Stanislaus Community Foundation

Join Our Team!

Stanislaus Community Foundation seeks a seasoned, strategic Program Officer/Grant Writer to join our dynamic team. Visit stanislauscf.org/contact-us to learn more and apply.

Stanislaus County is home to many incredible nonprofits that provide invaluable services to our community, to make it a place where all residents have the opportunity to prosper. Consider supporting our local nonprofit organizations on Giving Tuesday with the gift of your time, dollars, or talent! Learn more about Stanislaus County nonprofits by visiting our online directory at stanislauscf.org/nonprofit-directory.

Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours from the team at Stanislaus Community Foundation! 🧡

REMINDER: Our office is closed today and tomorrow. We will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on November 27.

In celebration of the upcoming holiday, the Stanislaus Community Foundation office will close at noon today, November 22. We will be back in office on Monday, November 27 at 8:30 a.m.

Last week, we honored Judy Sly Herrero's EIGHT years of service on our Board of Directors! We are so thankful for Judy's dedication to the mission of SCF, and we are so glad that she has decided to stick with us a little longer as a member of our Grants Committee.

Today we had cake for breakfast and celebrated the birthday of our very own Maria Cortez! 🥳🎂

News from Stanislaus Community Foundation - https://mailchi.mp/stanislauscf/news-from-stanislaus-community-foundation-15394122

Our November e-newsletter will be hitting inboxes this Saturday! Don't miss out on the latest news from Stanislaus Community Foundation — subscribe today by visiting bit.ly/SCFnews.

Today, we celebrate National Philanthropy Day! Organized in the 1980s, this day is significant in recognizing the important role philanthropy has had on societal change. Today, and every day, we are thankful for the individuals, families, and businesses who go above & beyond and give their time, money, and talent to create a lasting impact on our community!

Join us in celebrating National Community Foundation Week! Created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush, this week (November 12 - 18) recognizes the important work of community foundations and their collaborative and innovative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

SCF is proud to stand alongside the more than 900 community foundations nationwide that work strategically to meet the unique needs of their communities!

Yesterday marked ELEVEN YEARS since Marian Kaanon joined Stanislaus Community Foundation as President & CEO. She's an inspirational and fearless leader, both in our office and in our community! We appreciate her passion and dedication to making Stanislaus County a better place for all.

In honor of Veterans Day tomorrow, the SCF team would like to express our deepest gratitude to the women and men who have served our country!

Our office will be closed today in observance of the holiday. We will reopen on Monday, November 13 at 8:30 a.m.

Join Our Team!

Stanislaus Community Foundation seeks a seasoned, strategic Program Officer/Grant Writer to join our dynamic team. Visit stanislauscf.org/contact-us to learn more.

Stanislaus 2030 is rolling out two surveys this month to help understand the local workforce childcare needs. One survey is designed specifically for employers, and the second survey is designed specifically for employees in the workforce. This data will help Stanislaus 2030 understand employers/employee pain points related to childcare, as well as general awareness of childcare subsidies and if there is interest by local employers to support childcare strategies. Deadline to complete surveys is November 30.

Employer Survey: https://ow.ly/xhGn50Q4QvS
Employee Survey: https://ow.ly/qLiv50Q4QwQ

This summer, Stanislaus Community Foundation launched the Friends of the Foundation. Members made a $2500 commitment to our leadership work across economic mobility, education, and civic engagement. We are grateful to the families below who are invested in our work and our role as a trusted partner to deliver better results for our region.

As local ag firms face increasing regulatory, market and labor pressures, strategic, impactful philanthropic investments in current programs and emerging solutions are critical to the long-term viability of our region’s ag assets.

We're excited to announce SCF's newest fund: the Leadership & Education in Agriculture Fund, or LEAF. The purpose of LEAF is to build and sustain ag students, future leaders, and current workers in Stanislaus County. To do this, LEAF will support several programs and provide scholarships that strengthen the talent pipeline for the agriculture industry in Stanislaus County.

The fund is currently in the development stage, with the first grants expected to be made in 2024.

It's Flashback Friday! Today we're reminiscing on our Mimosas at the Museum event last week at the Great Valley Museum. The Friends of the Foundation gathered together to learn more about Bioindustrial Manufacturing from Karen Warner, Founder & CEO of BEAM Circular.

News from Stanislaus Community Foundation - https://mailchi.mp/stanislauscf/news-from-stanislaus-community-foundation-15391102

Last night, Stanislaus Community Foundation hosted a special roundtable of local nonprofits and change makers for Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil. There was great conversation around investment-ready projects like the Awesome Spot playground, the Tuolumne River Parkway, the urban forestry project in the Airport Neighborhood and many more incredible community programs.

