Yolo Community Foundation Announces David Breaux Memorial Scholarship

The Yolo Community Foundation has announced the creation of the David Breaux Memorial Scholarship. David Breaux was a beloved local resident who was killed during a recent series of violent crimes in Davis, CA. Breaux was sometimes nicknamed “The Compassion Guy” because of the more than ten years he spent gathering definitions for the word “compassion” and championing the concept in the local community.

Community members are invited to contribute to the scholarship in Breaux’s honor at https://sacregcf.org/davidbreaux. 

The scholarship will be open to high school seniors and first year college students who demonstrate financial need, are graduating from Yolo County high schools, are pursuing higher education, and demonstrate an abiding commitment to social justice and compassionate service.

The scholarship is a fund at the Yolo Community Foundation, which is an affiliate of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. The founding donation came from a local couple, both retired professors. According to the couple, “David was such a gentle man, and his dedication to exploring the nature of compassion was inspiring. We wanted to see his curiosity, intelligence, and commitment to compassion live on.” 

According to Maria Breaux, David Breaux’s sister, “David’s life mission was to spread awareness of compassion. This scholarship continues this goal, and allows a young person to help cultivate, in their own ways, a world where everyone treats each other with kindness, empathy, and unconditional love.”

Interested donors may contribute to the scholarship by credit card at https://sacregcf.org/davidbreaux. Checks can be made out to “David Breaux Memorial Scholarship” and mailed to the Yolo Community Foundation at P.O. Box 1264 Woodland, CA 95776. For information about wire/ACH transfers, or to learn about donating stock or other assets, please contact the Yolo Community Foundation at or 530-312-0593.

The first round of this annual scholarship will open to applicants in December 2023; visit https://www.yolocf.org/scholarships/ this fall for details and application instructions. 


Yolo Community Foundation Scholarship Applications Due March 10, 2023

The deadline for Yolo Community Foundation scholarships is fast approaching! 

The following scholarships are currently accepting applications:

  • The Saylor Family Scholarship, YCF’s newest scholarship, provides support for promising students who have experienced significant life challenges, including but not limited to foster care, death of a family member during high school years or other family trauma, teen parenthood, behavioral health challenges, involvement with the juvenile justice system, or financial needs that resulted in the student working during high school. 
  • The Mary Ellen Dolcini Scholarship is made in honor of a long-time community leader. This scholarship may be up to $10,000 and supports high school seniors of Mexican American descent from Davis, Woodland, and the surrounding area in Yolo County to pursue a college education. 
  • The Julia R. Millon Memorial Scholarship was created to honor the spirit of Julia Millon, a Winters resident who was dedicated and passionate about all of the activities that encompassed her existence, especially life outdoors, ultra-trail running, reading, writing, science, health and wellbeing. To be eligible, the applicant must be a high school student living in the boundaries of the Winters School District, have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, planning to attend post-high school education for four years, and demonstrates financial need. The awardee will receive a scholarship of $1,500. The student must be enrolled full time at the college, university, vocational, trade or technical school during the academic year the scholarship is awarded. 
  • Roy and Cynthia Kroener Family Scholarship: Roy & Cynthia Kroener are long-term residents of Davis, CA. They have enjoyed both professional and artistic careers in the Davis community. Their goal with this scholarship is to give something back to the Davis community while providing an opportunity for young adults to pursue a college degree. To apply, the student must be a graduating high school senior from a high school in Davis, must reside in Davis, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, plan to attend an accredited college or university, and demonstrate financial need. Awardees will receive up to $5,000. 
  • The Yolo Youth Service Award Scholarship promotes youth volunteering and encourages Yolo County nonprofits to engage with young volunteers. YCF seeks applications from high school seniors who have volunteered with a Yolo County nonprofit for at least 60 hours during their junior and/or senior years of high school. YoYoSA student awardees will receive a $1,000 scholarship to support post-high school education, which may include college, vocational or technical school. In addition, a $500 grant will be awarded to the nonprofit agency sponsoring each YoYoSA student scholarship winner. 

For details and application information, go to http://www.yolocf.org/scholarships/.

In addition to these scholarships, which are offered through the Yolo Community Foundation, local students can seek out scholarships from our partners at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation here: https://www.sacregcf.org/students/. Deadline: March 10

Several of our fundholders support scholarships at local high schools. Those include the Barbara Neu Memorial Scholarship Fund (Davis), Burns-Bellhorn Scholarship Fund (Winters), and Paul Makley Memorial Scholarship (Davis). Please reach out to the respective high schools for further information.

For more information, please visit www.yolocf.org or contact YCF at or 530-312-0593.

About the Yolo Community Foundation
The Yolo Community Foundation inspires and supports giving and provides philanthropic leadership in Yolo County. The organization offers donor-advised funds and other philanthropic vehicles, donates to local nonprofits, fosters volunteerism, and supports local giving. YCF currently has more than 65 philanthropic funds valued at over $8 million and is an affiliate of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. Join us! Visit www.yolocf.org to learn more. 


11/12/21

Yolo Community Foundation Honors Record 30 Local Donors & Volunteers

On November 16, the Yolo Community Foundation (YCF) will celebrate National Philanthropy Day by honoring 30 local donors and volunteers who have made an impact on Yolo County nonprofits. The celebration is made possible through the generous support of Nugget Markets.

