Ventura County Community Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $9.5 million (grants to nonprofits) + $1.4 million (scholarships)
Total Assets: $260 million (fiscal year 2024)
Geographic Focus: Ventura County, California
Grant Range: $3,000 - $340,000 (typical programs: $3,000 - $20,000)
Number of Recipients: 308 nonprofit organizations annually
Application Method: Mixed - varies by fund (some rolling, some fixed deadlines, some invitation-only)

Contact Details

Address: 4001 Mission Oaks Boulevard, Suite A, Camarillo, CA 93012
Phone: (805) 988-0196
Email: vccf@vccf.org
Website: https://vccf.org
Fax: (805) 484-2700

Grant Inquiries: Mike Silacci, Chief Philanthropy Officer
Email: msilacci@vccf.org
Phone: (805) 330-6673

Overview

Established in 1987, the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) has grown to become a significant philanthropic force in the region, managing $260 million in charitable assets as of fiscal year 2024. The foundation's mission is "connecting people, resources, and solutions to create lasting impact in our shared world." VCCF operates as a grantmaking public charity that brings together the financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support effective nonprofits across Ventura County.

The foundation has distributed more than $160 million in grants over its history, supporting initiatives ranging from arts and education to health and human services, environmental protection, and disaster relief. VCCF serves 844,000 Ventura County residents through hundreds of community-specific initiatives with support from over 24,000 donors, staff, and volunteers. In 2024, CEO Vanessa Bechtel received an honorary doctorate from California State University, Channel Islands, recognizing her meaningful contributions to the community. The foundation earned a Four-Star rating (97%) from Charity Navigator, demonstrating strong financial health and accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

VCCF operates a diverse portfolio of grant programs, primarily structured around specific funds established by donors. Application processes and deadlines vary by program:

VibeWell Ventura County Arts & Wellness Grant Program

Focus: Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations delivering programs that increase mental health awareness through artistic, creative, and cultural engagement
Funded through: Ventura County Behavioral Health's Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) funds under the Mental Health Services Act
Emphasis: General individual and community benefits and public education rather than clinical or therapeutic outcomes
Application deadline: Typically August (check website for current cycle)

Swift Memorial Health Care Foundation Charitable Fund

Amount: $3,000 - $10,000 typically; maximum $20,000
Focus: Nonprofits assessing healthcare needs or providing healthcare services to Ventura County residents
Project scope: Specific projects with defined timeframes (often one year) with potential for long-term multiplier effects
Application: Periodic cycles (check website for open periods)

Smith-Hobson Foundation Fund

Focus: Arts and cultural projects including museums, historical societies, fine and performing arts, and arts education/access
Geographic focus: Western Ventura County
Application: Periodic cycles

Barbara Barnard Smith Fund for World Musics

Focus: Expanding understanding of global intercultural environments through performances of non-Western classical and folk musics
Eligible applicants: Schools and concert presentation organizations
Application: Periodic cycles

Bert M. and Mildred O. Dahl Fund

Geographic focus: Oak View, California
Focus: Youth programs, including facility construction and maintenance
Eligible applicants: Nonprofits establishing or assisting programs for Oak View youth
Application: Periodic cycles

Kimberly J. Engberg Fund for LGBTQ+ Equality

Geographic focus: Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties
Focus: LGBTQ+ community organizations with preference for evidence-based programs showing measurable effectiveness
Grant type: Matching gifts encouraged to broaden donor bases
Application: Periodic cycles

Limoneira Foundation Fund

Geographic focus: Santa Paula, Oxnard, Santa Clara Valley communities (Piru, Fillmore, Ventura)
Application: Periodic cycles

Ventura County Rapid Response Fund

Focus: Unrestricted funding for operating expenses to organizations with pressing needs
Type: Emergency/disaster response funding

Priority Areas

VCCF supports a broad range of thematic areas including:

Arts and Culture: Museums, performing arts, arts education, cultural access
Health and Human Services: Healthcare access, mental health awareness, community health programs
Education: Scholarships (over 470 opportunities totaling $1.4 million annually), youth programs
Environment: Environmental protection and conservation
Disaster Relief: Storm relief, emergency response funding
LGBTQ+ Equality: Programs supporting LGBTQ+ communities
Community Development: Capacity building, nonprofit infrastructure

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions vary by fund. Generally, unless otherwise specified, grantmaking is limited to Ventura County, California. Check individual fund guidelines for specific restrictions.

Governance and Leadership

Leadership

Vanessa Bechtel, AIFA, CSPG - President & CEO Vanessa Bechtel has led VCCF with a focus on community collaboration and connecting needs with resources. In 2024, she received an honorary doctorate from California State University, Channel Islands. Bechtel has a personal connection to philanthropy, sharing that at age two, she was gifted a violin and lessons by an anonymous donor who paid for instruments and lessons for children at her preschool from low-income families - an experience she described as "a ticket to my future."

