East Bay Community Foundation

The Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP)'s recent survey reveals that over a third of foundation leaders are concerned about burnout in the organizations they support. This burnout is impacting nonprofits' ability to achieve their missions and, by extension, the goals of their funders.

CEP's research underscores the importance of funders understanding and supporting grantee well-being. Prioritizing grantee well-being isn't just compassionate—it's essential for effective philanthropy.

That's why to combat this issue, EBCF is funding frontline community organizing and movement-building organizations with multi-year general operating support. We're also investing in movement infrastructure projects like the Bay Area Power Building Funders Table.

Read more about how foundations are tackling this issue and other practices that are making a difference.
https://cep.org/blog/foundations-are-concerned-about-nonprofit-staff-burnout-too/

Foundations Are Concerned About Nonprofit Staff Burnout, Too | The Center for Effective Philanthropy How are funders understanding, approaching, and acting on the subject of burnout and well-being for their nonprofit grantees?

Looking for new reads? Check out our summer book recommendations!

📚 What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad tells the story of a global refugee crisis through the eyes of a child. Nine-year-old Amir is the only survivor from a ship full of Syrian refugees coming to a small island nation. He meets a teenage girl named Vanna on the island, and they find their way through a hostile world.

📚 A Man of Two Faces is memoir by Viet Thanh Nguyen that explores the experience of being a Vietnamese refugee growing up in North America. The book is a nuanced portrait of the complexities of identity and the allegiances that guide a life, and it also examines larger stories of immigration, colonization, and cultural clashes and ideas about Vietnam and America.

📚 Garrett Neiman's Rich White Men reveals that to realize America’s founding aspiration of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we must recognize, dismantle, and transform our current system that create wealth inequality into one that liberates us all.

Happy Independence Day, East Bay!

Financial instability is a foremost concern for youth organizers in the Bay Area. Youth organizers often have to participate in the gig economy with multiple jobs to piece together a living wage in order to meet the high cost of living.

How can funders support organizations and organizers to address these challenges? Fund frontline community organizing and movement-building organization with multi-year general operating support.

Read about what we heard from young frontline organizers on what funders can do to address these challenges and how EBCF and BAPBT will pursue these recommendations in 2024.
https://www.ebcf.org/post/the-movement-building-crisis-fixing-the-broken-talent-pipeline/

The Movement Building Crisis: Fixing the Broken Talent Pipeline | East Bay Community Foundation EBCF co-hosted a first-of-its-kind gathering to address the crisis the movement-building ecosystem is facing in the Bay Area: How do we sustain organizing and power building for long-term change?

ICYMI: The REAL People’s Fund (RPF) is an innovative $10M community-governed and -led investment fund that puts the power to direct resources in the hands of those most impacted by economic injustices.

Learn more about how we've leveraged our unique position as a community foundation to collaborate with RPF to move $5M more into the community over the next few years. https://www.ebcf.org/post/creating-a-new-economic-model-that-values-black-indigenous-and-other-people-of-color/

Creating a New Economic Model that Values Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color | East Bay Community Foundation EBCF supports entrepreneurship and other wealth-building strategies in communities of color through the REAL People’s Fund (RPF). As an innovative $10M community-governed and -led investment fund and entrepreneurship program, RPF provides non-extractive capital, holistic business support, and comm...

Juneteenth is a day to remember, reflect, and recommit to our struggle for freedom and racial equality. It is also a day to pause for celebration and jubilee!

Happy Juneteenth, East Bay!

Many nonprofits and community organizations are operating in survival mode. It’s challenging to serve the community when you struggle to make payroll and keep the lights on. It provides little to no space for healing.

The underlying foundation for EBCF’s work is to change the economic conditions in the East Bay so that everyone can thrive. Through the Bay Area Power Building Funders Table and our ASCEND BLO wellness grants, we are leveraging our financial resources and position to help realize this future.

