Category: How We Serve

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The Power of Endowments: One Gift. Generations of Impact.

Pictured: Ron and Helen Dunin

Endowments are one of the most enduring ways philanthropy can strengthen a community. By investing charitable resources for the long term, a single gift can provide meaningful support today while creating a lasting source of support for the future.

Ron and Helen Dunin’s story demonstrates that potential.

More than 20 years ago, they made a decision rooted in their love for San Luis Obispo County and their belief in its future. Today, their generosity continues to support individuals and families throughout the community.

A Life Rooted in Community

Ron and Helen arrived in San Luis Obispo in 1965 after making the journey from Great Britain. Here, they built a life and became deeply connected to the community they called home.

Ron served on the San Luis Obispo City Council beginning in 1977 and later served three terms as mayor. But their commitment to the community extended far beyond public service. Together, Ron and Helen believed everyone deserved the opportunity to build a stable, self-sufficient life.

When planning their estate, they chose to carry that belief forward. They left a portion of their estate to The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, establishing an endowed fund in their name to support individuals and families working toward that goal.

What One Gift Has Made Possible

The Dunins’ initial $500,000 gift established their endowed fund in 2004. Since then, the fund has awarded more than $1.4 million in grants and scholarships, while growing to a current balance of more than $3.1 million.

Initial gift: $500,000
Cumulative grants awarded: $1,405,097
Current fund balance: $3,136,738

In other words, the fund has already invested nearly three times the amount of the original gift back into the community and today holds more than six times its original value.

That is the lasting potential of an endowment.

How an Endowment Works

An endowed fund is designed to support a charitable purpose over the long term. Rather than spending the entire gift, the assets are invested and a portion is made available for charitable distributions.

This approach allows donors to establish a permanent source of support around what matters most to them, whether that is a particular nonprofit, scholarships, a specific area of need, or the broader needs of the community.

The Dunin Fund offers a powerful example. More than two decades after Ron and Helen made their original gift, their fund continues to carry out the purpose they envisioned.

Creating a Legacy with Purpose

Every donor’s vision for the future is different. An endowment can be established during a donor’s lifetime or through an estate plan and structured around the causes, organizations, or community priorities they want to support for generations to come.

Ron and Helen could not have known exactly what San Luis Obispo County would need decades into the future. What they did know was the kind of community they wanted to help build.

Their foresight created a charitable resource that continues to serve that purpose today.

The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County works with individuals and families to create charitable plans that reflect what matters most to them and provide meaningful support to our community, today and into the future.

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A Shared Vision for Child Care Across the Central Coast

In San Luis Obispo County, there is an estimated one licensed child care space for every four children ages 0 to 5. Local research also found particularly limited options for infants and toddlers, while 81% of families seeking child care referrals needed full time care and 73% needed care in order to work.

The economic implications are significant. Research cited in The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County’s 2024 Child Care Report estimated that meeting the low end of potential child care need in SLO County could generate more than $108 million in annual economic activity and support or create 425 jobs.

Behind those numbers are families balancing work with the availability and cost of care, employers working to build and retain a workforce, child care providers navigating a challenging business environment, and communities seeking greater economic opportunity.

These challenges do not stop at county lines. Increasingly, neither do the solutions.

Six Counties, One Shared Vision

The Uplift Child Care Coalition brings together community foundations, including The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, and cross sector partners across six Central Coast counties around a common goal: strengthening child care as both a child development priority and an economic development strategy.

The Coalition grew from Uplift Central Coast’s regional economic development work, which identified child care as an important economic mobility strategy. With Catalyst Predevelopment funding from Uplift Central Coast, First 5 San Luis Obispo County coordinates the Coalition, bringing together partners from Santa Cruz to Ventura to build and advance this regional effort.

The network reaches across sectors, including early care and education, families, local government, employers, economic development, higher education, nonprofits, philanthropy, and child care planning and resource organizations.

For Wendy Wendt, Executive Director of First 5 San Luis Obispo County, the work reflects a broader shift in how communities understand the role of child care:

“Like housing, transportation, and health care, child care is now widely recognized for its essential role as an anchor industry in our communities. It lies at the critical intersection of child development and economic development. The Uplift Child Care Coalition is working to connect sustaining efforts across counties and sectors along the Central Coast.”

