by Susie Polnaszek, Director, Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) The impact of Monterey County nonprofit organizations is essential to the quality of life in our communities: tending to the unsheltered among us, for example, offering support for the recovery journey or engaging the community with the arts. What makes this impact possible? An investment in people. Yet this is a...
Thanks to everyone who gathered to support the Fund for Homeless Women at The Club at Pasadera on April 28, 2022. It was great to see everyone and support this important cause. 100% of the proceeds will be used to benefit women without adequate shelter on the Monterey Peninsula. The Fund for Homeless Women is a field of interest fund...
What is SIEDI? SIEDI (Salinas Inclusive Economic Development Initiative) is a collective journey by nine community-based organizations with a shared commitment to build a more inclusive and equitable economy for the families and communities of the Salinas Valley. Each organization will receive mentoring and operational support over the three years. SIEDI is funded by a $3 million grant from The...
The Spring 2022 Newsletter, Giving Matters, includes a message of gratitude from Community Foundation for Monterey County President/CEO Dan Baldwin and the latest news. Record $36 Million Granted VIDA Support Extended Monterey County Gives! success Donor story: A Great Idea – The Jett Fighter Fund Center for Nonprofit Excellence and LEAD Institute update New funds and board members CFMC 2022...
Although the CFMC could not hold its annual Women’s Fund Luncheon due to COVID-19, donor investment continues to generate impact. Thanks to recent donations in combination with the Women’s Fund endowment, the fund granted more than $100,000 to five organizations in March 2022. The power of these grants is evident. Shannon, an MPC student from Salinas and previous recipient, shared...
Simplify Your Gift Planning The CFMC “Create Your Legacy” Guide to Gift Planning reviews the benefits of different types of charitable gifts. It simplifies the many options available by explaining how donors can support the causes or nonprofits of their choice through vehicles including: Donor advised funds Gifts of appreciated stock or real estate Life Income Gifts Charitable Gift Annuity...
Jett Ramsey loved rainbows, the color green and his pet rabbit, Pepper Pancake. His grandmother, Debbie Harlan, speaks warmly of watching him ride around in his little green Jeep the months before he passed away, at age 5, of pediatric brain cancer. “He loved that Jeep….he rode it around just everywhere in his pajamas. He was always wearing his pajamas.”...
By Dan Baldwin, President & CEO, Community Foundation for Monterey County Chair, League of California Community Foundations Community foundations are fast becoming community leaders. Last month, I had the opportunity to lead a two-day retreat of the League of California Community Foundations attended by the CEOs and board chairs of community foundations from across California. As you can imagine, there is...
It’s been the craziest primary season anyone can remember. Candidates vying to become POTUS while a scrum continues over a nomination to SCOTUS. Angry. Disenfranchised. Establishment. We endure these words on a daily basis. It dominates the air waves, family discussions, book clubs, golf talk, water coolers, you name it. Generosity – the Common Denominator Somehow, philanthropy maintains its calming place in the eye of...
Legacy Giving The CFMC held its annual Legacy Society Luncheon on March 2. The Legacy Society is comprised of folks who have let us know they’ve included the CFMC in their estate plans, have established a charitable remainder trust or charitable gift annuity with the CFMC, have started an endowed fund, or made life gifts of $25,000 to any of...
Writing a blog in January begs the question of whether to look back or look forward. Maybe some of both. 2015 was another remarkable year for the CFMC. As the year progressed, we began to adopt a theme of “Giving Together,” a recognition that the assets and grants of the CFMC stem from a collection of funds and donors with...
Simplify Your Gift Planning The CFMC “Create Your Legacy” Guide to Gift Planning reviews the benefits of different types of charitable gifts. It simplifies the many options available by explaining how donors can support the causes or nonprofits of their choice through vehicles including: Donor advised funds Gifts of appreciated stock or real estate Life Income Gifts Charitable Gift Annuity...
Jett Ramsey loved rainbows, the color green and his pet rabbit, Pepper Pancake. His grandmother, Debbie Harlan, speaks warmly of watching him ride around in his little green Jeep the months before he passed away, at age 5, of pediatric brain cancer. “He loved that Jeep….he rode it around just everywhere in his pajamas. He was always wearing his pajamas.”...
The Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) is pleased to announce the addition of Jesse Lopez, René Mendez, Larry Oda and Tyller Williamson to their Board of Directors. “We are excited to add Jesse, René, Larry and Tyller to the board. Their talent and perspective will expand the impact of the CFMC to help strengthen our communities,” said Dan Baldwin,...
VIDA Leadership and Community Health Workers Select 25 People for Special Recognition Monterey County, California — The VIDA (Virus Integrated Distribution of Aid) leadership team and VIDA community health workers (CHWs) have chosen to recognize 25 community members who contributed to the success of VIDA and, in turn, the health of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. These VIDA Champions...
by Susie Polnaszek, Director, Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) Staying Engaged – An Evolving Challenge Staying engaged at work right now can feel like a dance. If it’s a dance, then the tempo keeps changing and we’re learning new steps. Michaelle Stanford, who presented our recent CNE webinar, called this a “uniquely disruptive time” in the workplace. A poll asked...
15 Nonprofit Leaders from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties to participate in year-long professional development program The Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) selected 15 emerging nonprofit managers to join the LEAD (Leadership, Education and Development) Institute’s 2022 cohort. LEAD is a year-long professional development institute offered by the CFMC’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence to foster strong, effective...
The Weston Call Fund for Big Sur granted $37,500 in 2021 to nonprofits that focus on projects and programs that benefit Big Sur residents from Mal Paso Creek to the Monterey County line. This is the first round of competitive grants for the fund since it was created in 2020. Prior to these grants, the fund granted $43,797 for fire...