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Sacramento Region Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$23.6M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M

Sacramento Region Community Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $23.6 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $253 million (as of December 31, 2024)
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $55,000+ (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties (California)
  • Grants & Scholarships Distributed: Over 5,400 in 2024
  • Total Historical Impact: $275 million awarded since 1983

Contact Details

Overview

Founded in 1983, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation leads, serves, and inspires enduring philanthropy for a just and vibrant Sacramento region. With total assets of $253 million as of December 31, 2024, the foundation distributed $23.6 million in grants and scholarships in 2024 alone, bringing their total impact to $275 million since inception. The foundation received $32.8 million in gifts in 2024 and processed $13.2 million through Big Day of Giving for 826 nonprofits. In 2022, the foundation adopted a Strategic Roadmap grounded in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles. Recently, the foundation established a new strategic focus on health equity, with specific attention to improving mental health for local youth, increasing food access in Yolo County, and supporting students in pursuing education. The foundation has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 100%.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Sacramento Region Community Foundation offers multiple grant programs with varying amounts and application methods:

The Neighborhood Fund: $2,500 - $7,500 (Del Paso Heights)

  • Distributes at least $50,000 annually to support programs serving the Del Paso Heights community
  • Supports organizations providing critical services in Sacramento's Del Paso Heights neighborhood
  • Application: Check grants registry for announcements

Dennis Mangers Fund for Young Performing Artists: Up to $5,000

  • Supports nonprofits offering instrumental, vocal, theater, or dance art forms
  • Strengthens established, in-house youth training programs for high-promise youth
  • Geographic focus: El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties
  • Since 2016, has awarded more than $141,000 in grants
  • Application: Online application system (check annually, typically opens in fall)

Senior and Family Services: Up to $4,500

  • Aids nonprofits in Sacramento County providing crucial services to seniors and/or low-income families
  • Application: Check grants registry for announcements

All Things Right & Relevant Grant: Up to $55,000 per year (renewable up to 5 years; $275,000 total)

  • Multi-year grant for nonprofits serving Yolo County
  • Awarded to one grantee or multiple smaller nonprofits working collaboratively
  • Demonstrates how endowed funds ensure continued impact
  • Application: Periodic RFP (check grants registry)

Inspire Giving Fund: $10,000

  • Annual grant to help fund a specific project for a local nonprofit
  • Requires operating budget in excess of $100,000 (or $250,000 for fiscal sponsors)
  • Organizations cannot have received Inspire Giving grant or Leadership Sacramento project since 2016
  • Application: Rolling basis through grants registry

APIs RISE Fund: Grants totaling $36,000+ annually

  • Supports projects benefiting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities
  • Reflects collective giving circle model where members pool resources
  • Application: Check grants registry for announcements

Donor-Advised and Designated Funds: Variable amounts

  • The majority of grants are directed by individuals, families, and businesses that hold charitable funds at the Foundation
  • These grants span diverse areas based on donor priorities

Priority Areas

The foundation's current strategic focus emphasizes health equity in three key areas:

  1. Improving mental health for local youth - Over $300,000 invested to increase mental health supports for youth-focused partners
  2. Increasing food access in Yolo County - $1 million grant commitment to combat food insecurity over three years
  3. Supporting students in pursuing education - Nearly $1 million awarded through scholarship programs in 2024

Other priority areas emerging from community engagement include:

  • Workforce and Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health Access and Equity
  • Youth Development
  • Arts and Culture (particularly young performing artists)
  • Senior Services and Family Support
  • Community-Led Transformation - Over $300,000 to strengthen Del Paso Heights
  • Emergency Response - $130,000 for emergency food funding to help local food banks
  • Supporting Nonprofit Leaders of Color - Cultivate program addresses fundraising disparities

The foundation focuses investments in areas within Sacramento and Yolo counties that are full of promise but have faced generations of underinvestment. Three-quarters of grants are awarded across the four-county region.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not extensively detailed in public materials. Basic requirements include:

  • Organizations must be 501(c)(3) public charities, 501(c)(3) private operating foundations, or fiscally-sponsored by organizations meeting these requirements
  • Organizations must be located in or serve El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and/or Yolo counties
  • Must have or agree to create a GivingEdge profile

For detailed exclusions and restrictions, contact the foundation directly at (916) 921-7723 or info@sacregcf.org.

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Kerry Wood, CFRE - Chief Executive Officer

  • Leads the foundation's strategic vision and community impact initiatives
  • Quote: "Investing in young people – or lifelong learners – is one of the most powerful ways we can strengthen our region's future. Scholarships reduce financial barriers and, just as importantly, they tell students that their community believes in them."
  • On philanthropic impact: "The All Things Right & Relevant Grant shows how philanthropy can keep a mission alive for years to come."
  • On equity: "Data shows that even in fields dominated by women, like the nonprofit sector, men often rise to leadership roles faster."

Kelly Siefkin - Chief Philanthropy Officer

Doni C. Allen - Director of Operations

Amy E. Brown - Community Impact Program Manager

Rosita Patterson - Grants Associate (primary contact for grant inquiries)

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors comprises local leaders with diverse interests, skills, and backgrounds, including:

  • Jonathan Lederer - U.S. Bank (Treasurer)
  • Kate Stille - Nugget Markets, Inc.

The board and staff are described as charitable giving experts, community advisors, nonprofit leaders, grantmakers, fundraisers, and business executives who help maximize philanthropic impact in the Sacramento region.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Grant Applications (Nonprofits):

  1. Establish a GivingEdge Profile: To receive grants and participate in Big Day of Giving, nonprofits must establish a GivingEdge profile at www.bigdayofgiving.org. GivingEdge is a database with profiles for more than 850 local organizations.