This year’s honorees and the nonprofits that selected them include:

  • Chris Barton and Betsy Taloff, All Leaders Must Serve
  • Jennifer and Lars Knudsen, Center for Land-Based Learning
  • Dr. Paolo Troia, CommuniCare Health Centers
  • Norma Rice, Davis Arts Center
  • Keri Hawkins, Davis Farm to School
  • Don Shor, Davis Media Access
  • Carousel Fundraising Committee, Davis Schools Foundation
  • Robbie Murphy, Empower Yolo
  • Susan Douglas, Explorit Science Center
  • Lon Springer, Friends of the Yolo County Archives
  • Raley’s, Kitchen Table Advisors
  • Kathy Williams-Fossdahl, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Yolo County
  • Arriel Adler, New Season Community Development Corporation
  • Gail Yokote, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute – UC Davis
  • Robin Carlson, Pamela Trokanski Dance Theater
  • Robert Nickelson, Rotary Club of Winters
  • Jane Niehues, Soroptimist International of Woodland
  • Ann Daniel, UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden
  • Nanette Hanson, Winters Farm to School
  • Exhibit Committee led by Floyd Shimomura & Gloria Lopez, Winters Museum
  • Rob Coman, Winters Participation Gallery
  • Cameron Fuller, Woodland Opera House
  • Nancy Tyler, Yolo Basin Foundation
  • Meg Stallard, Yolo Community Foundation
  • IKEA West Sacramento, Yolo County Children’s Alliance
  • 100+ Women Who Care Yolo County, Yolo County Search and Rescue Team
  • Dr. David Nakano, Yolo Crisis Nursery
  • Sarah James, Yolo Food Bank
  • Elizabeth Lasensky, Yolo Healthy Aging Alliance
  • Pete Wilbur, Yolo Hospice, Inc. DBA YoloCares

According to Jessica Hubbard, YCF’s executive director, “These honorees inspire all of us to engage in our community, to use the resources we have available to support our local nonprofits, so they can continue to serve our neighbors in need.”

This is YCF’s 15th annual celebration of National Philanthropy Day; in that time, YCF and the participating nonprofits have honored more than 125 local donors and volunteers. The Yolo National Philanthropy Day event is intended as a platform for a wide range of Yolo nonprofits to honor those individuals and organizations that are critical to their work.

YCF will celebrate the honorees in a reception on November 16, sponsored by Nugget Markets, and through a video campaign launching the same day, sponsored by Davis Media Access. Additional event sponsors include Davis Wills & Trusts, Edward Jones Office of Matt Yancey, Financial Advisor; Matchbook Wines; and Watermelon Music. At the reception, YCF will also share the results of the recent Yolo Donor Survey. For more information about the Yolo National Philanthropy Day reception and videos, this year’s honorees, and the Yolo Donor Survey, please visit www.yolocf.org.


11/22/20

23% of Nonprofits Fear Closure, but Individual Giving is Strong: Survey

The Yolo nonprofit sector has been through a difficult year, with most facing decreased revenues, especially from events and earned income, leading nearly a quarter to express concern about permanent closure if the crisis persists. However, individual giving has been a bright spot, with nearly two-thirds of organizations reporting increased giving from individuals; this is an encouraging trends as local nonprofits move into the critical year-end giving season. 

These are highlights from the Yolo Community Foundation’s recent nonprofit survey, to which 39 local nonprofits responded, augmented by interviews with eight nonprofit executive directors representing a range of organizations. The complete State of the Yolo Nonprofit Sector update video is at www.yolocf.org.

Findings include:

  • Respondents identified three needs as especially critical and growing in our community at this time – hunger, housing, and mental health. Concern is rising recently about children and families, unemployment and financial security, and the viability of the Yolo nonprofit sector.
  • Nonprofit revenues are mostly flat or down; expenses are trending up.
  • More than 60% of respondents have seen an increase in giving from individuals; close to 80% of have seen a drop in event income, while nearly half have seen a decrease in earned revenue or program income, like camp and class tuition or performance tickets. 
  • Because the economy has remained strong at the top, major donors have generally remained in position to give. Nonprofits that rely on other income streams, including small donations from households with modest wealth, may struggle. We may see a delayed reaction in Yolo County because UC Davis hasn’t done furloughs, but may in the future. Government funding may also fall, as economic contraction leads to a fall in tax revenues. This may or may not be offset by future federal government relief spending. 
  • So far, both layoffs and furloughs have been relatively uncommon, with only about 10% of respondents indicating they have conducted layoffs, and the same number furloughs. Nonprofit employees are working beyond traditional hours, with almost a third of respondents saying their salaried workers are increasing their hours beyond any increase in pay. 
  • Nonprofit executives worry about staff burnout. More than 60% say this is a significant concern, while nearly 40% call it a moderate concern.
  • Nearly 25% of respondents say there is a moderate or significant risk their organizations will close permanently if this crisis persists for 12+ months.

About the Yolo Community Foundation
The Yolo Community Foundation inspires and supports giving and provides philanthropic leadership in Yolo County. The organization offers donor-advised funds and other philanthropic vehicles, donates to local nonprofits, fosters volunteerism, and supports local giving. YCF currently has more than 60 philanthropic funds valued at $5 million and is an affiliate of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. Join us! Visit www.yolocf.org to learn more. 


11/10/20

National Philanthropy Day Honorees Announced as Community Rises to Support Yolo Nonprofits 

With nonprofits throughout Yolo County hard at work responding to the COVID-19 crisis, more than 60% of nonprofits recently surveyed reported seeing an increase in giving from individuals since March, as the local community has turned out to support their efforts. However, close to 80% have seen a drop in event income and more than half have seen a decrease in earned revenue, like camp tuition and performance tickets. This drop is likely one of the reasons that nearly 25% of nonprofits surveyed report there is a risk their organizations will close permanently if this crisis persists at least another year. 

To learn more about the State of the Yolo Nonprofit Sector, and celebrate the donors and volunteers that have made a difference to local nonprofits, please join the Yolo Community Foundation’s National Philanthropy Day celebration, sponsored by Nugget Markets and Davis Media Access. The virtual event will take place on Tuesday, November 17, at 4:30pm; register at www.yolocf.org.