That regional approach reflects the complexity of the issue. Expanding access requires attention not only to the number of available spaces, but also to the child care workforce, facilities, land use and local policies, the needs of working families, and the role employers and communities can play.

Our local research identified many of these same priorities, including strengthening the child care workforce, supporting child care businesses, addressing land use barriers, engaging employers, and more fully integrating child care into economic development strategies.

Building Momentum Together

The Coalition is translating that shared understanding into resources and strategies communities can use.

Partners have developed a Best Practice Portfolio, resources outlining the roles different sectors can play in building child care capacity, and a Shared Vision for Child Care that organizations throughout the Central Coast can endorse and help advance.

The Shared Vision calls on partners across the region to work together toward “advancing a child care system that uplifts every child, every family, every community across our six counties.”

This summer, more than 60 participants representing all six counties gathered for the Uplift Child Care Coalition Showcase Event to exchange ideas, share what has been learned, and help shape the next phase of the work.

The breadth of participation reflects an important shift. Child care is increasingly being considered not only as a service for families, but as an issue connected to workforce development, economic mobility, land use, and the long term vitality of our communities.

From Shared Vision to Action

One area of focus ahead is the Child Care Facilities Action Network, or CCFAN, which addresses a practical barrier to expanding child care: creating and expanding the physical spaces where care can take place.

Our local research identified restrictive zoning, permitting requirements, fees, and other land use policies among the challenges that can slow the development of new child care spaces.

Through CCFAN, Child Care Facilities Specialists will participate in nine months of peer learning, fieldwork, land use surveys, coaching, and engagement with planning departments. Participating cities and counties will have opportunities to assess existing policies, learn from practices across the region, and identify opportunities to make child care development more feasible.

This is one of the strengths of a regional coalition: communities do not have to solve the same problems independently. They can share what works, learn from one another, and build on collective experience.

Add Your Voice

There is still significant work ahead, and The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County is proud to stand alongside First 5 San Luis Obispo County and our Coalition partners as we continue advancing this important work.

The Uplift Child Care Coalition reflects an approach we believe is essential to addressing complex community challenges: bringing together people with different expertise, connecting local experience to regional opportunity, and creating the conditions for collective action.

Across six counties, that work is building a stronger, more coordinated vision for child care and for the children, families, workforce, and communities that depend on it.

Organizations and community leaders throughout the Central Coast are invited to learn more and add their voices to what comes next.

Learn more about the Uplift Child Care Coalition

Read the Shared Vision for Child Care

Join us in endorsing the Shared Vision

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CFSLOCO Helping Connect Local News Organizations to New Statewide Funding Opportunity

Local journalism plays a critical role in helping communities stay informed, connected, and engaged. Across California, many local news organizations continue to face growing financial and operational challenges at a time when trusted civic information is more important than ever.

A new statewide initiative aims to help strengthen and sustain local civic media throughout California.

The California Civic Media Program, established through the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), has launched with an initial $20 million investment to support local newsrooms across the state. The initiative combines state funding, private investment, and philanthropic partnership to strengthen California’s civic media ecosystem.

Founding support for the program includes partnership from Google, with Governor Gavin Newsom allocating an additional $10 million annually over the next two years to continue the effort. Matching support from Google is expected to bring the total annual investment to approximately $20 million per year moving forward.

The program is administered by the James B. McClatchy Foundation with support from Journalism Funding Partners and guidance from the Civic Media Program Advisory Board, a group of journalism and civic leaders from across California.

As part of this statewide effort, community foundations across California are helping connect local news organizations with information about the opportunity. The League of California Community Foundations has partnered with regional outreach organizations to help ensure both nonprofit and for profit news outlets are aware of the funding opportunity and application process.

The inaugural application window is open from July 6 through August 21, 2026.

Eligible organizations are encouraged to explore the program website, review eligibility requirements, and attend upcoming informational webinars and technical assistance sessions. Upcoming webinars are scheduled for July 7 and August 4.

Key resources available through the program include:

  • Program information and application details
  • Eligibility quiz
  • Program guide and FAQs
  • Technical assistance office hours
  • Informational webinars

Organizations can learn more and access application resources at California Civic Media Program.