Read more from EBCF President, Brandi Howard, on the importance of centering healing in our work. https://www.ebcf.org/post/brandi-howard-to-dream-to-heal-to-belong/

Brandi Howard: To Dream. To Heal. To Belong. | East Bay Community Foundation At EBCF, we have made a commitment to support programs and resources for staff wellness for our community partners.

With the rising costs of living in the Bay Area, the nonprofit sector is faced with new challenges to retain skilled staff, adjust to living wages, and address staff burnout — all while responding to increased demands for services due to growing inequities.

EBCF co-hosted a first-of-its-kind convening with RYSE Center and the Bay Area Power Building Funders Table (BAPBT) on the working conditions of youth organizers in the Bay Area. Financial instability is an increasing concern, and youth organizers often have to participate in the gig economy with multiple jobs to piece together a living wage in order to meet the high cost of living.

Read about what we heard from young frontline organizers on what funders can do to address these challenges and how EBCF and BAPBT will pursue these recommendations in 2024.
https://www.ebcf.org/post/the-movement-building-crisis-fixing-the-broken-talent-pipeline/

The Movement Building Crisis: Fixing the Broken Talent Pipeline | East Bay Community Foundation EBCF co-hosted a first-of-its-kind gathering to address the crisis the movement-building ecosystem is facing in the Bay Area: How do we sustain organizing and power building for long-term change?

What if those who have borne the brunt of wealth-stripping policies decided how financial resources were invested in our community? The REAL People’s Fund (RPF) explores this very idea.

We're proud to support RPF, a $10M community-governed and -led investment fund and entrepreneurship program that is poised to move $5M more into the community over the next few years. RPF provides non-extractive capital, holistic business support, and community organizing opportunities to build the economic opportunity, political voice, and influence of entrepreneurs of color in the East Bay.

Through our unique position as a community foundation, EBCF plays a number of critical roles in the RPF collaboration.

Read more about this innovative fund: https://www.ebcf.org/post/creating-a-new-economic-model-that-values-black-indigenous-and-other-people-of-color/

Creating a New Economic Model that Values Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color | East Bay Community Foundation EBCF supports entrepreneurship and other wealth-building strategies in communities of color through the REAL People’s Fund (RPF). As an innovative $10M community-governed and -led investment fund and entrepreneurship program, RPF provides non-extractive capital, holistic business support, and comm...

Our grantees are providing vital, healing services to the East Bay and it's important for us to turn inward to support the healing and wellness of our community partners' staff.

"Many of EBCF’s partner organizations not only work with people who need and deserve to heal, but also employ staff who need the space and opportunity to heal themselves. It’s challenging to serve the community when you struggle to make payroll and keep the lights on. It provides little to no space for healing."

Read more from our president, Brandi Howard on how EBCF is working to change the economic conditions in the East Bay so that everyone can thrive. https://www.ebcf.org/post/brandi-howard-to-dream-to-heal-to-belong/

Brandi Howard: To Dream. To Heal. To Belong. | East Bay Community Foundation At EBCF, we have made a commitment to support programs and resources for staff wellness for our community partners.

This and all year round, we're thrilled to celebrate our LGBTQ+ led and serving grantees!

EBCF is deeply committed to investing in the vital services and supports these organizations provide to our LGBTQ+ community throughout the East Bay.

See a full list of our core grantees at https://www.ebcf.org/grants/core-grantees/

This , we're reflecting on how our ASCEND: BLO program team has pivoted to further center wellness this year with new pilot grants. During the pandemic, we received feedback that Black-led organizations (BLOs) weren’t receiving many grants specifically for wellness and collective care.

In response, we launched the Pilot Wellness Grants in December 2023 offering a six-month, unrestricted grant of $20K for each grantee to support and partner with organizations building or implementing wellness programs, initiatives, and practices without burdensome reporting requirements.