According to colleagues, Bechtel "listens to her donors, her partners, her team, and her community with mindfulness and intent and she's relentless about connecting need with resource." Her leadership was instrumental during crisis response, with Board Chair Sean Leonard noting she was "one of the primary catalysts if not the dominant force" behind census outreach efforts that moved Ventura County from the top 2% of counties at risk for being undercounted to the top 95th percentile for achieving a complete count.

Mike Silacci - Chief Philanthropy & Community Engagement Officer Responsible for growing relationships and creating more pathways for community philanthropy. Contact for grant inquiries.

Kate Jackson - Director of Accounting Over a decade of nonprofit finance leadership at VCCF.

Board of Directors The foundation operates under the guidance of a dedicated Board of Directors and volunteers. Specific board member names should be verified on the foundation's website for current composition.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

VCCF operates through multiple funding mechanisms, and the application process varies significantly by program:

For Specific Grant Programs:

Check the "Past, Current, and Upcoming Grants" page at vccf.org for open opportunities
Subscribe to the "Power of Purpose" newsletter for updates on upcoming opportunities
Access the VCCF Portal through the grants page when applications are open
Prepare all required documentation as PDFs before beginning application
Upload documents to the application portal - note that you cannot save and continue, so ensure all materials are final
Once submitted, applications cannot be revised

For Donor-Advised and Field of Interest Funds: Much of VCCF's grantmaking flows through donor-advised funds, field of interest funds, and unrestricted funds. For these grants, the process is less transparent and may be invitation-only or based on donor recommendations rather than a public application process.

Contact for Questions: Mike Silacci, Chief Philanthropy Officer Email: msilacci@vccf.org Phone: (805) 330-6673

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by fund and are not publicly standardized across all programs. Specific timeframes should be referenced in individual grant program guidelines.

Success Rates

With 308 nonprofit organizations receiving grants annually from total distributions of $9.5 million, VCCF maintains active grantmaking relationships with hundreds of Ventura County nonprofits. However, specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly available as much of the grantmaking occurs through donor-directed and field of interest funds rather than competitive application cycles.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies vary by specific fund. Check individual grant program guidelines for restrictions or waiting periods.

Application Success Factors

Understanding VCCF's Structure

The most important factor for success with VCCF is understanding that it operates as a community foundation with multiple funding mechanisms:

Specific Grant Programs: Some funds (like Swift Memorial, Smith-Hobson, etc.) have defined application processes and criteria
Donor-Advised Funds: Individual donors recommend grants to organizations of their choice
Field of Interest Funds: Funds focused on specific issues or geographic areas within Ventura County
Unrestricted Funds: Foundation-directed grantmaking for emerging needs

Geographic Alignment

Unless otherwise specified, grantmaking is limited to Ventura County, California. Organizations outside this area should not apply unless explicitly invited.

Examples of Funded Projects

Recent grant recipients provide insight into VCCF's priorities:

America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College: $30,000 for updated aviary structure for parrots
Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County: COVID-19 food relief, testing, and emergency utility bill funding
Safe Passage: COVID-19 relief support
Ventura Botanical Gardens: Arts and culture support
Museum of Ventura County: Arts and culture support
New West Symphony Association: Performing arts support
Oxnard Performing Arts Center: Arts and culture support

Evidence-Based Programs

Several funds explicitly prefer evidence-based programs showing measurable effectiveness (e.g., Kimberly J. Engberg Fund for LGBTQ+ Equality).

Application Completeness

Because VCCF's portal does not allow saving and continuing, applications must be complete and final before submission. Incomplete applications or attempts to revise after submission will not be accommodated.

Building Relationships

Given the significant portion of funding that flows through donor-advised and field of interest funds, building relationships with VCCF staff and being visible in the Ventura County nonprofit community can be valuable. VCCF offers below-market rent to thirteen nonprofits, demonstrating their commitment to supporting nonprofit infrastructure beyond just grant dollars.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

VCCF operates multiple funding streams: Research which specific fund aligns with your organization's mission and geographic focus - don't assume all VCCF funds are available to all applicants
Geographic specificity matters: Most grants are limited to Ventura County; some funds have even more specific geographic requirements (e.g., Oak View, western Ventura County, Santa Paula)
Prepare before you start: The application portal doesn't allow saving, so have all materials ready as final PDFs before beginning
Monitor opportunities regularly: Subscribe to the "Power of Purpose" newsletter and check the grants page frequently, as different funds have different application cycles
Contact Mike Silacci with questions: The Chief Philanthropy Officer is available to answer questions and can provide guidance on which funds might be appropriate for your organization
Consider the full relationship: VCCF supports nonprofits not just through grants but also through below-market rent, capacity building, and community connections - think beyond individual grant applications to broader partnership opportunities
Understand donor-advised dynamics: A significant portion of VCCF's $9.5 million in annual grantmaking flows through donor-advised funds, which may not have public application processes but are influenced by donor interests and community visibility

References

All sources accessed December 2025.