Los Altos Community Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Los Altos Community Foundation supports education, community development, human services, youth, arts and culture and health in the Bay Area of California.
FUNDING AREAS: Education, community development, human services, youth, arts and culture, health
IP TAKE: This community funder supports nearly any type of nonprofit need in its focus region and has an accessible application process.
PROFILE: Established in 1990, the Los Altos Community Foundation (LACF) is a community foundation based in Los Altos, California. It was originally called Los Altos Tomorrow and led by a committee of 24 community members from 14 families. The foundation “promotes, inspires and invests in philanthropy to improve the quality of life of our community.” It funds local efforts for education, community development, human services, youth, arts and culture and health.
The Los Altos Community Foundation awards both grants and scholarships in the local community to address the needs of vulnerable residents and help youth succeed in school. Community grants address local needs, encourage philanthropic involvement and enhance the quality of life in the community. These grants go towards wide-ranging causes and are awarded twice per year. Local nonprofits may also contact the foundation directly outside of these cycles for urgent and unforeseen needs that involve grant requests of $1,000 or less.
Grants range between about $5,000 and $75,000. In a recent year, the funder awarded $1.2 million in grants and scholarships to 95 organizations. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View in the Bay Area of California. Past local grantees include the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula, Child Advocates of Silicon Valley and Hopes Corner. LACF also has a youth philanthropy program that engages 10th and 11th grade local students to award $10,000 per year in the community.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits for its community grants and E3 Youth Philanthropy Program grants. Community grant applications are due in February and September. LACF uses an online grant application process. Direct general questions to the staff at 650-949-5908 or via online form.
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