Community Foundation for San Benito County
/OVERVIEW: The Community Foundation for San Benito County provides grants in agricultural preservation, environment, arts and culture, community enhancement, economic development, education and youth, health and social services. It also has a Women’s Fund to support programs for women and girls and awards grants to chronically and critically ill children.
IP TAKE: Many issues are addressed through the community matching grants. With a grant application, submit proof that you have applied for grants with at least two other organizations as well. Thus funder provides application materials on its website.
PROFILE: Established in 1992, the Community Foundation for San Benito County (CFSBC) supports local ways to give. Grantmaking work began in 2000 and it now manages a wide collection of funds that serve the needs of San Benito County. Grantmaking interest areas include community benefit, children with special needs, and women and girls.
Community impact grants are awarded to groups in the following fields: agricultural preservation, environment, arts and culture, community enhancement, economic development, education and youth, and health and social services. CFSBC also awards grants to children with special needs, and individuals can refer a child for grant consideration via online form. Children eligible for these awards must live in the county, have a critical or chronic illness, be under the age of 19, and meet other eligibility criteria. CFSBC grant opportunities exist within the Women’s Fund as well. Women’s Fund grants follow these interests: financial literacy for teens, poverty prevention, and domestic violence prevention. These grants must directly serve women and girls in San Benito County. Representative and top-earning grantees include San Benito Stage Company, which has received capacity building support, and the SBC Office of Education, which has received support for its Early Learning Equity and Access Initiative.
Most recent grants have been between $5,000 and $20,000. View a list of past grantees here. As a community funder, grantmaking is focused on San Benito County.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. It typically accepts community impact grants in February/March, but applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of intent as early as possible so that funds are not as limited. These grants are $10,000 or less. The application process is online and straightforward. The foundation has a grants committee that’s made up of community-oriented residents that meet monthly to make decisions about grant requests. Other committees meet to address the needs of women and girls, Latinos, safety net services, National Philanthropy day, asset development, and finance. Direct general inquiries via online form or by phone at 831-630-1924.
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