Richmond Community Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Richmond Community Foundation supports nonprofits that serve the Richmond, California community. Its funding programs are restoring neighborhoods, community growth, quality education, health and public safety.
IP TAKE: Working exclusively in Richmond, this funder works closely with area nonprofits to improve operations and give local kids opportunities to get active and involved in the community. This funder accepts applications for funding and posts grant opportunities on its website.
PROFILE: Established in 2000, the Richmond Community Foundation (RCF) was originally called the Richmond Children’s Foundation. It awards discretionary grants to support a range of community issues that benefit the residents of Richmond, California, in the Bay Area. Its current grantmaking programs are restoring neighborhoods, community growth, quality education, health and public safety.
RCF’s restoring neighborhoods program makes capital investments in neglected neighborhoods. One project is Richmond Housing Renovation, which renovates abandoned homes and sells them at a fair price to local families. The foundation’s community growth program focuses on “increasing wealth and stimulating the local economy.” To this end, the foundation runs the SparkPoint Contra Costa program, which works with agencies “to empower individuals and families to become financially sustainable and advocates for social change.” In education, the foundation invests in improving the instruction and facilities at local schools, and in health RCF works in the areas of healthcare access and nutrition. The foundation runs an in-house public safety program, NURVE, which aims to “create safe, diverse and thriving places, where kids walk to quality schools, people of all ages use the parks and community facilities, and a variety of housing options meet the needs of local residents.”
Foundation grants typically range between $5,000 and $15,000. Visit the funder’s media room to learn more about past giving. To be eligible for a RCF grant, nonprofits must provide services to residents of Richmond or the greater Contra Costa Area.
RCF publishes information about current grant opportunities on its website. The funder typically accepts applications by email and mail. Direct grant-related questions to Monica Lazo, RCF’s director of grants management at 510-234-1200 or mlazo@richmondcf.org.
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