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.

 

When you become a part of The Community Foundation family, we make an impact together.

Make an Impact

What is a Community Foundation

---

How We Can Serve You

One of the unique services we offer to our donors is the Donor Education Program. Our virtual sessions, Happy Hour with Heidi, allow donors to learn more about a single issue of need in our community and what a nonprofit agency is seeing. These are interactive, conversations held via Zoom. Some examples of past sessions include Dr. James Brescia, SLO County Superintendent of Schools, discussing how schools adapted to pandemic learning; the new demographics of those facing food insecurity;  how arts-based nonprofits have changed their programs. We also offer in-person sessions through the  In Our Backyard education series. Each presentation is different and features interactive and engaging speakers from one or more agencies talking about issues in our community. Below are examples of some of the past In Our Backyard events hosted by the Foundation.

Every Girl Has A Voice

Children’s Farmers Market

Meet a Sea Star & Pacific Wildlife

---