Senator Alvarado-Gil also presented SCF staff with a check in the amount of $200,000, which will be used to launch the new Latino Leadership Fund. The fund, currently in the development stage, will support, scale, and sustain efforts, programs, and leaders among the Latino community of Stanislaus County.

This morning, the Friends of the Foundation gathered at the beautiful Great Valley Museum at Modesto Junior College to learn more about Bioindustrial Manufacturing - an emerging industry cluster focused on transforming agricultural waste into building materials, renewable energy, and so much more. We appreciate Karen Warner, our guest speaker, spending the morning with us. Karen is the Founder & CEO of BEAM Circular, the organization dedicated to advancing Bioindustrial Manufacturing in the Nothern San Joaquin Valley.

We'd also like to thank the Modesto Junior College Foundation for co-sponsoring the event and providing the perfect venue for today's gathering.

More photos to come!

Acoustic Alchemy will be playing a special show at the State Theatre next Tuesday, October 24, to benefit the Modesto Children's Garden! Not only will they be putting on a spectacular show, they have also donated a signed acoustic guitar. All proceeds from this show will benefit Children's Garden, a local nonprofit that provides free experiences to children and families including how to grow their own food, tend to a garden, harvest produce, and prepare healthy meals!

Tickets can be purchased from the State Theatre at thestate.org.

Today we celebrated Melissa's birthday with a deeee-licious cake! 🎂💚

Join Valley Builders Exchange, Inc. for Construction Trades Day on Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 at the Modesto Junior College Ag Pavilion!

What you can expect:
- Engaging hands-on activities
- Interactive demonstrations
- Mock interviews
- And much more!

Construction Trades Day is all about nurturing young minds and showcasing the incredible career possibilities within the construction industry.

Whether you're a student with a curiosity for building or a professional looking to inspire the next generation, this event is for YOU!

We had a great time at United Way of Stanislaus County’s 26th Annual Power of the Purse event yesterday! Susan J. Powers, a Registered Nurse in Modesto and Breast Cancer Survivor, bravely shared her story and reminded all of us about the importance of advocating for yourself and your health. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - make sure to schedule your annual mammogram!

Our new series, Let's Get Candid, is here! The series, released quarterly, will highlight a key issue or field of interest and the nonprofits operating in those areas that have been awarded one of Candid’s four Seals of Transparency. This quarter's Let’s Get Candid focuses on Arts & Culture organizations. Click the link below to check it out! - mailchi.mp/stanislauscf/letsgetcandid-1

We commemorate and celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with a special announcement: Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil, representing California’s Senate District 4, has committed $200,000 to support our newly launched Latino Leadership Fund. This fund will provide grants to scale and sustain efforts, programs, and leaders among the Latino community of Stanislaus County – with a focus in the areas of civic engagement, leadership development, education equity, health equity, and economic advancement.

The fund is currently in the development stage, with the first grants expected to be made in 2024.

Our team had a blast today creating new art masterpieces (😉) for our homes! It’s easy to say that distressing the wood was our favorite part, but we also just enjoyed being together doing something fun. Thanks to Board & Brush Modesto, CA for having us 🎨

We're pleased to announce the 2023-24 ELI for VPs cohort! Participants gathered for their first in-person meeting in Pittsburgh, PA. Thank you to Lisa Millspaugh Schroeder and The Pittsburgh Foundation for hosting us.

Please join us in welcoming our new ELI for VPs cohort. We wish you well on your community leadership journey!

Theresa Nakata - San Diego Foundation
Leann Ayers - Philadelphia Foundation
Sara Shaut - Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes
Michael Yonas - The Pittsburgh Foundation
Maria Whyte - Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Jennifer Russell - Adirondack Foundation
Elizabeth Schultheiss - Battle Creek Community Foundation
Lottie Ferguson - Community Foundation of Greater Flint
Maria Cortez - Stanislaus Community Foundation
Carol Hall - The Victoria Foundation
Jonathon Dyck - The Victoria Foundation
Holly Morehouse - The Vermont Community Foundation

Last year, we launched the Candid Nonprofit Directory, an all-inclusive guide to the 501(c)3 organizations in Stanislaus, Merced, and San Joaquin counties, on our website. It offers a one-stop shop for nonprofits to share information about their missions and impact, while also providing donors with a platform to learn more about the vital programs and services offered by these organizations in our region.

At Stanislaus Community Foundation, we are always looking for new ways to build a culture of philanthropy and support the incredible nonprofit organizations in our county. So, we have created a new series called Let’s Get Candid. The series, released quarterly, will highlight a key issue or field of interest and the nonprofits operating in those areas that have been awarded one of Candid’s four Seals of Transparency. The first Let’s Get Candid, coming the first week of October, will focus on Arts & Culture.

