The Community Foundation aims to be a catalyst and connector for positive change in the community. We provide opportunities for donors to understand the community’s needs and experience the impact of their philanthropy. We review data, research trends and collect feedback from our nonprofit partners. Our donor education series, affectionately called “In Our Backyard,” offers you a chance to expand your knowledge and awareness about the happenings in your local community. You’ll hear from industry experts in a panel forum and engage in a lively Q&A with the audience. We design topics around various issues, including the arts and culture, environment, vulnerable populations, health and human services, education, and more.
The Spring 2024 topics include Mental Health and Families Under Pressure. The Fall sessions will be announced soon.
Event Recap: We held the first In Our Backyard event in March, focusing on the crucial topic of mental health. It aimed to elevate our understanding of adults, children, and their families living with a mental health diagnosis. We heard from experts Jill Bolster-White and Roberto Cueva from the Transitions-Mental Health Association, as well as Kamela Proulx from the Atascadero High School Wellness Center. We learned about the increased mental health needs of youth in our community, the breadth of programming now available to help address the increased needs, and where the gaps in services exist. We were encouraged to learn of the Central Coast Hotline, our community’s only 24/7, 365-day free, confidential mental health guidance, crisis, and suicide prevention line. Please consider adding the hotline to your phone and sharing it with others at 1-800-783-0607.
Additional Mental Health Information:
The California Healthy Kids Survey is an excellent resource for data on student mental health. You can access their Data Dashboard by clicking here.
As we eagerly welcome the arrival of spring, it brings with it a sense of renewal and anticipation for the vibrant days ahead. Just as nature blossoms with new life, we too find ourselves embarking on exciting developments at The Community Foundation.
In March, we devoted attention to Women’s History Month, a time to honor the remarkable women in our community who fearlessly lead nonprofits. Their dedication is a testament to the transformative impact that women continue to make in shaping our community’s narrative.
On Employee Appreciation Day, we took a moment to express our gratitude to the incredible team at The Community Foundation for their outstanding efforts, especially in light of our recent recognition as recipients of the Blue Diamond “Change Makers” award by SLO County Family-Friendly Workplaces. Their unwavering commitment and passion contribute immensely to making this organization an exceptional place to work. We celebrate each member of our team for their invaluable contributions. Learn more about our staff.
We also carry heavy hearts as we reflect on the loss of one of our own. Dr. Brendan “Ben” McAdams, a philanthropist of SLO County whose dedication and generosity leaves a lasting mark on our community. Ben’s enduring legacy echoes far and wide, touching lives and igniting inspiration. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who join us in commemorating his memory.
Looking ahead, The Community Foundation’s annual events are just around the corner. We warmly encourage you to consider joining us as an essential participant in these initiatives. Your support ensures the success of these events and strengthens our collective impact.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our mission. Together, we look forward to a bright season of growth, appreciation, and community connection.
~Heidi McPherson, CEO Community Foundation San Luis Obispo
A beloved community space is set to receive a big upgrade in 2023, thanks to a new partnership between Access for All and City Farm SLO. The accessibility-friendly Garden for All program will provide universally accessible gardening and therapeutic horticulture spaces for students with disabilities, and is made possible by a first-ever Access for All (AFA) Grant.
AFA is a field of interest fund of The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County that focuses on equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Since 2006, thanks to the generosity of Beverly and Bryan Gingg who kickstarted the fund, AFA has been recognizing individuals who work to make SLO County a barrier-free community.
The impact of the AFA to date is due in large part to a Cal Poly Professor emeritus and local advocacy advocate Paul Wolff. Mr. Wolff, a founding member of Access for All, once asked an important question to the AFA committee: can we do more to help build a more inclusive community? The unanimous response was “yes!” With the support of founder Beverly Gingg, the AFA advisory committee set to work on establishing a grantmaking program for the Access for All Fund.
The committee compiled reports from several local, statewide, and national organizations to identify common themes affecting the Disability community. Based on data analysis and lived experiences, funding priorities were developed for the Access For All Fund. These priorities address current and emerging needs of people living with disabilities in San Luis Obispo County and encourage local organizations to create programs in support of these needs.
