Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County
/OVERVIEW: The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County supports arts and culture, compassionate care, youth, seniors, historic preservation, nonprofit capacity building, LGBTQ needs and education in Northern California.
FUNDING AREAS: Arts and culture, compassionate care, youth, seniors, historic preservation, nonprofit capacity building, LGBTQ needs, education
IP TAKE: Learn about the various funds at CFSCC that accept applications and keep upcoming deadlines in mind to get involved with this comprehensive grantmaker.
PROFILE: Established in 1982, the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County (CFSCC) is a community foundation based in Aptos, California. Local residents began to discuss the idea for this foundation after 25 inches of rain fell in the county over three days in 1982 and caused severe floods and mudslides. Early foundation leaders were founding trustee Gurden Mooser, estate planning attorney Ian McPhail and UC Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College founding trustee Hal Hyde. The foundation aims to "bring together people, ideas and resources to inspire philanthropy and accomplish great things.” It funds local efforts for arts and culture, compassionate care, youth, seniors, historic preservation, nonprofit capacity building, LGBTQ needs and education.
The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County supports a broad range of local nonprofits in its geographic service area. Arts, culture and history grants support the local arts community, while compassionate care grants address hospice and end-of-life issues. The Borina Special Places Fund helps give youth a place to develop, seniors a place to gather and historic places to be preserved. The Resilience and Opportunity Fund at CFSCC responds to unanticipated needs and new approaches. There’s the Diversity Partnership Fund to support the local LGBTQ community, the Rydell Visual Arts Fund for artist fellowships and two education initiatives to prepare youth for college and career. CFSCC also responds to urgent and emergency needs when they arise through rapid response funds.
Grants range between about $5,000 and $100,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the finance page of the CFSCC website. Grantmaking focuses on Santa Cruz County in California. Past local grantees include Pajaro Valley Shelter Services, Dientes Community Dental Care and Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits for numerous funds. Each fund has its own unique set of guidelines and deadlines. Direct general questions to the staff at cfhelp@cfscc.org or 831-662-2000.
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