Strong local journalism helps communities better understand local issues, engage in civic life, and stay connected to one another. This new statewide investment reflects growing recognition that local news is essential community infrastructure worthy of long term support.

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Philanthropy is Evolving and Your Community Foundation is Responding

At The Community Foundation, we believe philanthropy must continue evolving alongside this moment. Over the past year, we have made several strategic changes designed to help unlock more charitable capital, reduce barriers to giving, strengthen nonprofit sustainability, and support long term community resilience.

Reduced Minimums for Donor Advised Funds

This year, we reduced the minimum required to establish a donor-advised fund, helping make organized, strategic philanthropy accessible to more individuals and families across our region. Donors can open a non-endowed fund with a gift of $5000.

For many donors, charitable giving today looks different than it once did. Families want to involve the next generation, respond quickly to emerging issues, support multiple causes over time, and create giving plans that reflect their values. Lowering the minimum helps open the door for more people to engage in long term philanthropy in a meaningful way.

We believe philanthropy should feel approachable, actionable, and connected to community impact. Donor advised fundholders can also choose investment strategies that align with their giving goals, whether they plan to grant funds quickly to address immediate needs or grow charitable assets over time to support future community impact.

Increasing Our Endowment Spending Policy

We also approved an increase to our endowment spending policy, allowing more funding to flow into grants and scholarships during a period of heightened community need.

Nonprofits throughout San Luis Obispo County continue to face increased demand for services alongside rising operational costs and uncertain funding streams. In response, we felt it was important to thoughtfully balance long term investment stewardship with the urgency of supporting organizations and students today.

Reduced Fees to Maximize Community Impact

As The Community Foundation continues to grow, we remain committed to evaluating how we can create greater value for fundholders and nonprofit partners. Recent fee reductions are part of that effort.

We reduced fees for our donor advised funds, agency funds, and scholarship funds to help maximize charitable impact and keep more resources working in the community.

Our goal is simple: keep more charitable dollars working in the community while continuing to provide strong governance, donor services, investment oversight, and grant administration.

Launching Agency Investment Funds

One of the most significant developments this year was the launch of our new Agency Investment Funds, designed specifically to help nonprofit organizations strengthen long-term sustainability.

These flexible, non-endowed funds provide nonprofits with access to professional investment management, diversified investment pools, and oversight from the Foundation’s Investment Committee. Organizations can invest reserve funds and long-term assets in ways that align with their financial goals and timelines, while still maintaining full flexibility and access to their funds.

Unlike traditional endowments, nonprofits retain the ability to retrieve a portion or the entirety of their fund balance at any time, giving organizations greater financial flexibility while still benefiting from long term investment management and stewardship.

Too often, nonprofits are forced to focus solely on short term survival. We believe philanthropy can also help create pathways toward stability, resilience, and future growth.

Expanding Collaboration Around Complex Community Challenges

We also recognize that today’s biggest challenges cannot be solved by any one organization acting alone.

Issues like housing affordability, workforce development, childcare, access to healthcare, nonprofit sustainability, and the impacts of federal and state policy changes are deeply interconnected and require coordinated regional responses. Increasingly, our role is not only to fund important work, but to help convene partners, align resources, and create space for collaboration across sectors.

We’ve expanded partnerships with local governments, nonprofit leaders, funders, and regional stakeholders to better respond to emerging community needs and long-term systemic challenges.

Through Together for SLO County: A Critical Response Fund, public agencies, private philanthropy, and community donors came together to respond to significant cuts impacting our local safety net and the nonprofit organizations providing essential services across the county. The initiative distributed more than $2.25 million in unrestricted support to 27 organizations, while also investing in sustainability support to help strengthen long term operational health.

We are also deepening partnerships around housing and economic mobility through mission related investments and regional collaboration. Since 2019, the Foundation has invested nearly $1 million in recoverable, low interest loans through the SLO County Housing Trust Fund to help leverage larger state and federal funding opportunities that support affordable housing development across the county.

As community needs become more complex, philanthropy must become more connected, adaptive, and collaborative.

How Your Community Foundation Is Responding

Community foundations are uniquely positioned to help communities navigate moments like this because we are built for the long term. We are deeply rooted in the regions we serve, connected across sectors, and able to bring together donors, nonprofits, public agencies, businesses, and community leaders around shared solutions.