  2. Join the Grants Registry: Sign up for the foundation's grants registry to receive alerts about upcoming funding opportunities. Organizations can register through the foundation's website.

  3. Submit Applications Online: When a relevant funding opportunity is announced, applications are only accepted through the online application system - no email or paper applications are accepted.

  4. GivingEdge Enrollment: Open enrollment for GivingEdge runs from May through September. If selected for funding without an existing profile, organizations must create one during this period.

  5. Contact for Questions: Email givingedge@sacregcf.org for questions about GivingEdge or rosita@sacregcf.org for grant-specific inquiries.

Application Methods by Program:

  • Most foundation-directed grants operate on a periodic RFP basis with specific deadlines announced through the grants registry
  • Some programs like Inspire Giving may accept applications on a rolling basis
  • Donor-advised and designated funds operate through trustee/donor discretion

For Scholarship Applications (Students):

  • Online application system at sacregcf.academicworks.com
  • Majority of scholarships deadline: March 13 annually
  • Requires general application first, then system recommends eligible opportunities

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines vary by grant program and are typically announced with each RFP. General patterns include:

  • RFP releases: Vary throughout the year (e.g., senior services in Placer County in September, marketing/programs support in summer, library books in March/April)
  • Application periods: Typically several weeks from announcement to deadline
  • Decision notifications: Timeframes announced with each specific RFP

The foundation processes over 57,000 gift and grant transactions annually and distributed over 5,400 grants and scholarships in 2024, indicating active year-round grantmaking.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation provides these volume statistics:

  • 2024: Over 5,400 grants and scholarships distributed
  • 2022: 622 awards
  • 2021: 571 awards
  • 2020: 544 awards
  • 2019: 412 awards
  • 2018: 390 awards

The increasing number of grants suggests growing capacity and opportunity.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies vary by program. For example:

  • Inspire Giving Fund: Organizations cannot have received an Inspire Giving grant or Leadership Sacramento project since 2016
  • Other programs: Reapplication policies are typically detailed in individual RFPs

Contact rosita@sacregcf.org for program-specific reapplication guidance.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and recent grantmaking patterns, consider these funder-specific success factors:

Alignment with Current Strategic Focus: The foundation's 2022 Strategic Roadmap and recent health equity focus are central to funding decisions. CEO Kerry Wood emphasizes that the foundation is "focusing on health equity addresses the region's most pressing challenges and opportunities for change, directing philanthropic investments where they are needed most." Applications that explicitly address mental health for youth, food access in Yolo County, or educational support for students align with current priorities.

Geographic Specificity: Three-quarters of grants are awarded within El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties. Applications should clearly demonstrate impact within these specific counties and, where relevant, highlight work in historically underinvested areas that the foundation prioritizes.

Equity and Inclusion Focus: The foundation's Strategic Roadmap is grounded in DEI principles. Their Cultivate program specifically addresses funding gaps affecting nonprofits led by people of color, noting that during Big Day of Giving 2022, "nonprofits led by people of color raised 38% less on average and received 30% fewer gifts than other similarly sized organizations." Applications from diverse-led organizations or those explicitly addressing equity gaps are well-positioned.

Community-Led Transformation: The foundation values "community-led transformation" and has invested over $300,000 to strengthen Del Paso Heights through community-led efforts. Applications demonstrating authentic community leadership and engagement resonate with this priority.

Demonstrated Long-Term Impact: Kerry Wood notes that programs like the All Things Right & Relevant Grant "show how philanthropy can keep a mission alive for years to come." Applications should articulate sustainable impact beyond the grant period.

Multi-Year Thinking: Several programs offer multi-year funding (e.g., All Things Right & Relevant offers up to 5 years), indicating openness to longer-term commitments for the right projects.

Examples of Funded Work: Recent grants provide insight into favored approaches:

  • Sierra Nevada Journeys used Neighborhood Fund grant to educate youth about the outdoors (youth development + community-specific)
  • $1 million to combat food insecurity in Yolo County over three years (multi-year + strategic priority)
  • $141,000+ to young performing artists since 2016 (sustained commitment to specific population)
  • Over $300,000 for mental health supports for youth-focused partners (strategic priority)

Connection to Big Day of Giving: The foundation generated $13.2 million for 826 nonprofits through Big Day of Giving in 2024, with over $8 million of total grants inspired by this event. Organizations with GivingEdge profiles and active participation in Big Day of Giving demonstrate engagement with the foundation's broader ecosystem.

Collaborative Approaches: The All Things Right & Relevant Grant explicitly states openness to "multiple smaller nonprofits working collaboratively," suggesting the foundation values partnership models.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Join the grants registry immediately to receive alerts about funding opportunities - this is the primary way the foundation announces RFPs and you cannot apply without knowing about opportunities
  • Establish a GivingEdge profile as soon as possible during open enrollment (May-September) - this is mandatory for receiving grants and creates visibility with the foundation
  • Align explicitly with the health equity focus - mental health for youth, food access in Yolo County, and educational support are current strategic priorities backed by significant funding
  • Emphasize DEI and community leadership - the foundation's 2022 Strategic Roadmap is grounded in equity principles, and they actively work to close funding gaps for organizations led by people of color
  • Think multi-year and sustainable - the foundation values long-term impact and offers multi-year grants for the right projects; articulate how your work creates lasting change
  • Demonstrate geographic specificity - clearly show impact within El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, or Yolo counties, with special attention to historically underinvested communities
  • Participate in Big Day of Giving - this annual event is central to the foundation's ecosystem and creates visibility; over $8 million in grants were inspired by this event in 2024
  • Understand the dual nature of grantmaking - while foundation-directed grants operate through RFPs, the majority of grants come from donor-advised funds, making relationship-building with the broader philanthropic community valuable

References

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