Access for All Fund decided to prioritize organizations in San Luis Obispo County with programs that: • Focus on advancing access to health & wellness • Expand capacity for housing & home access • Create and support community participation / inclusion • Promote accessible workspaces and grow employment opportunities
“Digging, planting, and harvesting are therapeutic, hands-on activities that stimulate the mind and encourage team-building and collaboration,” says Kayla Rutland Executive Director of City Farm SLO. “Thanks to this grant from Access for All, more students in our community will benefit from learning these critical life skills, and will feel empowered to pursue their dreams.”
The grant will be specifically used to create wheelchair-accessible pathways, raised beds at varying heights, shade structures, a mobile classroom, cooking cart, and sensory garden.
AFA is honored to support this program which supports community participation, inclusion and aligns with their mission to create an accessible community where people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to fully participate in all aspects of SLO County life.
To help build a more accessible SLO, donate to the Access for All fund HERE
To learn more about Access For All, contact program associate Alysia Krupsky HERE
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
We envision a future where all doors are open to San Luis Obispo County residents to achieve their academic aspirations regardless of financial need. Our Scholarship Program is dedicated to increasing access and resources for students of all backgrounds and interests to earn their degrees. Thanks to generous donors, hundreds of students have received thousands of dollars in funding to pursue their dreams.
Since its inception, the CFSLOCO Scholarship Program has used a continuous improvement model to make the program better each year. As part of this continued effort, we examined our program from the inside out to ensure that our scholarship program reflects the changing needs of students and changes in the local economy. Using a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens, we assessed how available scholarships can properly support all students in San Luis Obispo County.
“The decision to audit our scholarship program was very intentional,” says Heidi McPherson, CEO of CFSLOCO. “We wanted to peel back the layers of the program and put increased energy into places that would bridge gaps between students and their scholarship opportunities.”
Diversity of applicants to The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County Scholarship Program in 2020
To evaluate our program, we worked with Everyday Impact Consulting (EIC), who shared some eye-opening insights with us:
Two-thirds of all college students are burdened with student loans upon graduation
66% of Asian, Latino, and Black students face a gap in total resources vs. total cost of attendance; meanwhile, White students experience a 54% gap
The EIC team then connected with key leadership, scholarship evaluators, reviewers, donors, teachers, careers counselors, and diverse scholarship recipients in a series of interviews and focus groups intended to glean key information. Insights from these interviews guided our decision to make improvements to our current program, and allowed us to set goals for the future.
IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR PROGRAM
As a result of the assessment, we have upgraded many components of our program:
Spanish translation is now available on our website
Revised our application form to better support students with disabilities and remove barriers for students and their families
Our Board of Directors created the Julian Crocker Community Scholarship to support students transferring from a 2-year college to a 4-year college AND will support students who want to go into career technical training
Updated the ‘Activities’ section of our application to include the myriad activities students engage in through community, school, and family commitments
Developed an alternative application that is more accessible for students with learning disabilities
Increased the diversification of committee members and community evaluators
Collection of detailed demographic information going forward to improve the application process in the future
We are investigating partnerships that will reduce gender disparity
The demographic landscape in SLO County is constantly changing and requires us to change with it. When we improve the diversity and variety of scholarships offered, we improve the diversity and variety of future business and employment opportunities, thereby creating more dynamic workplaces.
“We must continually examine our systems and structures that help or hinder students seeking funding for higher education. This is only the beginning; our intention is to continue to improve programs and services. We are committed to listening, learning and growing in order to meet the current and future needs of our community. ”
– Cassandra Kartashov, Director of Grants and Programs
To see upcoming available scholarships or learn more, head to https://www.cfsloco.org/scholarships/. Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on LinkedIn, or check back here for more updates as we continue to enhance our services for you.
Presented by Women’s Legacy Fund from The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County
What if you could learn how to improve your financial health while creating lasting change for women and girls in San Luis Obispo County?
Join inspirational members of our community for an evening of abundance as the Women’s Legacy Fund collaborates with Women Making Waves on ‘Women & Wealth: Leave Your Legacy’. Bringing together the next generation of Legacy Leaders through The Young 100, this non-profit event creates a unique conversation around financial literacy, philanthropy, and community impact for women in SLO County. Through a hosted evening of passed apps, sponsored drinks, and motivational workshops, you’ll leave feeling educated and empowered with a better understanding of what it means to experience financial health along with how to leverage that wealth to benefit others. Hosted by Leann Standish of SLOMA, two phenomenal speakers will take the stage. Jill Wilde and Sara Rubalcalva will connect on a deeper level of giving by sharing their workshops and wisdom with you. You will walk away knowing that your contributions and commitment are part of the bigger vision to creating lasting change for women and girls in San Luis Obispo County. When women of a community are uplifted, it creates a ripple effect of compassion, creativity and confidence for all.
