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 …
Continue Reading
Access to education can open a door. Sustained support can help a student make it all the way through. That distinction is at the heart of the new People’s Self Help Housing Scholarship Fund, established in partnership with the Emily & Dene Hurlbert Trust, People’s Self Help Housing, and The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo …
Continue Reading
Rooted in Generosity: A Family Tradition of Giving For Jeanne Helphenstine, generosity began long before she opened a donor advised fund. It began on her family’s ranch, around a dinner table, and with a simple belief passed from one generation to the next: no one should go hungry. Jeanne’s grandparents, Allan and Yolanda Righetti, were …
Continue Reading
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. …
Continue Reading
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County recently welcomed John Laird and members of his staff for a discussion focused on strengthening community resilience, expanding partnerships, and addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing San Luis Obispo County. The conversation brought together Foundation board members and staff to explore how philanthropy, government, nonprofits, and …
Continue Reading
Tax changes may feel national in scope, but the choices families make because of them are deeply local. As the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) reshapes the federal landscape in 2026, many individuals and families across San Luis Obispo County are taking a fresh look at how they structure their giving. For those committed …
Continue Reading
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 …
Continue Reading
On April 29th, we hosted our first annual Generosity in Action event, bringing together past and present board members, committee members, fundholders, and supporters to celebrate the impact of community philanthropy. During the evening, we announced an exciting milestone: The Community Foundation has officially surpassed $100 million in charitable assets under stewardship. We also honored …
Continue Reading
San Luis Obispo County students are pursuing big dreams — and thanks to the generosity of local donors, more of those dreams are becoming possible. This year, The Community Foundation awarded more than $460,000 in scholarships to students across the county, supporting future nurses, engineers, pilots, tradespeople, teachers, scientists, and community leaders. Behind every scholarship …
Continue Reading
Tax changes rarely feel local. But the decisions families make because of them are. As federal tax provisions shift in 2026, including potential changes to standard deductions and charitable deduction rules, many individuals and families may revisit how they structure their philanthropy. For those who care about investing in San Luis Obispo County, this is …
Continue Reading