We understand that wellness is a key pillar of Black liberation, and it must be fully supported, invested, and integrated into all aspects of BLOs in order for our communities to thrive. Learn more below about the organizations in our ASCEND: BLO network that accepted the invitation to participate in the wellness pilot cohort.

From community organizing to education to environmental justice and beyond, EBCF's AAPI-led and serving grantee partners are doing incredible work to build a more just, thriving East Bay.

We celebrate our grantees this Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and all year round. See a full list of our core grantees at https://www.ebcf.org/grants/core-grantees/

Join AiP (International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy) and EBCF on May 13th for an engaging panel discussion that will showcase how community foundations and professional advisors can partner to support clients' philanthropic goals and create transformative impact in the local community.

Attendees will learn about EBCF's unique services, approach to strategic philanthropy, and role in promoting the next–generation of donor leadership in the East Bay. This event provides an excellent opportunity for professional advisors to network with colleagues and discover how partnering with EBCF can enhance their practice and help clients embody values through charitable giving.

Learn more and register here:

AiP Join AiP and EBCF for an engaging panel discussion that will showcase how community foundations and professional advisors can partner to support clients' philanthropic goals and create transformative impact in the local community. Attendees will learn about EBCF's unique charitable services, approac...

Join AiP (International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy) and EBCF on May 13th for an engaging panel discussion that will showcase how community foundations and professional advisors can partner to support clients' philanthropic goals and create transformative impact in the local community.

Attendees will learn about EBCF's unique services, approach to strategic philanthropy, and role in promoting the next–generation of donor leadership in the East Bay. This event provides an excellent opportunity for professional advisors to network with colleagues and discover how partnering with EBCF can enhance their practice and help clients embody values through charitable giving.

Please note that this event is ideal for professional advisors. We welcome your attendance if you work in areas of law, accounting, financial planning, insurance, investment, and wealth management.

Learn more and register here:

AiP Join AiP and EBCF for an engaging panel discussion that will showcase how community foundations and professional advisors can partner to support clients' philanthropic goals and create transformative impact in the local community. Attendees will learn about EBCF's unique charitable services, approac...

We're hiring a Communications Officer ($100,000-$114,000)!

Reporting to the Director of Communications, this role is one of EBCF's key content strategists, copywriters, and producers. Working closely with other members of the Marketing & Communications team to create a cohesive narrative for all EBCF audiences, this position also leads the team’s digital strategies.

Learn more about the position and apply at ebcf.org/careers.

Register today for ! This free, one-day event will discuss how important issues like reproductive health, chronic disease, cancer, and mental illness impact Black women across the Bay Area and beyond.

We're also thrilled to share that EBCF President and CEO, Brandi Howard will be speaking on a panel during the convening. Learn more and save your spot today: https://registration.socio.events/e/blackwomenshealthforum

Celebrating our transgender community in the East Bay today and always!

From health equity to housing justice to worker's rights and beyond, our women-led grantee partners are doing incredible work to build a more just, thriving East Bay.

Swipe to learn more about a few of our women-led grantees and see a full list of our core grantees at https://www.ebcf.org/grants/core-grantees/

Inside Philanthropy featured Belonging in Oakland: A Just City Cultural Fund and how it leverages the arts as a catalyst for racial justice in Oakland.

Our Program Director, Deborah Giles shared why EBCF has been a natural fit for the fund's community-led structure. "We don't walk into the community, saying, ‘We're the experts. You could come to our table and sit down and we can tell you how to do it.’ No, we're at the back of the room. We'll come to your table."

Read more about this unique partnership between Akonadi Foundation, EBCF, and the City of Oakland's Cultural Affairs division. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2024/3/12/this-public-private-partnership-is-using-arts-and-culture-as-a-catalyst-for-racial-justice-in-oakland https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2024/3/12/this-public-private-partnership-is-using-arts-and-culture-as-a-catalyst-for-racial-justice-in-oakland

This Public-Private Partnership Is Using Arts and Culture as a Catalyst for Racial Justice in Oakland | Inside Philanthropy The City of Oakland is partnering with local foundations to support collaborative efforts that combine organizing and arts and culture work in pursuit of racial justice. The latest round backs BIPOC-led business cooperatives and more.

