Author: Community Foundation

To mark our 25th anniversary, this year we’ve proudly granted $5,000 to ten local organizations spanning the county, all passionately dedicated to enhancing the well-being of our entire community.

Today, we are happy to announce the next 5 grantees receiving $5,000 as a gift to celebrate 25 years of philanthropy in SLO County. The following organizations are dedicated to creating a positive impact on the north coast of San Luis Obispo:

1. Community Foundation of Estero Bay provides recreational participation financial assistance to children living in the Estero Bay area of Los Osos, Morro Bay, Cayucos, and Cambria
2. Friends of the Elephant Seals is dedicated to educating people about elephant seals and other marine life and to teaching stewardship for the ocean off the central coast of California.
3. Los Osos Cares serves the residents of Estero Bay to provide access to information, referrals and services within employment, economic sustainability, health, housing and transportation.
4. Meals that Connect provides free, healthy, noontime meals to over 1,000 seniors 60+ throughout San Luis Obispo County.
5. Pacific Wildlife Center is San Luis Obispo County’s only licensed rehabilitation center that cares for injured birds, mammals, and reptiles.

We want to extend our sincere congratulations to these organizations. Your dedication to our community is inspiring, and we’re proud to stand with you.

In total, that’s $75,000 awarded to 15 nonprofit organizations across San Luis Obispo County:

1. Boys and Girls Club of the Mid-Central Coast
2. Lumina Alliance
3. Promotores Collaborative
4. The Link
5. Paso Robles Youth Arts Center
6. City Farm SLO 
7. SLO Food Bank 
8. SLO Repertory Theatre 
9. SLO Children’s Museum 
10. SLO YMCA 
11. Community Foundation of Estero Bay
12. Friends of the Elephant Seals
13. Los Osos Cares
14. Meals that Connect
15. Pacific Wildlife Center

…and we still have 5 more to go! Stay tuned to learn who the final 5 grant recipients will be as we close out the rest of our 25th anniversary celebrations this year. 

A donation goes a long way – to help us support more nonprofits in our community, consider making a donation to The Community Foundation at https://cfsloco.tmdcreative.site/give-now/

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County has launched the Community Reports & Data Center, the first comprehensive online database dedicated to raising public awareness about the needs, trends, and emerging issues in San Luis Obispo County. With the launch of this online database, residents, organizations, and businesses now have an up-to-date digital resource at their fingertips, empowering the community to make timely, informed philanthropic decisions.

“Through our collective efforts and in collaboration with SLO County nonprofits, we found ourselves uniquely poised to enhance the accessibility and frequency of vital data for community use,” says Heidi McPherson, CEO of The Community Foundation. “It was important for us to put our community’s most important data in one easy-to-access place that could be edited in real-time.”

The Community Reports & Data Center brings together the needs assessments related to SLO County into one accessible platform, empowering individuals to gain a deeper understanding of the community’s needs and work collaboratively towards effective solutions. Reports and data are categorized by housing and homelessness, equity, childcare and education, health and human services, land and nature, economic conditions, arts and culture, and specific populations. 

Within the platform, users can access key statistics that illuminate the pressing needs of the community, some of which include: 

• The cost of childcare on average is over a third of annual wages for low-income families.
• 1 in 6 SLO County residents face hunger and lack of food access and 60% of folks served by the Food Bank are children or seniors.
• An alarming trend of chronic sadness & depression increased by 41% in young girls.
• By year 2030, 29% of SLO County’s population will be over 60 years old, a 61% increase from 2010.

“In today’s data-driven world, knowledge should be accessible to everyone. The online Data Center has been thoughtfully designed to empower individuals and organizations with ease of use and intuitive navigation,” highlights Biz Steinberg, Chief Executive Officer of CAPSLO. “Data-driven donations are what keep the impact moving in our community, and this platform will further enhance our ability to make informed decisions and address the real needs effectively.”

Before the Community Reports and Data Center launched, ACTION for Health Communities was a collaborative of individual agencies, public and private organizations committed to producing “Vital Signs” reports which collected information on quality of life indicators. In 2021, the collaborative decided to sunset the production of the report due to the wealth of reports available in our region, which prompted the impetus for the creation of an online database.

“For the past two decades, ACTION for Healthy Communities has been at the forefront of providing valuable insights into the well-being of San Luis Obispo County. The launch of the Community Reports & Data Center marks an exciting new chapter in our journey,” says Jason Wells, Chair of Action for Healthy Communities and Associate Director of First 5 San Luis Obispo County, a local partner who played a pivotal role in the development of the data center.

Thank you to the community members, leaders, nonprofit partners, and city and county officials who helped make this project possible: Cal Poly, Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County, County of San Luis Obispo, Dignity Health, Transitions Mental-Health Association, KCBX, First 5, and Wilshire Hospice.

“This platform represents more than data, it embodies our shared journey, our challenges, and our aspirations,” says McPherson. “It stands as a testament of  our commitment to fostering a brighter future for every member of our community.” 