At The Community Foundation, our role is evolving beyond traditional grantmaking. We are helping convene partnerships, move charitable resources more strategically, support nonprofit sustainability, and invest in long term community resilience.

Philanthropy today is not simply about preserving charitable assets. It is about activating them thoughtfully and strategically for public good. It is about removing barriers, responding to changing realities, and building stronger pathways between generosity and community impact.

The future of our region will depend on strong collaboration, coordinated leadership, and continued investment in the long term health of our communities.

We are proud to continue evolving alongside our community and deeply grateful to the donors, nonprofit partners, volunteers, and supporters helping shape what philanthropy can become moving forward.

 

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Honoring Excellence in Education: The Julian Crocker Community Scholarship Fund

The Julian Crocker Community Scholarship Fund – held at The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County – is a community fund which pays tribute to Dr. Julian Crocker, a leader and advocate in our community for education access. The former San Luis Obispo County Superintendent of Schools has been a vocal advocate for public education and an outstanding ambassador for the community.

The fund’s mission is to make post-secondary education accessible to a broader range of San Luis Obispo County residents, irrespective of their financial circumstances.

“It is an honor to have established this scholarship fund in the
name of Dr. Julian Crocker and to recognize his leadership and
commitment to our students. We continue to build upon his legacy and his ongoing dedication to supporting students’ pursuit of higher education.” – Heidi McPherson, CEO

 

Through this scholarship, individuals can aspire to achieve their educational goals and create brighter futures for themselves and their community; it provides hope and support to those who may have otherwise struggled to access post-secondary education.

Who Is Eligible for the Julian Crocker Community Scholarship? San Luis Obispo residents who demonstrate financial need. It particularly favors two groups of students:

  • Transferring students: Those transitioning from a community college to a four-year college or university.
  • Career technical education (CTE) seekers: Individuals pursuing degrees or certificates in career technical education at accredited institutions.

And the best part? The more the community contributes, the more students can achieve. Every member of the community is welcomed to contribute to this scholarship, making a direct and positive impact on the educational journey of our future leaders.

Join us in celebrating the legacy of Dr. Julian Crocker and the promise of a brighter, more educated future for San Luis Obispo County. Your support, no matter how big or small, brings us one step closer to a more inclusive, vibrant, and educated community for all.

> DONATE TO THE SCHOLARSHIP HERE <

Julian Crocker Community Scholarship Fund

 

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#25for25 Feature: An Open Letter from Jane Sinton

An open letter to the community from Jane Sinton about our Foundation’s humble beginnings, the Women’s Legacy Fund, and the amazing impacts that began with these passionate ideas. 

This feature is part of our #25for25 showcase where we highlight 25 stories to mark our 25 years of philanthropy in SLO County. These partners and community members have allowed the Foundation to continue giving and growing – together!

“When Dee Lacey first called me about helping to start a community foundation in San Luis Obispo County, she billed it as ‘you get to just give money away!’ Well, how could you say no to that? I should have known there was a hitch! In the beginning, we had to convince people to put money into the endowment before we could earn interest and be able to give that money away.

In hindsight, helping to start the Foundation and being the founding Board President was one of the most rewarding and hardest things I have done in my life. Now, here we are celebrating 25 years! We have given $66 million dollars back into the community to support people who need assistance. What I love about the Foundation is that we now have so many stories to tell about helping local people improve their lives. Real stories about real human beings in need – how we have helped to lift them up in life. We have stories of helping students go to college, helping the homeless find housing, helping save the environment, helping people with disabilities. The list goes on.

One of my favorite stories about the early days of the Foundation is when we had our first grants awards ceremony. We had very little money to give away, but we tried to make it count. It was the Turtle and Tortoise Club – a very modest club with few members, but they were passionate about taking turtles and tortoises around the county to schools to educate the kids. I think they asked for $200 to help with the gas money. When we awarded it to them at a wonderfully intimate awards gathering, they were so excited! It wasn’t a big grant, but it had a big impact on the people who were passionately dedicated to teaching kids about turtles and tortoises, as well as the kids who benefitted from their passion. Those were humble beginnings but stories like this drove us to work harder. That then convinced donors to give to their own passions to help us build a permanent endowment that will permanently help our community. Now we are able to give away thousands of dollars in multi-year grants to organizations that do the wonderful work of helping people in this community.

