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Willow View Association

Willow View Association

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
  • Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: Unknown
  • Geographic Focus: Contra Costa County, CA (particularly Concord area)

Contact Details

  • Website: None identified
  • Phone: Not publicly available
  • Email: Not publicly available
  • Address: 4021 Port Chicago Highway, Concord, CA 94520

Overview

The Willow View Association is a private grantmaking foundation established in December 2019 by the Seeno family, prominent East Bay home builders. With assets of $112 million as of 2024, the foundation focuses on charitable purposes including making grants to exempt organizations, with particular emphasis on providing educational opportunities to the local community. A significant component of their work involves the construction and operation of the Western Heritage and Wildlife Museum, a 90,000 square foot facility on their Concord property that provides educational experiences focused on wildlife conservation and heritage. The foundation has experienced remarkable growth since inception, growing from $6.5 million in initial assets to over $112 million, while maintaining relatively low operating expenses of approximately $328,000 annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not publicize specific grant programs or amounts. All grants appear to be made through trustee discretion without a public application process.

Priority Areas

  • Educational opportunities for the community
  • Nonprofit capacity building and organizational strengthening
  • Wildlife conservation and heritage preservation
  • Local community support in Contra Costa County

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions published, but the foundation's private nature suggests they likely do not fund:

  • Organizations outside their geographic focus area
  • Unsolicited proposals
  • Individual requests

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (all serving without compensation):

  • President: Albert D. Seeno Jr. - Prominent East Bay home builder and 2023 inductee to California Waterfowl Hall of Fame for conservation work
  • Vice President: Sandra L. Seeno
  • Director: Jacqueline M. Seeno
  • Director: Sherri Holt
  • CFO: John Arcidiacono
  • Secretary: Kathleen M. Blackard

The foundation operates as a family foundation with the Seeno family maintaining full control over grant decisions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on relationships and alignment with the foundation's mission. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.

Getting on Their Radar

  • Develop relationships with board members through business and philanthropic networks in Contra Costa County
  • Partner with or utilize the Western Heritage and Wildlife Museum for educational programming
  • Demonstrate strong alignment with educational opportunities and nonprofit capacity building in the Concord area
  • The museum facility is available at no cost to schools, nonprofits, and worthy organizations by invitation

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made at trustee discretion without formal timelines.

Success Rates

Not available due to the private nature of the foundation's grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this is a private foundation without a public application process, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, organizations seeking support should:

  • Focus on building authentic relationships with the Seeno family and their networks
  • Demonstrate clear impact in Contra Costa County, particularly Concord
  • Align programs with educational opportunities and community strengthening
  • Consider how the Western Heritage and Wildlife Museum could enhance your educational programming
  • Show evidence of organizational stability and capacity to deliver on mission
  • Connect your work to wildlife conservation or heritage preservation where relevant

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is a legitimate private grantmaking foundation with substantial assets ($112M+) but no public application process
  • All grants are made through trustee discretion - relationship building is essential
  • The foundation is closely tied to the Western Heritage and Wildlife Museum project
  • Geographic focus is clearly on Contra Costa County, particularly Concord area
  • Educational opportunities and nonprofit capacity building are primary focus areas
  • The Seeno family's business and conservation interests may influence funding decisions
  • Consider partnership opportunities through the museum rather than direct grant requests

References

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