Event Speakers
Sara Rubalcalva:
📣 Introducing Sara Rubalcalva, award-winning Marketing Communications Professional with over twenty-five years’ experience turned Transformational Speaker and Lifestyle coach empowering others to reach their highest potential in life by providing tools to recognize and remove barriers to success.
You can define and refine what it means to receive, have, and gift.
This workshop will give you the tools to map out your vision for individual wealth and achieve a healthy money mindset through awareness, connection, and vision.
Above and beyond that, you will discover what it means to commit to a life of giving back, leveraging your wealth for impact, and doing big things for your community. Leave empowered, and with a plan! In this workshop you will dive into how a healthy money mindset can shift an individual, a family, and a community at large.
Jill GutierrezWilde:
📣 Meet Jill Wilde, Chief Magic Maker at Wilde Big Sur: a new forest retreat and music venue on the South Coast of Big Sur. In this discussion with philanthropic icon Jill Wilde, learn what it means to discover wealth independent of your financial circumstances.
Workshop through what wealth means to you, on a deeper level than the amount of money in your bank account. Overcome the daily stresses of monetary success and learn what it takes to develop a wealthy lifestyle for yourself resulting in a more impactful legacy in your circle of influence. We’ll workshop how we navigate our current financial realities in order to pave a different path of success, choosing personal responsibility for our own wealth now and into the future.
Leave feeling confident in your ability to generate wealth, wield power and have influence beyond what you could imagine.
Event Details
Thursday, August 4th from 6pm – 9pm The Penny SLO | 664 Marsh St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401Your ticket includes:- Small bites and (2) complimentary drinks from SLO Cider – Women-owned winemaker tastings – Interactive workshops with Jill Wilde & Sarah Rubalcalva – Social time with community members and leaders – Dance party with DJ SLO GRRRL to network & celebrate
$65 for Legacy Leaders / Young 100 Members $75 for General Admission
The Women’s Legacy Fund is a field of interest fund through The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County which was established in 2003 to strengthen women and girls’ physical, emotional, intellectual, and financial well-being. Since its inception, the fund has provided more than $300,000 in support of a broad spectrum of issues affecting women and girls in San Luis Obispo County, from basic needs and education to physical and mental health.
We are now accepting applications for our 2022 grants cycle! Over $450,000 is available through our General Grants program for organizations serving the environment, arts, seniors, people with disabilities, and more. And for the first time, in order to further support stability and trust within SLO’s philanthropic sector, all General Grants will be unrestricted.
“Starting this year, 100% of the grants we are offering through our General Grants Program will be unrestricted, meaning these funds can be used however each recipient deems necessary,” said Heidi McPherson, CEO of the Community Foundation. “Challenging times require a new approach, and we believe that unrestricted funding gives our nonprofit partners the flexibility they need to succeed in today’s environment. ”
The primary goal of our 2022 General Grants Program is to provide funding for agencies and programs that directly address community needs while helping nonprofit organizations fulfill their mission. We will prioritize applications that support community well-being, resiliency, collaboration, and demonstrate cultural competency.
WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR
To streamline funding efforts, nonprofit organizations can either submit new applications directly to The Community Foundation or submit a copy of an application that has been drafted to the County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
“We hope that by accepting grants previously submitted to ARPA, our beloved nonprofit community can save time and money by eliminating duplicative grant writing,” says Cassandra Kartashov, Director of Grants & Programs at The Community Foundation. “The General Grants Program will also be supporting multi-year awards as we know how important it is for nonprofits to have funding stability.”
All grants offered by The Community Foundation’s General Grants program will not only be unrestricted but will also have a two-year funding term. The average grant awarded through the General Grants Program is anticipated to be $15,000. Funding will support the following interest areas:
Arts
Environment
Human Services
Seniors and People with Disabilities
IMPACT OF GRANTS IN SLO COUNTY
Since its inception, our grants program has grown and pivoted to reflect the changing needs of SLO County. To ensure the greatest impact of funds, we leverage data and community members’ lived experiences to inform decision-making.