Make sure to update your organization's Candid profile and receive a Seal of Transparency for 2023 by Friday, September 29, in order to be included. If you have questions, you can contact Samantha at [email protected].

Stanislaus Community Foundation is a proud sponsor of this year's Central Valley Fundraisers Conference, hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals - AFP - Yosemite Chapter! Registration for the October 12 event is OPEN - visit bit.ly/CVFC2023 to learn more and save your seat.

It's Thursday... which means it's time for a Throwback! Earlier this month, SCF hosted the Central Valley Legislative Roundtable, a quarterly meeting for legislative staff of state and federal elected officials that represent the Central Valley. The Central Valley Legislative Roundtable is a collaboration between Stanislaus Community Foundation, San Joaquin Community Foundation, Central Valley Community Foundation (Fresno region), and Kern Community Foundation.

At the event, Karen Warner, CEO of BEAM Circular, gave an insightful presentation about a new traded sector known as Bioindustrial Manufacturing. This promising new industry cluster was identified in the Stanislaus 2030 Investment Blueprint as a priority due to job opportunities and alignment with local ag companies. Bioindustrial manufacturing converts ag biomass into new products using high-tech manufacturing processes.

Our friends at the East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District are hosting a webinar TODAY at 2 p.m. on How to Glean & Donate Produce. Join them to learn more about best practices, equipment needed, pantries that accept fresh produce, and so much more!

To register, visit: bit.ly/48qO41B

East Stanislaus RCD

News from Stanislaus Community Foundation - https://mailchi.mp/stanislauscf/news-from-stanislaus-community-foundation-15386550

Wow, it has been a busy week in our community and Stanislaus Community Foundation staff has been on the move! Yesterday, our CEO joined Alma Martinez, CEO of Central Valley Journalism Collaborative aborative at the James B. McClatchy Board meeting in Sacramento. They presented on the state of journalism and the innovative solutions taking place across the region.

Later, our CEO was joined by Maria Cortez, Chief Strategy Officer, at the San Joaquin Valley Affordable Housing Summit. Hosted by our friends at Stanislaus Equity Partners, the event brought together public agencies, nonprofits, and many other partners from across the state - all focused on learning and affordable housing innovation.

What's a Thursday without a Throwback? We had a great time last week at the grand opening of the new Digital NEST center in Modesto! Thanks to major gifts from the Porges Family Foundation and the Olson Family Fund, this new technology learning center will provide Latinx youth the skills, network, and resources to foster economic equality.

We are so excited to see the impact the Modesto NEST has on our community and our youth!

Central Valley Journalism Collaborative (CVJC) is hiring a full-time healthcare reporter and a mental health reporter for their Health Equity Lab covering the Modesto/Stockton area in the San Joaquin Valley. CVJC is a new, nonprofit newsroom and infrastructure that aims to reignite high-quality journalism across California’s San Joaquin Valley. Such journalism will boost public engagement with civic life, improve the quality of life and opportunities in the Valley and provide the sort of trustworthy and important information people need to participate in a healthy democracy.

For more information, visit cvlocaljournalism.org/join-us.

In 2023, Stanislaus Community Foundation awarded over $329,000 in scholarships to local students pursuing higher education.

Alberto Carranza is one of those students. Alberto received the Dr. Grant E. & Colleen Bare Scholarship and shared with us, “The support of this scholarship will allow me to focus on my studies and gain the necessary skills, knowledge, and compassion it takes to become an outstanding nurse in the community. This award will also help me pursue my dream of becoming a nurse anesthesiologist, a role that I am extremely passionate about and believe will have a positive impact on patients' care.”

All of us at Stanislaus Community Foundation would like to congratulate Alberto and wish him the best on his educational journey!

Last month, CSU Stanislaus launched the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Studio - a podcast focused on exploring the passion and purpose of entrepreneurs in our community.

The first two episodes feature Norm & Evan Porges, SCF Fundholders, sharing their individual journeys as entrepreneurs and what innovation and success mean to them.

The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Amazon Music: csustan.edu/podcasts.

Our office will be closed today, September 4, in observance of Labor Day! We will reopen tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.

In 2023, Stanislaus Community Foundation awarded over $329,000 in scholarships to local students pursuing higher education.

Bonnie Arbuckle is one of those students. Bonnie received the Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship and shared with us, "My academic plans are to complete my BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Ethnic Studies. Next year I will enter a yearlong credential program in order to become a fully credentialed K-8 teacher. After that, I will finally be able to teach my own classroom. This has been my lifelong dream."

All of us at Stanislaus Community Foundation would like to congratulate Bonnie and wish her the best on her educational journey!