Community Foundation Santa Cruz County announces $1.97 million to 92 local nonprofits including those supporting the wellbeing of youth, seniors, and families, contributors to arts and culture, and partners working toward a sustainable and resilient Santa Cruz County where all can thrive.
Annual grants are made possible thanks to the generosity of dozens of families who have entrusted the Community Foundation with their charitable visions or made a gift to the Greatest Needs Fund. That includes the extraordinary legacy of the Borina family whose giving to support the Pajaro Valley for years to come is a cornerstone of the Community Grants program.
Kevin Heuer, the Community Foundation’s director of engagement and impact, said, “The charitable funds that families have established here serve as our community’s permanent resource for addressing the issues of today and tomorrow. Our Community Grants fund community solutions that improve the quality of life here. This year’s record investment is supporting a diverse group of nonprofits we see as trusted performers and creative solvers of local challenges.”
Flexible Funding
Teen Kitchen Project, one of this year’s grantees, engages about 45 youth each week in the preparation of medically tailored meals that are delivered to 300+ clients.
Executive Director Angela Farley said, “The flexibility of unrestricted funding is essential for us. General operating support allows us to put the funds where they are most needed most so that we can respond to the needs of the community in real time.”
Susan True
“While we continue to offer core support to frontline service providers, we’re also investing in smaller nonprofits that are working to strengthen their strategy, connect deeply with community, and scale their programs to meet increased needs,” said Community Foundation CEO Susan True.
Jamey King, co-founder of Mountains 2 Sea, an outdoor adventure learning program for youth enrolled in alternative education, is ready to expand beyond their two-person team to meet the demand. “Expanding our team is bringing new ideas, new energy, and the opportunity to serve more youth,” King said.
People and Places
The Community Grants help protect the people and places by supporting nonprofits that work on youth and senior wellbeing and water and climate resilience. Examples include:
- Helping youth who need the most support to thrive:
CASA of Santa Cruz County will further refine and expand their Juvenile Justice program so they can offer an advocate to every single youth in the local system.
Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos is scaling their cultural education and leadership development programs. Mountains 2 Sea is growing their staff to support mental and physical health for youth through challenging activities.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County will work to recruit and train 100 new volunteer mentors in 12 months to mentor a growing number of youth. Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy Program is growing, a healthy outlet, safe space, tutoring center, and mentoring program.
- Providing elders with connection, community, and essential services:
Hospice of Santa Cruz County is growing Latino outreach programs with a focus on trust building and partnerships with patients, families, and Latino-serving organizations.
Health Projects Center will expand in-home senior care management programs to assist more low-income individuals and extend into rural and underserved communities.
Senior Citizens Organization of the San Lorenzo Valley will expand the hours of the senior center and develop programming.
- Conservation of climate resilient and culturally significant lands:
The Elkhorn Slough Foundation will scale restoration projects that promote greater climate resilience and mitigate wildfire threats to communities like Las Lomas and Pajaro.
Amah Mutsun Land Trust will strengthen their organizational capacity to chart the course for land acquisition, communications, and Tribal land stewardship.
Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship will continue building 19 miles of new trails at Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument on the Santa Cruz Coast.
- Supporting the arts community:
Pajaro Valley Arts will build staff capacity to support their expansion goals, particularly on-site education programs and remodeling the 12,000 square foot Porter Building which they purchased debt-free in 2022.
Watsonville Film Festival is growing their team to curate and present a powerful and inspiring film program all year round.
Community grants are providing key sponsorships to the 2024 seasons for the Santa Cruz Symphony, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
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2024 Community Grant Partners
Activities4All – $20,000
Agricultural History Project – $10,000
Amah Mutsun Land Trust – $25,000
Association of Faith Communities of Santa Cruz County – $10,000
Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy – $20,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County – $20,000
Birds of a Feather – $1,500
Black Surf Santa Cruz – $10,000
Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz County – $20,000
Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music – $4,172
CASA of Santa Cruz County – $40,000
Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey – $25,000
Central Coast – Watsonville YMCA – $25,000
Coastal Kids Home Care – $10,000
Coastal Watershed Council – $20,000
Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action – $20,000
Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County – $50,000
Community Bridges – $50,000
County Park Friends – $10,000
Cradle to Career Santa Cruz County – $30,000
Dientes Community Dental Care – $25,000
Digital NEST – $20,000
Diversity Center – $17,300
El Sistema Santa Cruz – $25,000 †
Elkhorn Slough Foundation – $40,000
Esperanza Community Farms – $20,000
Esperanza del Valle – $20,000 †
Families in Transition, Inc. – $45,000
Family Service Agency of the Central Coast – $25,000
Food What?! – $20,000
Girls Incorporated of the Central Coast – $25,000 †
Grey Bears, Inc. – $45,000
GSA LGBTQ+ Club Grants (12) – $6,000
Health Projects Center – $20,000
Homeless Garden Project – $15,000
Hospice of Santa Cruz County – $100,000 †
Housing Matters – $5,000
Housing Santa Cruz County – $5,000
Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services – $30,000 †
Juneteenth – $2,500
Kuumbwa Jazz Center – $3,000
Life Lab Science Program – $40,000
Martha’s Kitchen – $10,000
Pajaro Valley Unified School District – $62,305
Mid-County Senior Center – $15,000
Monarch Services – $20,000
Motion Pacific Dance – $20,000
Mountains 2 Sea – $20,000 †
NAMI Santa Cruz County – $25,000
O’Neill Sea Odyssey – $10,000
Pajaro Valley Arts – $10,000
Pajaro Valley Historical Association – $10,000
Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes – $25,000
Pajaro Valley Prevention & Student Assistance – $30,000
Pajaro Valley Pride – $2,500
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services – $30,000 †
Positive Discipline Community Resources – $15,000
Queer Youth Task Force – $10,000
Regeneración/Regeneration-Pajaro Valley Climate Action – $10,000
Reggie Stephens Foundation – $15,000
Salud y Cariño – $25,000 †
San Lorenzo Valley Historical Society – $10,000
Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos – $5,000
Santa Cruz Black – $5,000
Santa Cruz Community Health – $10,000
Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Initiative – $15,000
Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation – $25,000
Santa Cruz Local – $20,000
Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship – $40,000
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History – $10,000
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History – $20,000
Santa Cruz Pride – $2,500
Santa Cruz Shakespeare – $3,000
Santa Cruz Symphony – $3,000
Santa Cruz Welcoming Network – $5,000
Save Our Shores – $10,000
Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County – $45,000
Senderos – $25,000
Senior Citizens Organization of the San Lorenzo Valley – $15,000
Senior Legal Services of Santa Cruz & San Benito Counties – $25,000
Siena House – $20,000
Tandy Beal (Friends of Olympia Station) – $3,000
Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center – $25,000
Teen Kitchen Project – $30,000 *
The 418 Project – $5,000
Ventures – $25,000
Vets 4 Vets Santa Cruz – $20,000
Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center – $25,000
Watsonville Film Festival – $25,000
Watsonville Law Center – $35,000
Watsonville Wetlands Watch – $45,000
White Hawk Indian Council – $3,000
* Two-year commitment