One of the things that makes CFSLOCO unique is that we all share information on what things have worked and what hasn’t worked. Early on in the Foundation’s evolution, I keyed in on one idea that really interested me – a Women’s Legacy Fund. Many community foundations across the country have some version of a women’s fund that builds an endowment to benefit women and girls. In 2002, the women serving on the Board of The Community Foundation got together and went to work. We set a goal of raising $100,000 to create a fund that could start giving away earnings within a few years. Women from across the county jumped in and signed up as Legacy Leaders for $1,000 each. We raised the first $100,000 in just three months. The fund is now at $2 million, and we have given more than $600,000 to organizations and programs focused on helping women and girls. And we have dozens of stories from our nonprofit partners of women and girls who have benefitted – by getting an education, leaving abusive relationships, learning financial literacy, leaving homelessness behind, becoming more self-confident, and bettering their lives and the lives of their families.

After serving more than 12 years on the Board, I termed out, but I just couldn’t leave the organization that I feel so passionate about. I have since sat on every committee that will have me – which turns out to be all of them! My most recent committee experience brings me full circle. I am a current member of the Grantmaking Committee. While on the Board, I concentrated my efforts on building an endowment and organizing the committees we needed to do our work effectively. The only committee I hadn’t served on was the grants committee. It’s particularly gratifying because, 25 years after Dee told me I would get to give money away, I am still helping to give the money away! What a rewarding experience that has been!

I have been able to watch The Community Foundation in action, giving back to people in the community. In particular, during the pandemic, it was incredible to see our donors’ tremendous response to the increased need across the county. The Community Foundation was able to support so many nonprofits who were then able to assist people who were suffering, and the agencies struggling to help them. It has been my honor and privilege, with so many other wonderful, hardworking, dedicated people – both Staff and Board – to build this Foundation that has made such a difference in the lives of people in this community!”

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Final Five Grantees Revealed: Celebrating 25 Years of Community Impact

In celebration of our 25th anniversary, we embarked on a journey at the start of 2023 to make a lasting impact on our beloved community. To honor this milestone, we decided to give back in a meaningful way, allocating $100,000 to support local nonprofits dedicated to the causes close to the hearts of SLO County residents.

From June to September, we proudly granted $5,000 each to fifteen remarkable organizations tirelessly working to enhance the well-being of our entire community. As we prepare to conclude our anniversary celebrations in the months ahead, we are thrilled to introduce the final five grantees who have received a $5,000 gift from our $100,000 fund:

  1. 5 Cities Homeless Coalition: Committed to addressing homelessness in our region, 5CHC provides the resources, support, and hope that families and individuals need to become self-sufficient, productive community members.
  2. Basin Street Regulars: A champion of the arts dedicated to the preservation and promotion of traditional jazz by providing a place where jazz musicians can play.
  3. Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County: Seeks a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community through advocacy and education.
  4. Shower the People: This compassionate initiative provides hygiene services to individuals experiencing homelessness, restoring dignity and hope.
  5. South County Youth Coalition: Focused on empowering our youth, this coalition offers vital programs and resources to help young people thrive in our community.

In total, we have awarded $100,000 to twenty outstanding nonprofit organizations across San Luis Obispo County:

  1. Boys and Girls Club of the Mid-Central Coast
  2. Lumina Alliance
  3. Promotores Collaborative
  4. The Link
  5. Paso Robles Youth Arts Center
  6. City Farm SLO
  7. SLO Food Bank
  8. SLO Repertory Theatre
  9. SLO Children’s Museum
  10. SLO YMCA
  11. Community Foundation of Estero Bay
  12. Friends of the Elephant Seals
  13. Los Osos Cares
  14. Meals that Connect
  15. Pacific Wildlife Center
  16. 5 Cities Homeless Coalition
  17. Basin Street Regulars
  18. Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County
  19. Shower the People
  20. South County Youth Coalition

The impact these organizations have on our community is immeasurable, and we couldn’t be prouder to support their work. While we wish we could have provided grants to all the deserving nonprofits in our county, we are confident that our ongoing commitment and services will continue to bolster the diverse array of organizations that tirelessly serve our community

With our mission to support nonprofits in our community, we invite you to consider making a donation to The Community Foundation. Your contribution will go a long way in helping us continue this vital work for the next 25 years, ensuring a brighter future for San Luis Obispo County.

