we are committed to removing barriers and creating pathways to success for Monterey County residents.
The Foundation has identified strategic funding opportunities to support local nonprofits addressing specific needs in four key focus areas:
Housing Stability, Educational Attainment, Workforce Development and Mental Health Support.
We invite you to join us in investing in these four vital areas by contributing to the Thrive Fund.
Please take a moment to watch this video on Thrive grants in action to see examples from some of the grant recipients: Digital NEST, Bright Futures for Monterey County, Housing Resource Center of Monterey County and NAMI Monterey County
The data shows there are great disadvantages and disparities for many of our neighbors around basic human needs such as housing, education, economic stability and mental health. Funding these specific areas will create opportunity and measurable impact.
It comes as no surprise that housing affordability and sustainability are key obstacles to a thriving Monterey County. Since 2014, median home prices increased by 95%, while median income for a family of four in Monterey County has increased 50%.
(2023-2031 Housing Element, County of Monterey)
“During my time seeking to rent an apartment, I paid close to $1,500 in application fees… not knowing I had no chance of qualifying because of my low credit score.” – local resident
Only 21.4% of 7th grade students meet or exceed math competencies and only 38.9% meet or exceed English/Language Arts competencies.
(DataShare Monterey County: Math, English)
“The primary focus should be on grades 4th to 6th because intervening in middle school is already too late.” – school district administrator
Only 57.6% of Monterey County households have the income level needed to afford the basic costs of living. (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) threshold)
(DataShare Monterey County)
“I graduated from college. I applied for various jobs but didn’t get hired because my resume does not show any background experience.” – young adult
More than half (51.2%) of Monterey County adults have had two or more years in their lives when they felt depressed or sad on most days.
(Community Health Needs Assessment)
“Everything is expensive: rent, bills, food and gas. I’m working from sunrise to sunset and from job to job to survive. It’s frustrating, and it hurts because I want to be home more often to see and play with my kids. Sometimes the only time I see them is when I take them to childcare at 6:00 am.” – farm worker
| Organization | Purpose | Two-year Amount Awarded |
| Bright Futures for Monterey County | Mi Vida Mi Futuro Expansion | $100,000 |
| Brighter Bites | Monterey County Nutrition & Education | $50,000 |
| Digital NEST | Monterey County Internships | $90,000 |
| Eat REAL | Strengthening Monterey County Education Outcomes Through Real Food Access | $50,000 |
| El Pajaro Community Development Corporation | Monterey County Childcare Business Business Incubation and Accelerator Program | $80,000 |
| Epicenter of Monterey | Our Gente | $42,000 |
| Family Service Agency of the Central Coast | Suicide Prevention Education and Support Services in Monterey County | $50,000 |
| Hope Horses & Kids | Forge Program | $40,000 |
| Housing Resource Center of Monterey County | Prop 47 Leveraged Funds | $200,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Northern California, Inc. | Scaling Personal Finance for college students in Monterey County | $50,000 |
| Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower | Safetypowers Skills for Monterey County residents | $50,000 |
| Mindful Life Project | Mindfulness-Based Mental and Behavioral Health Programming in Monterey County | $90,000 |
| NAMI Monterey County | Peer Leadership Initiative | $50,000 |
| Olinga Learning | Paid Agronomist Engineer Internships for Youth | $80,000 |
| The Village Project, Inc. | Education Academy and Freedom Reins | $50,000 |
| University Corporation at Monterey Bay | Advancing the Future Monterey County Education Workforce | $60,000 |
| Ventures | Monterey County Familias Con Mas: Financial Capability Rural Leadership Project | $200,000 |
Donate to the Thrive Fund or recommend a grant.
(CFMC Donor Advisors can recommend one or more focus areas)
Please contact us at (831) 375-9712 for more information or download flyer.
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