The Yolo Community Foundation is pleased to announce the following honorees, along with the organizations that will acknowledging their contributions during the event:

  • Pam & Steve Harrison, Winston Hsu, Center for Land-Based Learning
  • Sacramento Face Mask Project, CommuniCare Health Centers 
  • Johanna Savage, Davis Arts Center
  • Reed Youmans, Davis Community Meals and Housing
  • Sheryl Yamamoto, Davis Farm to School
  • Bill Buchanan and Jim Buchanan, Davis Media Access
  • Dave Miller and Eileen Keane, Davis Schools Foundation
  • Volunteer Gardeners, Friends of the Esparto Regional Library
  • Nathan Fanous and Connor Tang, Lead4Tomorrow
  • Dave Hawke, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
  • Bayside Community Church, Rotary Club of Winters
  • Mary Jo Rodolfa, Winters Education Foundation
  • Mike McGowan, Yolo Community Foundation
  • Sharon Hallberg, Yolo County Library Foundation
  • Robb Davis and Brett Lee, Yolo Food Bank
  • Tom Frankel, Yolo Hospice

According to Meg Stallard, the President of the Yolo Community Foundation Board of Directors, “In this difficult year, donors and volunteers have been more critical than ever. We are thrilled for the chance to celebrate them, as well as give local community members the opportunity to learn more about our local nonprofits.”

About the Yolo Community Foundation
The Yolo Community Foundation inspires and supports giving and provides philanthropic leadership in Yolo County. The organization offers donor-advised funds and other philanthropic vehicles, donates to local nonprofits, fosters volunteerism, and supports local giving. YCF currently has more than 60 philanthropic funds valued at nearly $5 million and is an affiliate of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. Join us! Visit www.yolocf.org for more information. 


State of the Nonprofit Sector

View the video of the State of the Nonprofit Sector presentation from the 2020 Yolo County National Philanthropy Day virtual event. Presented by Yolo Community Foundation Executive Director, Jessica Hubbard. Event sponsored by Nugget Markets. Access video here.


Local Grants

Thanks to a donation from Yolo County, the Yolo Community Foundation, through the Yolo COVID-19 Relief Fund, has granted out a total of $237,500 to four organizations – Empower Yolo, RISE, Yolo County Children’s Alliance, and Yolo Interfaith Immigration Network. The grants will support programs focused on eviction prevention, child care assistance, and educational equity during distance learning. More information is available here.


Yolo County Donates Additional $250,000 to Yolo COVID-19 Relief Fund

Yolo County has donated $250,000 to the Yolo COVID-19 Relief Fund, bringing the County’s support to $500,000 and the overall funds raised for the Relief Fund to more than $680,000. The Yolo COVID-19 Relief Fund is a partnership between Yolo County, the cities of Woodland, Winters, West Sacramento, and Davis, and the Yolo Community Foundation. This donation is funded via CARES Act funding, the federal government’s response to COVID-19 that was passed through to States and then allocated at the local level to counties such as Yolo.

Read full article here.


Yolo COVID-19 Relief Fund Up to $404,000 in Grants

The Yolo Community Foundation has announced that an additional $114,000 in grants has been made over the past two months by the Yolo COVID-19 Relief Fund; combined with the $290,000 announced in early June, the Relief Fund has now made 30 grants totaling $404,000. View full Press Release here.


Yolo COVID-19 Relief Fund Announces $290,000 in Grants; More Grants to Come. The Yolo Community Foundation has announced $290,000 in grants, made through the Yolo COVID-19 Relief Fund. View full Press Release here.


Local Leaders, Yolo Federal Credit Union Foster Community Support for Yolo Nonprofits & Relief Fund

A team of local leaders are calling on the local community to support Yolo County nonprofits in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. Those who are interested in supporting the Yolo COVID-19 Relief Fund may do so easily, thanks to a partnership with Yolo Federal Credit Union, which is accepting donations in its branches. View full Press Release here.


Yolo Community Foundation launches Yolo COVID-19 Nonprofit Relief Initiative (Woodland, CA) —The Foundation is partnering with local jurisdictions to create a community-wide campaign to inspire giving to nonprofits, provide grants to nonprofits in need, and offer technical assistance during the COVID-19 crisis.


Yolo Community Foundation Announces Historic Partnership to Create New COVID-19 Nonprofit Relief Initiative
Community Members Encouraged to Contribute Directly to Yolo County Nonprofits

Woodland, CA — The Yolo Community Foundation is leading an unprecedented partnership with Yolo County, the City of Woodland, the City of Winters, the City of West Sacramento, and the City of Davis to create the new COVID-19 Nonprofit Relief Initiative. These local jurisdictions are providing staff and funding to support the initiative’s three components: 1) a community-wide campaign to encourage direct contributions to nonprofits; 2) a relief fund to provide grants directly to nonprofits; and 3) technical assistance to help nonprofits through the crisis.

Yolo County’s nonprofits care for the most vulnerable in the community and enrich the fabric of the Yolo community through a wide range of programs that support, teach, and connect. The COVID-19 Relief Initiative combines local government resources to support the essential work of nonprofits during this extraordinary time, hopefully ensuring they can continue to serve this community now and after the crisis.

“While the Initiative provides grant funding to help nonprofits, seeded by generous City and County donations, the most significant part of this effort is encouraging businesses and individuals to give directly to nonprofits now because that is where the need is greatest. We hope every person is inspired to give what they can, as soon as possible,” said Jessica Hubbard, Executive Director of the Yolo Community Foundation.

While Yolo County’s nonprofits are struggling with a greater demand resulting from COVID-19, funding opportunities critical to their survival are declining. With the importance of social distancing, for example, it is impossible to hold in-person fundraising events. Yolo County nonprofits are also devastated by revenue loss from facility closures, freezes on paid work that requires interaction in group settings, and other unanticipated impacts.

Despite this, many of these organizations are increasing services in response to the crisis or creating innovative new programs to provide services in this new environment. The COVID-19 Relief Initiative will shine a spotlight on these essential nonprofits, encourage people to contribute, provide sustainability grants, and provide technical assistance to help nonprofits.

Information about the activities and needs of Yolo County nonprofits, as well as links to their donation pages, is available here. Also available at that link are the Relief Fund Application, as well as information about technical assistance opportunities specifically designed for nonprofits during the crisis.

