Strategy & Budget

Each year, our team engages in a planning process to reflect on what we have learned, reaffirm our mission and values, set goals for our strategy and approaches, and establish a grantmaking budget.

 

2026 Strategic Direction

Significant policy and budget changes will result in fewer families having their basic needs met through the safety net this year and into the near future. While programs for young children have largely been protected, their parents and caregivers may be dealing with cuts to other supportive services. The role of nonprofits in helping families navigate this challenge is as important as ever, particularly as they also face reductions in public funding while continuing to respond to urgent needs. We will maintain our longstanding partnerships with the dedicated community-based organizations that meet families and children where they are, to provide critical support. We are also prioritizing that approach as we welcome several new partners across our region and continue our responsive grantmaking and capacity-building program.

Program Areas

Past Years' Reports

This year, we regularly heard from grantee partners about the urgent housing crisis, especially the growing displacement of families who are priced out of their homes and communities. Many communities are seeing rapid growth in requests for services, particularly across Santa Cruz and Monterey counties and the San Joaquin Valley, all places where wages tend to be lower amid an escalating cost of living for families. In spite of serious threats such as public charge and changing eligibility for benefits, grantee partners have provided critical services to families around the region. In addition to our core portfolio, we made several grants to emerging and exciting work in the San Joaquin Valley that focuses on strengthening the capacity of local organizations. The strong leadership and investment by local funders in that region has been inspiring; we are excited to participate and learn. We also continued to fund efforts to ensure a fair and accurate count for the 2020 Census and have sustained our housing advocacy grantmaking at the state and local levels. In the coming year, we will explore how to more fully incorporate community voice to ensure that those most affected by poverty and policies are at the center of the work.

2019 Grant Data

Grants Paid
308

Unique Grantees
274

Payment Range
$7,500 - $500,000

Average Grant Payment
$74,266

Grant Payments
$22,874,000

Payments

Support Type
Program Areas
Grant Term
County