Community Impact

Community Impact Program: 

We support programs that help children and youth reach their full potential.

Funding Priorities:

• Early childhood education and family literacy projects that optimize the development of children (ages 0-5) so they enter school ready to learn (e.g., family reading programs and early childhood enrichment)
• Integrated academic supports to help youth (grades K-12) graduate from high school prepared for success (e.g., tutoring and homework support, in-school supplemental programs, academic mentors, college preparation)
• Programs that promote character-building, leadership and life skills development and that empower and support youth to make constructive use of time outside the school environment (e.g., afterschool enrichment programs, leadership skills development, service-learning projects)
• Parent education and engagement efforts to promote healthy family environments, nurture positive youth development, and involve parents in their children’s education (e.g., parent/child communication programs, parenting classes, parental involvement with schools)

If you have questions regarding your application in this Program Area, email Janet Shing or call 831.375.9712 ext 137.

Community Impact Program: 

We invest in prevention and early intervention services* that improve the physical and mental health of individuals and families, support programs that promote independent living, and efforts that ensure that the basic living needs of Monterey County’s most vulnerable and underserved individuals and families are met.

Funding Priorities:

• Community health promotion and prevention programs that keep people healthy and delay or eliminate the necessity for treatment (e.g., programs that promote healthy lifestyles, nutrition, exercise, family planning, substance abuse education, family violence prevention)
• Independent living resources for older adults, people living with disabilities or chronic illness, foster youth and other special needs populations (e.g., senior meal and social programs, caregiver and other support groups)
• Case management and other programs that provide guidance in navigating the health and human services system and/or teach self-advocacy skills to secure needed resources for people who have limited access to services (e.g., access to public benefit programs, resources and referrals)
• Expanded or improved basic needs services to meet growing trends or changing needs. Funding will focus on services that address the basic living needs (food and shelter) of Monterey County’s most vulnerable and underserved individuals and families. New elements may include adding services or hours of operation or implementing new business practices that contribute to increased effectiveness and positive client outcomes.

*The Community Foundation uses the common public health definition of primary prevention as approaches that occur before illness or injury, and early intervention as responses after symptoms or risk of illness or injury occur.

Note: A significant portion of Health and Human Services funding is through the Dr. Frank Pye Smith Fund and the Dr. George & Sam Kih Thorngate Family Fund, which are designated to assist healthcare clinics and medical facilities. Proposals from hospitals, clinics and related medical facilities that address one of the Health and Human Services Interest Areas are encouraged.

If you have questions regarding your application in this Program Area, email Janet Shing or call 831.375.9712 ext 137.

Community Impact Program: 

We support community-building activities that engage individuals and communities to lead efforts that create opportunities for local problem solving. We support strategies to enhance community environments so that all residents have safe, welcoming and accessible places and spaces to live, work and play; and we invest in activities that increase opportunities for the economic security and advancement of young adults and low-income residents.

Funding Priorities:

• Community organizing and leadership development that engages people in addressing issues of mutual concern and
  leading positive change in their community (e.g., organize residents to address neighborhood concerns, training for
  emerging leaders)
• Community revitalization to make public spaces accessible, family-friendly and safe (e.g., community gardens,
  development of bike/walking trails, community emergency preparedness, collaboration and joint use agreements with
  schools and other public buildings/spaces, etc.)
• Immigrant and basic adult literacy services to help people access information they need to fully participate in their communities, workplace and 21st-century commerce (e.g., citizenship classes, language acquisition, family financial management, digital literacy, etc.)
• Employment readiness, skills training and other employment resources that increase access to living-wage jobs (e.g.,
  summer jobs for youth, career counseling, job search and interviewing skills)

If you have questions regarding your application in this Program Area, email Janet Shing or call 831.375.9712 ext 137.

Community Impact Program: 

Arts & Culture

We foster activities and programs that broaden, diversify and deepen participation in quality artistic experiences, especially among youth, multicultural and other new audiences.

Funding Priorities:

• Access to art education and cultural experiences that nurture development for youth (e.g., art appreciation programs, youth mentorship, artistic training and performance opportunities
• Efforts to reach new and underserved audiences with relevant, high-quality, artistic experiences (e.g., targeted marketing and outreach efforts, strategic initiatives for audience development, programming to attract new audiences, development of bilingual and bicultural programs)
• Community-building programs that use the arts to promote cultural expression, build community pride and bridge cultural divides (e.g., community art projects, multicultural programming)

Historic Preservation

We fund activities that preserve and celebrate Monterey County’s rich and diverse history.

Funding Priorities:

• Efforts to preserve, restore and interpret historic places, structures and artifacts that are significant to Monterey County’s history (e.g., interpretation plans, structural assessments, archival enhancements)
• Educational programs that cultivate interest, understanding and pride in the history and cultures of our region (e.g., historic curriculum enhancements, school field trip destinations)

Note: Most of the Community Foundation’s historical preservation funding is made possible via the Thomas Doud, Sr. and Anita M. Doud Fund, which was designated “…to preserve, protect, and interpret the history, art, architecture and culture of the City of Monterey.” Please refer to our Historic Preservation Grant Guidelines for eligibility guidelines.

If you have questions regarding your application in this Program Area, email Janet Shing or call 831.375.9712 ext 137.

Community Impact Program:

We support programs that educate and involve local residents in protecting and preserving our natural resources and sustaining healthy ecosystems; and we invest in animal welfare programs that promote the responsible and humane treatment of companion animals.

Funding Priorities:

• Environmental education and hands-on experiences for youth that inspire responsible stewardship of our natural resources (e.g., food systems, watershed, energy use, biodiversity and inter-dependence, climate change, etc.)
• Activities that help sustain healthy ecosystems and other efforts to ensure a healthy Monterey County for current and
  future generations (e.g., habitat restoration, efficient energy use, recycling, park/beach clean-ups, etc.)
• Prevention programs that address pet overpopulation, abuse, neglect and homelessness
• Programs that support vulnerable people (e.g., seniors, disabled) in keeping their companion animals at home

If you have questions regarding your application in this Program Area, email Janet Shing or call 831.375.9712 ext 137.