To explore the Community Reports & Data Center and gain valuable insights into our community, please visit cfsloco.org/research/. To connect directly with The Community Foundation about specific initiatives and organizations addressing community needs, email info@cfsloco.org.

We’re sure you’ve heard by now that 2023 has been a special year for us and our community  as we celebrate 25 years of community engagement and positive change. Back in May, we announced a heartfelt gift of $100,000 to bolster local nonprofits—a testament to our ongoing dedication to fostering a stronger community fabric.

We announced the first five grant recipients at a kick-off celebration: The Boys and Girls Club of the Mid-Central Coast, Lumina Alliance, Promotores Collaborative, The Link, and Paso Robles Youth Arts Center. These worthy organizations each received $5,000 grants, amounting to a combined support of $25,000.

Fueling this momentum, we recently invited our community to join us at a summer celebration in July. Surrounded by 250 neighbors and friends, we announced five more grantees: 

1. City Farm SLO – Empowering the next generation to live healthier, more prosperous lives through sustainable agriculture and farm-based education.
2. SLO Food Bank – Alleviates hunger in San Luis Obispo County in order to build a stronger community.
3. SLO Repertory Theatre – Strengthens theatre’s cultural influence by nurturing artists and providing theatre education for children and adults.
4. SLO Children’s Museum – Inspires learning through play within a rich environment of interactive exhibits and programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. 
5. SLO YMCA – Offers values-based programs that build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.

Each grantee took the stage, sharing their impactful work, future plans, and ignited a spark of inspiration within the hearts of those present. With $50,000 from the grant pool pending, we still have 10 more grantees to go! Upcoming regional events will allocate the remaining $50,000 of this community gift, ensuring even more nonprofits in our community receive the vital support they need to flourish.

Our eyes remain steadfast on the horizon, and our commitment to serving, uplifting, and nurturing our community endures. We envision a future where our collective efforts continue to ignite change, foster growth, and inspire others to stand alongside us in creating a world of boundless possibilities. Here’s to the past 25 years of impact and the limitless potential of the years to come.

Check back soon for grantee announcements and further updates as we continue our journey of community support and collaboration. 

A donation goes a long way! To help us support more nonprofits in our community, consider making a donation to The Community Foundation at https://cfsloco.tmdcreative.site/give-now/

Community Encouraged to Participate in Disability Pride Activities

San Luis Obispo, CA – Since the 1990 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, July has been recognized as Disability Pride Month: a time for celebrating the diverse experiences, accomplishments and history of people with disabilities. Affecting more than one in four Americans (27% per CDC, 2023), disability is the largest, most diverse minority, intersecting with all other marginalized groups or social identities. SLO Access for All (AFA), a field of interest fund of The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, advocates for an accessible, diverse and welcoming community that values disability as diversity and encourages the full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of SLO County living.

“Disability is the minority anyone can join at any time,” said AFA fund committee Co-Chair John Lee. “So the ADA is ultimately there for all of us whenever we may need it, making it something worth celebrating by all.”

Taking time to recognize and celebrate disability as a natural part of the diverse human experience brings disability to the forefront of consideration, a crucial aspect for advocates.

“Disability is diverse, it can be permanent or temporary, and it isn’t always apparent,” said AFA fund committee Co-Chair Sarah Flickinger. “Normalizing talking about disability, celebrating accomplishments of people with disabilities, and encouraging pride among disabled individuals all support a community where everyone has a sense of belonging.” 

The most recent Community Health Assessment for San Luis Obispo County indicates that 25.6 percent of county residents have a disability (published in 2018; using data from UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, AskCHIS, 2014-2016 pooled average, http://ask.chis.ucla.edu). However, national statistics indicate increases since this time. 

Ways to support people with disabilities in San Luis Obispo County abound, from individual organizations and programs, to advocacy and more general educational and engagement opportunities.

SLO Access for All offers regular mixer networking opportunities where all are welcome, and hosts monthly meetings for those interested in supporting the fund with time and expertise. AFA also has advocates available to speak to educational, workplace and community organizations. In 2022 the SLO Access for All fund awarded its first community grant, $5,000 toward development of the Garden For All program at City Farm SLO, and plans to continue offering grants to local organizations with ongoing community support.

“For Disability Pride Month we encourage the community to celebrate with us,” said Flickinger. “We’ll be hosting our next mixer – an ADA birthday party – July 18, and we always welcome contributions of any size – even $33 in celebration of the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act – as we continue to grow the fund. Contributions allow us to provide support in ways that directly benefit developing a more universally accessible community for all.”

At $33 per donation, it would only take 485 individual contributions to reach the fund’s goal of raising $16,000 in 2023, representing approximately 0.17 percent of the county population (278,348 as of January 1, 2023). Contributions can be made to the SLO Access for All Fund here. To learn more, please visit SLOAccessForAll.org or contact The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County.

SLO Access for All is a field of interest fund at The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, working and advocating for an accessible, diverse and welcoming community that values disability as diversity and encourages the full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of SLO County life. This year The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County is celebrating 25 years of making a difference through philanthropy leadership.