About the Yolo Community Foundation

The Yolo Community Foundation inspires giving, supports philanthropists, and serves the nonprofit community in Yolo County. The organization offers donor-advised funds and other philanthropic vehicles, donates to local nonprofits through grants, fosters volunteerism, and supports local giving. Visit www.yolocf.org for more information.


Panel: Winter Needs in Yolo County

Monday, Dec. 9, 4:30-6 at International House in Davis

Please register here.

Winter is a time when both giving and community needs spike, so it is a critical time for donors to be thoughtful about their giving. Please join the Yolo Community Foundation for a panel discussion focused on major needs in Yolo County this winter season, what organizations are doing to address those needs, and how local donors can direct their year-end giving to maximize impact.

Featuring:

Doug Zeck, Executive Director, 4th & Hope
Liane Moody, Executive Director, Short Term Emergency Aid Committee
Jeneba Lahai, West Sacramento Family Resource Center & Health Programs Manager, Yolo County Children’s Alliance
Michael Bisch, Executive Director, Yolo Food Bank
Moderated by Steven H. Weiss, The Weiss Group
Free and open to all community members. Light refreshments will be served.

Questions? Email us at .


Deborah Dunham Joins Yolo Community Foundation Board of Directors

Deborah Dunham, a Davis-based nonprofit fundraising and strategy expert, has joined the Yolo Community Foundation board of directors. The Yolo Community Foundation inspires charitable giving in Yolo County, helps philanthropists to maximize their impact, and supports the local nonprofit community.

According to Dunham, “Inspired by the example of my grandmother, I have long been committed to philanthropy. I first joined the Yolo Community Foundation as a fundholder, and I found that YCF helps me to be more efficient and more effective in my giving. I’m now thrilled to join the Board of Directors, so that I can help bring my experiences as a fundholder to a larger group of local philanthropists.”

Deborah is the president of DUNHAM – A Fundraising Firm, where she specializes in executive coaching, fund development, and organizational development. She previously served as a Senior Development Officer with Sutter Medical Center – Sacramento and the Executive Director of the Sutter Davis Hospital Foundation. She is the Chair of the Board of Directors for Gorilla Doctors and has served on many other local boards, including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Davis Chamber of Commerce (former Chair), and Woodland United Way (former Chair). She is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, a graduate of California State University, Sacramento, and a Certified Fundraising Executive. Dunham first moved to Yolo County in 1973; after 20 years in Woodland, she moved to Davis where she currently resides with her husband, Chuck Cunningham. Dunham and Cunningham have four children who participate in the family’s philanthropic efforts.

Meg Stallard, chair of the Yolo Community Foundation’s board of directors, reports, “We are so fortunate to have a skilled nonprofit executive like Deborah join our board. As we enter a phase of rapid growth, Deborah will be a critical advisor on organizational development and fund development.”

About the Yolo Community Foundation
The Yolo Community Foundation inspires giving, supports philanthropists, and serves the nonprofit community in Yolo County. The organization offers donor-advised funds and other philanthropic vehicles, donates to local nonprofits through the Buck Education Grant, fosters volunteerism through the Yolo Youth Scholarship Awards and annual Philanthropy Day program, and supports local giving via its involvement in the Big Day of Giving. YCF currently has 56 philanthropic funds valued at $4.4 million and is an affiliate of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. Join us! Visit www.yolocf.org for more information.


Nonprofits Invited to Apply for Yolo Community Foundation Buck Grants

The Yolo Community Foundation’s Buck Education Grants are open for applications from area nonprofits. The program supports new or existing education efforts in Yolo County that can scale over the course of a two- to three-year period. The deadline to apply is October 28, 2019 at 5pm.

Grant requests of up to $10,000 will be considered for the following types of activities:

– Increasing literacy and supporting reading at grade-level

– STEM-related education

– Arts education

– Early childhood education

– Encouraging parent engagement

Yolo Community Foundation executive director Jessica Hubbard said, “We know how difficult it is for nonprofits to access seed funding for innovative programs. We are seeking to make grants that allow nonprofits to scale or prove a new concept, so they are more attractive to traditional funders in the future.”

This is the third round of funding for the Buck Education Grant. To date, the Yolo Community Foundation has donated more than $140,000 through this program. Past grantees have included the Davis Arts Center, Mariachi Puente, the Center for Land-Based Learning, West Sacramento Friends of the Library, the Winters Participation Gallery, and the Woodland United Way.

For more information, including a link to the grant application, please visit https://www.yolocf.org/grants/.

About the Yolo Community Foundation
The Yolo Community Foundation inspires giving, supports philanthropists, and serves the nonprofit community in Yolo County. The organization offers donor-advised funds and other philanthropic vehicles, donates to local nonprofits through the Buck Education Grant, fosters volunteerism through the Yolo Youth Scholarship Awards and annual Philanthropy Day program, and supports local giving via its involvement in the Big Day of Giving. YCF currently has 56 philanthropic funds valued at $4.4 million and is an affiliate of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. Join us! Visit www.yolocf.org for more information.


Yolo Community Foundation Announces Grants for Census 2020 Outreach

The Yolo Community Foundation has opened applications for its Census 2020 outreach grants. We are making grants of up to $10,000 to support organizations that are developing and implementing strategies to maximize Census 2020 participation from Yolo County’s hardest to count populations, those communities that have historically been undercounted. Grant applications are due October 10, 2019. We anticipate granting up to a total of $30,000 in this round of funding. (Information about future funding will be available later this fall.) 

For complete details about the current funding opportunity and to apply, please go to: https://www.grantinterface.com/Process/Apply?urlkey=srcf

The 2020 Census is coming, and the Yolo Community Foundation is partnering with California and the Sacramento Region Community Foundation to ensure that ALL people in Yolo County are counted. Since 1790, the United States has taken a count of the population every decade, as required by the U.S. Constitution. The census counts every person living in the U.S. — regardless of citizenship or immigration status. The federal government uses Census data to determine how much federal funding to send to states and local governments around the U.S., as well as how many seats each state receives in Congress.

