Great Grants

Community Foundation for Monterey County grants are making a meaningful difference for many people and communities throughout Monterey County. These grants also received support from CFMC donor advisors. To see more grants in each impact area, please visit www.cfmco.org/recentgrants.

Orchestra in the Schools

$12,000 for an after-school music education program

Orchestra in the Schools (OITS) provides high quality small and large group instruction to beginning musicians on the Monterey Peninsula to inspire success for children through music. Their students perform a broad range of famous classical compositions simplified for young people. They offer small-group instruction by gifted teachers who play alongside their students, giving the musicians support and confidence. OITS has recently expanded to provide after-school music programs at school sites in Monterey, Carmel and Seaside. They provide tuition assistance when needed and access to free instruments to make sure that everyone can participate.

This grant will enable us to reach a greater number of underprivileged children who desire to learn the art of music. – James Paoletti, CEO & Music Director

The Offset Project

$20,000 Environmental Engagement grant for energy efficient projects

The Offset Project’s mission is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through education and grassroots initiatives in the Monterey Bay area. The Offset Project works with businesses, special events and municipalities to implement best practices in environmental stewardship.

This grant supports the Carbon Fund, a program of the Offset Project in partnership with the Monterey Bay Regional Climate Action Compact. The Carbon Fund allows individuals and businesses the opportunity to offset their greenhouse gas emissions. These funds are used for local renewable and energy efficient projects, which also ensures local job security in this growing industry.

 Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum

$25,000 for school tours,educational programming, and welcome patio for a rural farming museum

The Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum works to preserve, interpret, and share the history of farming, agriculture and related cultural services in the Salinas Valley to school groups, tourists, and other visitors.The museum, located within San Lorenzo Park in King City, is free and open to the public. The museum centers around a large collection of farm equipment and seven buildings including an agricultural exhibit barn, tractor barn, restored King City depot, one-room school house, irrigation museum, restored Spreckels farm house and blacksmith shop. This grant will help maintain and expand the School Tour Education Program (which served 1,600 students in 2015) and create a meeting space at the museum entrance.

Agriculture and Land-based Training Association (ALBA)

$36,000 Economic Opportunity grant for farmer education

ALBA’s mission is to advance economic viability, social equity and ecological land management among farmers with limited resources. The organization provides educational and business opportunities for farmworkers and aspiring farmers to grow and sell crops on organic farms in Monterey County.

This grant supports the Farmer Education and Enterprise Development program. Participants learn all aspects of running a farm business, from organic production to regulatory compliance to marketing and business management.This grant will help start 30 new organic farm businesses and support 40 existing farm businesses with access to land and equipment. It’s expected that participating farmers will increase sales, receive organic and food safety certifications and access outside financing to help with operational expenses for sustainability.

The Community Foundation thanks the many generous donors who created charitable funds to make the Community Impact grant program possible.