For example, Growing Together for LGBTQ+ Fund – a Field of Interest fund managed within The Community Foundation – developed its recommendations for grant distribution based on data analysis from multiple sources, subcommittee members’ independent research, lived experiences, and thorough discussion. In spring, over $19,000 was distributed to Planned Parenthood California Central Coast, SLO Children’s Museum, KCBX Radio, and Lumina Alliance based on these recommendations.
The Women’s Legacy Fund – another Field of Interest Fund managed by The Community Foundation – recently granted over $75,000 to the Center for Family Strengthening, People’s Self-Help Housing, and Boys & Girls Club Mid Central Coast: all of which are programs supporting women and girls.
The BUILD Grant and Opportunity to ThriveGrant are also grants available for this year but are separate from the General Grants cycle. The goal of the BUILD (Building Unity, Infrastructure, Leadership, and Development)Grant program is to provide capacity-building funding for agencies with an annual operating budget of less than $500,000. BUILD Grants support the following areas:
Capacity-building
Staff or board training and development
Communications or donor development efforts
Capital equipment improvement (hardware, software, furniture, etc.)
Opportunity to Thrive supports organizations that offer direct assistance to individuals with a one-time emergency, focusing on empowering and strengthening individuals to overcome obstacles while embarking on the road to self-sufficiency.
We are hosting a Virtual Grant Informational Session which will be hosted on Friday, June 17, and will equip attendees with information on how to submit a successful application. To attend, please use thissign-up sheet.
Completed applications must be submitted online by August 15, 2022 at 5pm. Applicants will be notified of their award status later this fall. For further questions about the application process or if you are interested in evaluating grant applications, please contact Cassandra Kartashov at cassandra@cfsloco.org.
We are excited to announce that $308,500 in scholarships has been awarded to dozens of students across San Luis Obispo County. Thanks to the support of our donors and leadership from our Board of Directors, 62 scholarships for the 2022-2023 school year were distributed in May of 2022.
For over 20 years, our Scholarship Program has enhanced access to education for students of all backgrounds and academic levels in San Luis Obispo County. The scholarships are as varied as their recipients and span a range of academic interests from nursing to agriculture to technology and beyond.
“Our scholarship program is a reflection of our values as a whole,” said Heidi McPherson, CEO of The Community Foundation SLO County. “We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the donors that make these scholarships possible, and reward students of varying backgrounds and career paths with the financial support needed to pursue higher education.”
In years past, scholarships from The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County have been used to support room and board fees, tuition, textbook costs, and other qualified education expenses. Unlike loans, these funds do not have to be repaid and cannot be treated as taxable income.
Some of these scholarships include The Riggs Family Scholarship, which was established to help graduating seniors from San Luis Obispo County high schools make a successful transition to a four-year university. The scholarship is open to graduating seniors from a San Luis Obispo County high school with a 2.8-3.8 GPA who demonstrate financial need. The John S. Renner Memorial Scholarship funds LGBTQ+ youth as they aspire to achieve their goals, especially in the fields of creative or performance arts. This scholarship is open to LGBTQIA+ students who are pursuing arts education at either a 2 or 4 year university.
Scholarship recipient Emilio Pena playing baseball
The Yeagar Scholarship fund is a scholarship which provides support to for a graduating senior at Coast Union, Morro Bay or Paso Robles High School who is planning to pursue a degree, at a California public university, in physical or technical science (Physics, Geology, Math, Engineering, Chemistry, Computer sciences or Architecture). This year’s recipient of the $23,000 scholarships is Emiliano Pena Ramirez, who had this to say: “This county is filled with such talented students, and I feel so honored to be selected. My parents did not graduate from middle school and moved to the United States so that me and my siblings would have more opportunities. My parents always stressed the importance of hard work, and it is so special seeing that hard work come to fruition. I’m putting myself through college, so this generous scholarship is a game changer for me.” Emiliano is graduating from Coast Union High School and will be majoring in Aerospace Engineering at Cal Poly.
Students of all academic backgrounds and interests are considered for scholarships based on varying criteria, including but not limited to:
Financially disadvantaged students who would like to attend a 4-year anniversary;
First-generation college students whose parents are vineyard or farm workers;
Students who are part of the LGBTQ+ community;
Women in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM).
Learn more about scholarships at https://www.cfsloco.org/available-scholarships-2/
English
Spanish
The grant will be specifically used to create wheelchair-accessible pathways, raised beds at varying heights, shade structures, a mobile classroom, cooking cart, and sensory garden.