Make a donation to The Community Foundation at https://www.cfsloco.org/give-now/

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5 North Coast Grantees Receive $5K from Anniversary Fund

To mark our 25th anniversary, this year we’ve proudly granted $5,000 to ten local organizations spanning the county, all passionately dedicated to enhancing the well-being of our entire community.

Today, we are happy to announce the next 5 grantees receiving $5,000 as a gift to celebrate 25 years of philanthropy in SLO County. The following organizations are dedicated to creating a positive impact on the north coast of San Luis Obispo:

  1. Community Foundation of Estero Bay provides recreational participation financial assistance to children living in the Estero Bay area of Los Osos, Morro Bay, Cayucos, and Cambria
  2. Friends of the Elephant Seals is dedicated to educating people about elephant seals and other marine life and to teaching stewardship for the ocean off the central coast of California.
  3. Los Osos Cares serves the residents of Estero Bay to provide access to information, referrals and services within employment, economic sustainability, health, housing and transportation.
  4. Meals that Connect provides free, healthy, noontime meals to over 1,000 seniors 60+ throughout San Luis Obispo County.
  5. Pacific Wildlife Center is San Luis Obispo County’s only licensed rehabilitation center that cares for injured birds, mammals, and reptiles.

We want to extend our sincere congratulations to these organizations. Your dedication to our community is inspiring, and we’re proud to stand with you.

In total, that’s $75,000 awarded to 15 nonprofit organizations across San Luis Obispo County:

  1. Boys and Girls Club of the Mid-Central Coast
  2. Lumina Alliance
  3. Promotores Collaborative
  4. The Link
  5. Paso Robles Youth Arts Center
  6. City Farm SLO
  7. SLO Food Bank
  8. SLO Repertory Theatre
  9. SLO Children’s Museum
  10. SLO YMCA
  11. Community Foundation of Estero Bay
  12. Friends of the Elephant Seals
  13. Los Osos Cares
  14. Meals that Connect
  15. Pacific Wildlife Center

…and we still have 5 more to go! Stay tuned to learn who the final 5 grant recipients will be as we close out the rest of our 25th anniversary celebrations this year.

A donation goes a long way – to help us support more nonprofits in our community, consider making a donation to The Community Foundation at https://www.cfsloco.org/give-now/

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5 Additional Grantees Receive $5K from Anniversary Fund

We’re sure you’ve heard by now that 2023 has been a special year for us and our community  as we celebrate 25 years of community engagement and positive change. Back in May, we announced a heartfelt gift of $100,000 to bolster local nonprofits—a testament to our ongoing dedication to fostering a stronger community fabric.

We announced the first five grant recipients at a kick-off celebration: The Boys and Girls Club of the Mid-Central Coast, Lumina Alliance, Promotores Collaborative, The Link, and Paso Robles Youth Arts Center. These worthy organizations each received $5,000 grants, amounting to a combined support of $25,000.

Fueling this momentum, we recently invited our community to join us at a summer celebration in July. Surrounded by 250 neighbors and friends, we announced five more grantees:

  1. City Farm SLO – Empowering the next generation to live healthier, more prosperous lives through sustainable agriculture and farm-based education.
  2. SLO Food Bank – Alleviates hunger in San Luis Obispo County in order to build a stronger community.
  3. SLO Repertory Theatre – Strengthens theatre’s cultural influence by nurturing artists and providing theatre education for children and adults.
  4. SLO Children’s Museum – Inspires learning through play within a rich environment of interactive exhibits and programs in the arts, sciences and humanities.
  5. SLO YMCA – Offers values-based programs that build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.

Each grantee took the stage, sharing their impactful work, future plans, and ignited a spark of inspiration within the hearts of those present. With $50,000 from the grant pool pending, we still have 10 more grantees to go! Upcoming regional events will allocate the remaining $50,000 of this community gift, ensuring even more nonprofits in our community receive the vital support they need to flourish.