 

$70,000 in Disaster Recovery Grants Awarded to SLO County Nonprofits

At the turn of this year, our community faced the devastating impact of winter storms and floods, leaving many individuals and organizations grappling with the aftermath. In response to this challenging situation, the Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County (CFSLOCO) launched the Disaster Recovery Grants program. We are delighted to announce that, with the generous support of the League of California Community Foundations, we have awarded a total of $70,000 to nonprofit organizations and individuals affected by the storms.

“We are humbled and proud to witness the profound impact that the deployment of disaster relief has had on our community’s journey toward healing and renewal. These grants will provide a vital lifeline to those affected by the devastating winter storms, enabling organizations to rebuild, repair, and restore what has been damaged or lost.” – Heidi McPherson, the CEO of The Community Foundation.

 

In collaboration with city officials and first responders, CFSLOCO carefully reviewed over $120,000 in funding requests. The applications were evaluated based on the extent of damages incurred and the compelling plans presented for recovery. Each story touched us deeply, as we witnessed the profound impact of the storms on the lives of individuals, families, and the organizations serving them.

Through these grants, we aim to provide not only financial support but also a message of hope and resilience. We stand beside these organizations, offering a helping hand as they navigate the path to recovery, and believe that together we can demonstrate the true strength that emerges when diverse entities come together for the greater good.

The following organizations have been awarded grants to aid in their recovery efforts:

Achievement House
Amount: $5,000
Achievement House experienced multiple roof leaks and flooding caused by the winter storms. The impact was significant, disrupting their daily programs and compromising the safety of staff, clients, and customers. This grant will assist in covering the costs of necessary repairs, allowing them to resume their vital services.

Central Coast Parks Association
Amount: $5,000
Central Coast Parks Association is dedicated to promoting the understanding and conservation of natural and cultural resources through interpretive educational programs. The severe impact of the storms forced them to close their facilities for almost four months, resulting in a substantial revenue loss. This grant will help offset their operational losses, as they continue their valuable work.

City Farm SLO
Amount: $9,000
City Farm SLO, whose crop fields and equipment were submerged underwater for over 48 hours, suffered significant setbacks. The destruction of crops and soil pollution disrupted their operations and sales for several months. Funding will support operational recovery, future flood preparedness, and provide assistance to farmers leasing land from City Farm SLO.

Friends of Camp Natoma, Inc.
Amount: $10,000
Camp Natoma experienced extensive damages due to the winter storms, including mudslides, fallen trees, and debris that required professional cleanup. Access to the camp was severely affected, hindering their ability to serve the community. Part of this grant will be allocated towards improving infrastructure, such as additional drains and culverts, to prevent future damage.

Restorative Partners
Amount: $10,000
The recent storms had a detrimental impact on Anna’s Home, a transitional home for women and children supported by Restorative Partners. The structural damage to the roof compromised the safety and functionality of the entire facility. This grant will enable the repair and restoration necessary to provide a secure and supportive environment for those in need.

San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden
Amount: $10,000
The Garden experienced significant disruptions due to the storms, including the cancellation of numerous evening programs and damage throughout the property. Particularly, the Children’s Garden and Retail Nursery suffered losses, rendering parts of the space unsafe. Funding will aid in repairing the damage, ensuring the continuity of their educational and cultural contributions to the community.

San Luis Obispo County Search and Rescue
Amount: $10,000
As a nonprofit volunteer agency that responds to local emergencies, San Luis Obispo County Search and Rescue plays a critical role in coordinating with police, fire, and military forces. However, their First Aid Trailer sustained major water damage, rendering it unusable. This grant will assist in repairing and restocking the trailer, ensuring their readiness to serve the community during emergencies.

San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum
Amount: $6,000
The Museum, situated near the San Luis Creek, encountered unforeseen flooding that overwhelmed their existing flood-control system. This resulted in damage to the Children’s Garden and posed a threat to the building itself. Funding will support the reassessment and stabilization of the flood-control system, including the purchase and installation of floodgates, safeguarding the facility and its programs.

SLO County UndocuSupport
Amount: $5,000
Many undocumented community members faced wage loss and property damages due to the winter storms. As they are not eligible for federal assistance, the financial burden has been particularly challenging. This grant will be directed towards nonprofits that offer direct financial relief assistance to individuals, providing much-needed support during their recovery process.

CFSLOCO extends its gratitude to all the organizations that applied for the grants, recognizing their commitment to our community. We also want to extend gratitude to the League of California Community Foundations for their generosity, and the government leaders, businesses, philanthropic groups who worked together to locate our community’s greatest needs. 

Congratulations to the recipients of the Disaster Recovery Grants. Your determination to rebuild and create a brighter future for San Luis Obispo County inspires us all.

Stay tuned for updates on the progress made by these organizations as they continue their recovery efforts, and join us in supporting their incredible work. If you would like to contribute towards helping nonprofits and their clients recover from disaster you can make a donation at https://cfsloco.tmdcreative.site/donate/?fund=3894.

Please register by July 7 as space is limited. 

Event details:

• 3pm BBQ, Drinks & Music
• 4pm Program & Performances

This is a 21 and over event, alcohol will be served.