In the 2010 Census, 77% of Yolo County residents were counted; we seek to increase that figure in 2020. There are a number of communities that the Census Bureau recognizes as hard-to-count, based on social and economic barriers. They include communities of color, rural residents, low-income households, and immigrants that are already socially, economically or politically marginalized.

Yolo County’s hardest-to-count communities include: Households with limited English proficiency, non-family households, households that moved recently, households below 150% of the poverty line, and low-broadband households (because the 2020 Census will be conducted primarily online). See a PDF with an overview of Yolo County’s hardest-to-count populations and census tracts here: https://census.ca.gov/htcfactsheets/

Yolo Community Foundation executive director Jessica Hubbard said, “It is in the best interest of all Yolo County residents to ensure that the 2020 Census counts every individual living in Yolo County. Our local nonprofits are best equipped to share this message with our community, and we look forward to partnering with them and supporting them to do so.”

The Yolo Community Foundation will host three optional information sessions for potential applicants:

  • Woodland: TODAY, September 24 from 4-5pm in our office at 724 Main Street, Woodland, CA (inside the Yolo CASA offices).
  • West Sacramento: Wednesday, Oct. 2, 1-2pm, at the Arthur F. Turner Community Library at 1212 Merkley Ave, West Sacramento, CA (in the Meeting Room)
  • Winters: Thursday, Oct. 3, 1-2pm, at the Winters Community Library at 708 Railroad Ave, Winters, CA (in the Margaret Parsons Room)

Please RSVP to ; nonprofits unable to attend an information session are also welcome to email YCF with questions.

More information is available at: https://www.yolocf.org/grants/census-2020/

About the Yolo Community Foundation
The Yolo Community Foundation inspires giving, supports philanthropists, and serves the nonprofit community in Yolo County. The organization offers donor-advised funds and other philanthropic vehicles, donates to local nonprofits through the Buck Education Grant, fosters volunteerism through the Yolo Youth Scholarship Awards and annual Philanthropy Day program, and supports local giving via its involvement in the Big Day of Giving. YCF currently has 55 philanthropic funds valued at $4.5 million and is an affiliate of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation.


Census 2020 Grantmaking

Information is now available for Census 2020 grantmaking. Please check this page for all of the details.


Yolo Community Foundation Appoints New Executive Director

The Yolo Community Foundation (YCF) announced the appointment of Jessica Hubbard as its new executive director. YCF helps philanthropists maximize their impact on Yolo County.

“We are delighted to welcome Jessica to lead the Yolo Community Foundation,” said Meg Stallard, the chair of YCF’s board of directors. “We believe that her strong background in philanthropic management and strategy will help us grow YCF and increase our support for Yolo County philanthropists.”

Hubbard most recently served as a consultant to foundations, nonprofits, and corporate philanthropy departments; she advised her clients on strategic planning, program design, and partnership development. Previously, she co-founded and led the corporate responsibility initiative at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the global learning company. She is a member of the board of directors for Social Venture Partners of Sacramento.

Hubbard said, “I’m thrilled for the opportunity to build on YCF’s tremendous recent growth and to help the organization refine its vision for serving philanthropists, nonprofits, and the broader Yolo County community. I look forward to engaging more local donors, nonprofit leaders, and volunteers in our work.”

YCF is an affiliate of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. According to its CEO, Linda Beech Cutler, “We look forward to working closely with Jessica to continue to grow YCF. She is a skilled nonprofit leader who is poised to cultivate and work with donors and nonprofits to maximize the impact of philanthropy in Yolo County.”
Hubbard follows Babs Sandeen, who served as executive director since 2016.

Hubbard has a BA and an MBA from Harvard University and lives in Davis, CA with her husband and two children.

Please go to YCF’s website, www.yolocf.org, for more information about the organization and how to open a philanthropic fund with YCF.

About the Yolo Community Foundation
The Yolo Community Foundation inspires giving, supports philanthropists, and serves the nonprofit community in Yolo County. The organization offers donor-advised funds and other philanthropic vehicles, donates to local nonprofits through the Buck Education Grant, fosters volunteerism through the Yolo Youth Scholarship Awards and annual Philanthropy Day program, and supports local giving via its involvement in the Big Day of Giving. YCF currently has 55 philanthropic funds valued at $4.5 million and is an affiliate of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation.


Join us to celebrate the Big Day of Giving at the Yolo County Midday Celebration!

Date: BIG Day of Giving, Thursday, May 2rd

Time: Noon to 1 pm

Location: Woodland’s Heritage Plaza, adjacent to Main Street and 2nd Street in front of the Historic Woodland Opera House

Program:  Brief remarks at approximately 12:20 pm by Meg Stallard, President of the Yolo Community Foundation, music playing throughout the event, and information booths and exciting announcements from these Yolo County-based nonprofit organizations:
  • Center for Land-based Learning
  • Empower Yolo
  • Explorit Science Center
  • Fourth & Hope
  • Health Education Council
  • Make It Happen for Yolo County
  • Meals on Wheels Yolo County
  • MOSAIC Children’s Museum
  • RISE, Inc.
  • Tuleyome
  • Winters Farm to School
  • Woodland’s Dinner on Main
  • Woodland Opera House
  • Woodland Schools Foundation
  • Woodland United Way
  • Yolo Community Care Continuum
  • Yolo Community Foundation
  • Yolo County SPCA
  • Yolo Crisis Nursery
  • Yolo Food Bank
  • Yolo Healthy Aging Alliance
And remember to donate to one of your favorite organizations before or on the Big Day of Giving! We’d appreciate your support!
www.bigdayofgiving.org/yolocommunityfoundation

On Thursday, April 18 the Yolo Community Foundation (YCF) recognized the recipients of the YoYoSA scholarships at a reception in their honor. Allison Malcolm of Woodland High School, Jerry Guo of Davis Senior High School, and Esther Myers and Sam Petersen both of Winters High School were all recognized as scholarship recipients at the Yolo Youth Service Awards (YoYoSA) and will each receive $1000 scholarship to support post-high school education, which may include college, vocational, or technical school.