Kayla Rutland, Executive Director of City Farm SLO

Our eyes remain steadfast on the horizon, and our commitment to serving, uplifting, and nurturing our community endures. We envision a future where our collective efforts continue to ignite change, foster growth, and inspire others to stand alongside us in creating a world of boundless possibilities. Here’s to the past 25 years of impact and the limitless potential of the years to come.

Check back soon for grantee announcements and further updates as we continue our journey of community support and collaboration.

A donation goes a long way! To help us support more nonprofits in our community, consider making a donation to The Community Foundation at https://www.cfsloco.org/give-now/

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Festival Mozaic and CFSLOCO: A Partnership Enriching Community Through Music

This feature is part of our #25for25 showcase where we highlight 25 stories to mark our 25 years of philanthropy in SLO County. These partners and community members have allowed the Foundation to continue giving and growing – together!

In the heart of California’s Central Coast, a remarkable partnership has thrived for a quarter of a century, bringing the art of music to San Luis Obispo County. Festival Mozaic – an annual celebration of music and one of the original grantees of the Community Foundation in 1999 – captivates audiences and fosters cultural enrichment through chamber music concerts, orchestra performances, crossover and popular artists, dinners and educational events, and more. With each passing year, Festival Mozaic has reaffirmed its commitment to artistic excellence, forging a lasting legacy that echoes throughout the region.

Festival Mozaic has been a grantee of The Community Foundation for many years. They have remained steadfast in their mission to provide the joy of live performances to the friends and families of San Luis Obispo County. Founded in 1971, Festival Mozaic has become a premier destination music experience unique to San Luis Obispo County. The roots of the festival can be traced back to the visionary minds of Clifton Swanson, Ronald Ratcliffe, and John Russell, three music professors at the California Polytechnic State University. In May 1970, they conceived the idea of a summer music festival and launched the inaugural season of the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival in 1971. Performances since have been featured in venues across the county from Shandon to Nipomo. 

Today, Festival Mozaic stands as a testament to the founders’ vision and the enduring spirit of classical music. They have expanded their programming to encompass a wide range of musical genres, creating a captivating symphony of music and settings and even offering free and reduced-price community events like mini-concerts, family concerts, master classes, lectures, and open rehearsals. 

Through the support of CFSLOCO, Festival Mozaic has been able to enhance awareness and accessibility to their programs, reaching more individuals in the community. The launch of a smartphone app and mobile website has provided convenient access to festival offerings, furthering their impact. In 2001, Festival Mozaic became the first recipient of a competitive grant from CFSLOCO for a family concert and educational outreach, marking the foundation of their long-standing collaboration.

“Grants from the Foundation have played a crucial and instrumental role in stabilizing, empowering, and ensuring the continued success and growth of Festival Mozaic, ensuring that irrespective of budget constraints, the magic of experiencing live music continues to resonate throughout the community,” says Lloyd Tanner, Executive Director of Festival Mozaic. “We’re especially thankful to The Community Foundation for sponsoring our Midday Mini-Concerts this year.”

As we celebrate 25 years of philanthropy this year, The Community Foundation takes great pleasure in sponsoring Festival Mozaic’s 2023 Midday Mini-Concert Series. By offering a contribution towards these events, we aim to enhance accessibility and enable a wider audience to experience the magic of these performances, and foster the profound impact that philanthropy has had, and continues to have, on our community throughout the years.

The Midday Mini-Concert series is just one of many series included in this year’s Summer Music Festival that CFSLOCO is proud to support. The Summer Music Festival takes place from July 24 – July 28 and includes over 20 events in total. Midday Mini-Concerts are free to the public, and will feature exceptional artists at unique venues across the County. Find the concert nearest you and join in! 

  • Friday, July 28 – Jessica Oudin, Alice Dade, Alex Wasserman – Community Presbyterian Church

“Festival Mozaic has been and remains an extraordinary presence, enriching our community through the power of music,” says Heidi McPherson, CEO of The Community Foundation. “We are honored to support the important work of Festival Mozaic as they have grown and expanded over the years, bringing the highest quality performances to our Central Coast residents and visitors.”

To learn more about Festival Mozaic and their upcoming Summer Festival, please visit their website at www.festivalmozaic.org/summerfestival.

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Heidi H. McPherson Chief Executive Officer (805) 543-2323