Join The Oaklandside on March 14 for an enlightening evening of delicious bites and drinks, and engaging community conversations around equity, investing in Oakland’s young people, and the impact of our collective efforts on the future of our city.

In discussions guided by The Oaklandside, you’ll hear from:
• EBCF President & CEO, Brandi Howard, about our ongoing investment in Oakland
• The Oakland Roots and Eat.Learn.Play. about their innovative work in the community, transformative projects underway at Chapter 510 and Youth Beat
• PG&E's empowering financial equity program (plus a screening of their short film) and more!

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a vital conversation about the future of Oakland and how a community can work together to make change.

This event is free, but registration is required https://bit.ly/3UMdLoT

Ramadan Mubarak

ACCE Action's organizing led to an incredible victory in 2023 for the 17 million renters in California with the passage of SB 567, the Homeless Prevention Act. SB 567 strengthens the statewide rent cap and just cause eviction protections.

Through our Campaign for A Just East Bay, we granted $4M in strategic investments to grantee partners like ACCE Action who are driving community-led solutions to address the root causes of the East Bay’s challenges.

Learn more about ACCE Action's major win and read our full impact report here: https://www.ebcf.org/post/our-impact-together-in-2023/

As Black History Month comes to a close, we're reflecting on our President & CEO Brandi Howard's message on joy.

We hope you're finding pockets of joy to center and ground you in all you do.

“Art and culture are the connective tissue that brings people together in Oakland and anchors boats in storms [during] times of change.”

Tommy Wong, founder and owner of Civic Design Studio, facilitates the use of art and culture to connect multigenerational and multi-ethnic Oakland residents to their community with large-scale public art projects.

Read more about how this organization promotes a sense of belonging through public ownership of public spaces. https://www.ebcf.org/post/funding-the-connective-tissue-of-communities/

Funding the Connective Tissue of Communities | East Bay Community Foundation Tommy Wong, founder of Civic Design Studio, is a testament to the unique benefit of unrestricted grants for art that drives narrative and social change.

Economic mobility, affordable housing, arts and culture, equitable education, and healthy neighborhoods – this is what all East Bay residents need to thrive.

As we work towards realizing this vision for our community, last year we invested $110 million in the East Bay through our donor-advised grants and awarded $4 million to our community partners through our Campaign For A Just East Bay.

Our Impact Together in 2023 | East Bay Community Foundation Learn about the EBCF's investments in community and the collective impact of the Foundation's grantees in 2023.

Is your organization:
✅California-based?
✅working to end gender-based inequity?
✅prioritizing low-income women, women of color, or immigrant women?
✅inclusive of everyone identifying as female?

Apply for our Women’s Catalytic Fund (WCF) Spring 2024 funding round! WCF offers one-time grants to people with bold visions who are working to end gender-based inequity and fundamentally change the systems that perpetuate it.

Learn more about funding requirements and submit your application by Feb. 21 at 5pm PT: https://www.ebcf.org/fund/womens-catalytic-fund/

Women's Catalytic Fund | East Bay Community Foundation The Women’s Catalytic Fund is a giving circle that believes in the power of women to drive social change, granting nearly $3.5 million to non-profit organizations in the Bay Area and California.

Community, justice, freedom – these are a few of our favorite things! We're sending so much love to the whole East Bay today and always.

We continue to be inspired and encouraged by how our community comes together to dream and reimagine a more abundant future.

Join us today to create a more just and thriving East Bay: https://www.ebcf.org/donate/

Lunar New Year is a celebration for family and friends to come together in many Asian cultures. It's an occasion to usher in luck, prosperity, and abundance, and to be in community with each other.

We hope everyone celebrating in the East Bay has a new year full of good fortune and success!