L to R Sam Petersen, Esther Myers, Allison Malcolm, Meg Stallard – President of the Yolo Community Foundation, Jerry Guo, Saira Delgado – Field Representative for Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry

The YoYoSA program is designed to promote and reward Yolo County youth volunteering with local nonprofit organizations and encourages Yolo County nonprofits to engage with youth volunteers.

Malcolm is a member of the Woodland High School Key Club, Guo volunteers with NewStar Chinese School in Davis, Myers in involved in the Winters High School Interact Club and Petersen works with Team Davis. All of these nonprofit organizations were awarded a $500 grant for sponsoring a YoYoSA student scholarship recipient.

President of the YCF Board of Directors Meg Stallard said, “We’re pleased to honor these four students for their commitment to their communities. This year’s scholarship selection was particularly competitive. They are all outstanding students who have made a great impact! We thank them for their service and wish them well in the future.”


The Yolo Community Foundation (YCF) welcomes Jennie Bretschneider to its 2019 Board of Directors. The mission of YCF is to match philanthropic interests of donors with the needs and opportunities of the Yolo County Community. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve on the YCF Board. It’s so rewarding to connect people who want to give back to their communities with the causes they care most about — all in a flexible, streamlined and tax-efficient manner.” Bretschneider said. “There are so many ways to give that it can be hard to decide. YCF makes it possible for you to set up a fund, small or large, take an immediate tax deduction, and then direct gifts to local, national and international nonprofits over time.”

 

Bretschneider established the law firm Davis Wills & Trusts in 2011, specializing in estate planning, trust administration, and family business planning. She graduated with a Bachelor’s from the UC Davis, a Master’s from the University of Freiburg, Germany, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. She served for many years as a consultant in the California Legislature and was Counsel to the California Secretary of State from 2007 to 2014. Bretschneider grew up in Silicon Valley, and she and her husband, Matthias, and their two kids, Yannick and Hanna, settled down in Davis in 1998.


In Memoriam: Yolo Community Foundation Visionary Charles A Lacy.  A pioneer who worked to establish and grow the Yolo Community Foundation has passed away. We are grateful to Charles A Lacy for his dedication and leadership over the years to build a community foundation that matches the philanthropic interests of donors with the needs and opportunities of the Yolo County community. He leaves a great legacy through the Yolo Community Foundation and will be greatly missed. More details can be found here.


Yolo Community Foundation (YCF) is now recruiting for our next Executive Director. Details about the job specifications and how to apply can be found here. YCF currently has 55 funds valued at $4.3 million. We are seeking a visionary leader with nonprofit management experience to lead us into the future and continue to grow the organization and increase its visibility in the county.


Yolo Youth Service Award Scholarships Applications being accepted

YCF seeks applications from high school seniors who have volunteered with a Yolo County nonprofit at least 60 hours during their junior and/or senior years of high school. YoYoSA student awardees will receive a $1000 scholarship to support post-high school education, which may include college, vocational or technical school. In addition, a $500 grant will be awarded to the nonprofit agency sponsoring each YoYoSA student scholarship winner.

The YoYoSA program is designed to promote Yolo County youth volunteering with local nonprofit organizations and encourages Yolo County nonprofits to engage with youth volunteers.

Applications are due March 8, 2019 and must be completed online. YoYoSA awardees and their sponsoring organizations will be recognized at a reception hosted by YCF in April.

Students apply here: https://sacregcf.academicworks.com/opportunities/803

Nonprofit organizations, please complete this form and return it to


YOLO COUNTY VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS HONORED ON PHILANTHROPY DAY

The Yolo Community Foundation held its 12th annual Philanthropy Day on November 15th and honored some of the most inspirational individuals in Yolo County. It was a powerful event highlighting dedicated people and organizations that have impacted Yolo County. The recognition event was held at the Woodland Opera House.

All county nonprofits were invited to nominate people to be honored; six Yolo County nonprofits recognized donors and volunteers at the event.

CommuniCare honored family nurse practitioner Lisa Yamauchi, who has been volunteering with CommuniCare since 1987.  Mel Russell was recognized by the Friends of the Yolo County Archives for her project on Yolo County’s involvement in World War I, entitled “Lest We Forget.” Tuleyome honored founder and board president Andrew Fulks for his work to help establish the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and his work on regional hiking trails. Cathy Murnighan was recognized for her work as executive director of the Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation, which is committed to the development of food cooperatives. Winters Robotics Inc. thanked the Escamilla Family who supports the Winters High School Robotics team. Dave Blatts was honored by the Yolo Food Bank for his over 2,500 hours of volunteer service.

HOW TO HELP VICTIMS OF THE CAMP FIRE
If you want to help our neighbors at this very challenging time, donations can be made to the North Valley Community Foundation at https://www.nvcf.org/fund/camp-fire-evacuation-relief-fund/. Yolo Community Foundation fundholders can make a grant through their funds or directly through nvcf.org website. Thank you for your compassion and generosity.

YOLO COUNTY GENEROSITY TO BE CELEBRATED ON NOVEMBER 15

Meg Stallard, president of the board of the Yolo Community Foundation, invites Yolo County residents to the twelfth annual Yolo County Philanthropy Day Celebration. The event will be on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at the Woodland Opera House, 340 2nd Main Street, Woodland, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

“The Yolo Community Foundation organizes this celebration to bring attention to the impact and importance of local philanthropy. It’s wonderful to be able to honor the generous donors and volunteers of Yolo County,” said Stallard.

Last year, participating organizations included the Center for Land-Based Learning, CommuniCare Health Centers, Explorit Science Center, Friends of the Yolo Branch Library, Tuleyome, Yolo County Children’s Alliance and Yolo Hospice. Local nonprofit organizations have until November 2nd to nominate honorees. Light refreshments will be served and reservations are necessary. For more information and to make reservations, please contact  or at 530-312-0593.


Deadline Approaching – YOLO NONPROFITS INVITED TO HONOR DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS

Meg Stallard, president of the board of the Yolo Community Foundation, announced that the twelth annual Yolo County Philanthropy Day Celebration will be held on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at the Woodland Opera House, 340 2nd Main Street, Woodland, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

“We created the celebration to bring attention to the impact and importance of local philanthropy. It is truly heart-warming to learn how much good gets done in Yolo County because of the generosity of many people,” said Stallard.  “We hold this annual event to provide a forum for local nonprofits to thank one of their donors or volunteers publicly, and it is one of our most successful programs.”

Information on participating in this event will be circulated to the local nonprofit community. Nominations are due November 2nd. Last year, organizations honoring their donors and volunteers included the Center for Land-Based Learning, CommuniCare Health Centers, Explorit Science Center, Friends of the Yolo Branch Library, Tuleyome, Yolo County Children’s Alliance and Yolo Hospice. Organizations may nominate one donor or volunteer. Light refreshments will be served and reservations are necessary. Information on the program may also be obtained from Executive Director Babs Sandeen at  or at 530-312-0593.


Deadline Approaching – Buck Education Grant Program of the Yolo Community Foundation

The Yolo Community Foundation (YCF) is pleased to announce its second round of funding for its Buck Education Grant Program.  The program aims to support new or existing education efforts in Yolo County that can scale over the course of a two to three year period.


In its inaugural year, the Yolo Community Foundation provided grants to the Center for Land-Based Learning, the Davis Arts Center, the MK Level Playing Field Institute, Tuleyome, the Yolo Basin Foundation and YoloArts. Two grants were awarded to programs in the School of Education at UC Davis.

Grant requests of any amount up to $10,000 will be considered for the following:

  • Increasing literacy and supporting reading at grade-level
  • STEM-related education
  • Arts education
  • Early childhood education
  • Encouraging parent engagement
Proposals are due October 31, 2018 by 5 p.m.  Information and instructions for applying can be found here.

On Thursday, April 19 the Yolo Community Foundation (YCF) recognized the recipients of the YoYoSA scholarships at a reception in their honor. Rosaamelia Cordova of Woodland High School, Amanda Nazario of Davis Senior High School, and Julia Escamilla of Winters High School were all recognized as scholarship recipients at the Yolo Youth Service Awards (YoYoSA) and will each receive $1000 scholarship to support post-high school education, which may include college, vocational, or technical school.

The YoYoSA program is designed to promote and reward Yolo County youth volunteering with local nonprofit organizations and encourages Yolo County nonprofits to engage with youth volunteers.

Cordova is a member of the Woodland Public Library Teen Advisory Board, Nazario volunteers with Yolo Food Bank, and Escamilla works with Winters Robotics, Inc. All of these nonprofit organizations were awarded a $500 grant sponsoring each YoYoSA student scholarship recipient.

President of the YCF Board of Directors Meg Stallard said, “We’re pleased to honor these three students for their commitment to their communities. They are all outstanding students who have made a great impact! We know they will continue to serve their communities wherever they chose to live. We thank them for their service.”

YCF strives to boost local philanthropy by serving donors, nonprofits, and youth in the Yolo County area, and is proud to recognize tomorrow’s leaders in local philanthropy through the YoYoSA program. For more information about YCF, please visit its website at www.yolocf.org.

Attached photo – L to R – Amanda Nazario, Julia Escamilla, Rosaamelia Cordova, Meg Stallard – President of the Yolo Community Foundation, Saira Delgado – Field Representative for Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry

 

Reception and recognition of Yolo Youth Service Awards (YoYoSA) scholarship recipients. At 5:30 PM on Thursday, April 19 the Yolo Community Foundation (YCF) will be recognizing the recipients of the YoYoSA scholarships at the Yolo County CASA Conference Room in Woodland, CA (located inside Yolo County CASA 722b Main Street, Woodland, CA).

The YoYoSA program is designed to promote and reward Yolo County youth volunteering with local nonprofit organizations and encourages Yolo County nonprofits to engage with youth volunteers.

The YoYoSA student awardees will each receive a $1000 scholarship to support post-high school education, which may include college, vocational, or technical school. A $500 grant will be awarded to each nonprofit agency sponsoring each YoYoSA student scholarship recipients. Student awardees and sponsoring nonprofit agencies will be honored at the reception.

YCF strives to boost local philanthropy by serving donors, nonprofits, and youth in the Yolo County area, and is proud to recognize tomorrow’s leaders in local philanthropy through the YoYoSA program. To learn more about YCF and Yolo Youth Service Awards scholarships and to RSVP for the reception please send an email to or call 530-312-0593 by April 17th.


The Yolo Community Foundation (YCF) welcomes Rafael Galiano and Marissa Sirota to its 2018 Board of Trustees.
The mission of YCF is to match the philanthropic interests of donors with the needs and opportunities of the Yolo County community. YCF is excited about the addition of these two new board members and looks forward to their contributions to the organization.

Marissa Sirota is a self-employed trust and estate attorney. She has finished her sixth year as a California licensed attorney and 2018 will be her fifth year in her solo estate practice. Her career has exposed her to a variety of individuals with different perspectives. She works with people on their estate planning as well as administration. In her estate planning she often has clients with charitable desires but whom do not always know how to go about setting something up on their own that will meet their charitable goals. “I think it is wonderful that Yolo Community Foundation allows residents to have options to have such a direct, local, and positive impact in their own communities. My personal belief in charitable giving is that it is most satisfying to act locally (even while thinking globally) in order to help create a local community that reflects the type of world we wish for our son to grow up in,” says Sirota.

Rafael Galiano and his partner, John Martin own a venue called Park Winters. They have donated their property and have collaborated with many nonprofits to raise money for their foundations, including: CASA, Yolo Farm to Fork, The Wreath Foundation, political fundraisers, Yolo Land Trust and 3R Dog Rescue. They have participated in events with the Center for Land Based Learning and the Food Literacy Center. Galiano finds it a great joy working with these organizations to raise funds for their efforts. Recently, he was appointed to be the Fire Commissioner for the Madison fire district in western Yolo County. “I am interested in working with the Yolo Community Foundation. I want to help our community by providing support to companies and donors with their philanthropic efforts,” says Galiano.

Yolo Youth Service Award Scholarships Applications being accepted

YCF seeks applications from high school seniors who have volunteered with a Yolo County nonprofit at least 60 hours during their junior and/or senior years of high school. YoYoSA student awardees will receive a $1000 scholarship to support post-high school education, which may include college, vocational or technical school. In addition, a $500 grant will be awarded to the nonprofit agency sponsoring each YoYoSA student scholarship winner.

The YoYoSA program is designed to promote Yolo County youth volunteering with local nonprofit organizations and encourages Yolo County nonprofits to engage with youth volunteers.

Applications are due March 9, 2018 and must be completed online. YoYoSA awardees and their sponsoring organizations will be recognized at a reception hosted by YCF in April.

Students apply here: https://sacregcf.academicworks.com/opportunities/722

Nonprofit organizations, please please complete this form and return it to


YOLO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANTS OVER $78 THOUSAND IN FUNDING TO NINE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

Meg Stallard, president of the board of the Yolo Community Foundation, announced that nine Yolo County programs for youth will be funded in early 2018 through the Buck Education Grant Program of the Yolo Community Foundation. The former Frank H and Eva Buck Foundation provided the Yolo Community Foundation with nearly $240,000 to grant out to the community. There will be two more granting cycles in the coming years.

These grants are designed to enhance and develop local science, technology, engineering, arts and math programs, also known as STEAM, support parent engagement efforts, and grow literacy programs for youth from pre-school through high school. Twenty-six organizations applied for funding in this inaugural grant cycle.

Grants were awarded to the Center for Land-Based Learning, the Davis Arts Center, the Knight’s Landing Children’s Center, the MK Level Playing Field Institute, Tuleyome, the Yolo Basin Foundation, and YoloArts. Two grants were awarded to programs in the School of Education at UC Davis.

“The Yolo Community Foundation is delighted to be able to make these grants to support our youth and the organizations that work with them. We look forward to seeing the outcomes throughout the county,” said Stallard

An affiliate of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, the mission of the Yolo Community Foundation is to inspire and support giving and to provide philanthropic leadership in our community.


YOLO NONPROFITS INVITED TO HONOR DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS

Meg Stallard, president of the board of the Yolo Community Foundation, announced that the eleventh annual Yolo County Philanthropy Day Celebration will be held on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at the Woodland Opera House, 340 2nd Main Street, Woodland, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

“We hold this annual event to provide a forum for local nonprofits to thank one of their donors or volunteers publicly,” said Stallard. “We created the celebration to bring attention to the impact and importance of local philanthropy. It is truly heart-warming to learn how much good gets done in Yolo County because of the generosity of many people.”

Information on participating in this event will be circulated to the local nonprofit community. Nominations are due November 2nd.

Past organizations honoring their donors and volunteers have included CommuniCare, Empower Yolo, Woodland United Way, Yolo County Housing, Yolo Family Services Agency, Yolo Food Bank, Yolo Hospice, Yolo Interfaith Immigration Network, Yolo Land Trust, along with many others. Organizations may nominate one donor or volunteer. Light refreshments will be served and reservations are necessary. Information on the program may also be obtained from Executive Director Babs Sandeen at or at 530-312-0593.

Buck Education Grant Program of the Yolo Community Foundation

Announcing the Yolo Community Foundation (YCF) Buck Education Grant Program!  Its purpose is to support new or existing education efforts in Yolo County that can scale over the course of a two to three year period. Grant requests of any amount up to $10,000 will be considered.  YCF Buck Education Grants will fund a variety of projects and activities within the field of early childhood and K-12 education in Yolo County. The Foundation seeks to fund projects that create a path to sustainability. Grantees may be invited for a second round of funding to scale up.

We will consider proposals for innovative education programs that relate to the following:

  • Increasing literacy and supporting reading at grade-level
  • STEM-related education
  • Arts education
  • Early childhood education
  • Encouraging parent engagement

Proposals are due by 5 p.m. on October 31, 2017.

Details about the program and information about how to apply can be found here.


Thank you!

Thank you to the 19 Yolo County-based nonprofits that participated in this year’s Big Day of Giving midday celebration and the 79 Yolo County-based nonprofits that participated in the Big Day of Giving this year!


Yolo Youth Service Awards Recipients
On Thursday, April 20 the Yolo Community Foundation (YCF) recognized the recipients of the YoYoSA scholarships at a reception in their honor. Cooper Hosley of Davis Senior High School, Omoyele Oyesanya of Pioneer High School, and Trinidad Santos of Winters High School were all recognized as scholarship recipients at the Yolo Youth Service Awards (YoYoSA) and will each receive $1000 scholarship to support post-high school education, which may include college, vocational, or technical school.

The YoYoSA program is designed to promote and reward Yolo County youth volunteering with local nonprofit organizations and encourages Yolo County nonprofits to engage with youth volunteers.

Hosley volunteers for TEAM Davis, Oyesanya is a member of the Teen Advisory Board of the Woodland Public Library, and Santos works with the Interact Club, affiliated with Rotary, at Winters High School. All of these nonprofit organizations were awarded a $500 grant sponsoring each YoYoSA student scholarship recipient.

President of the YCF Board of Trustees Meg Stallard said “We’re pleased to honor these three students for their commitment to their communities. They are all outstanding students who have bright futures! We know they will continue to serve their communities wherever they chose to live. We thank them for their service.”  


The application deadline for the Yolo Youth Service Award and the Burns-Bellhorn and Timothy Casson Memorial Scholarship Funds has now passed. Thank you for your interest!

Applications are due March 1, 2017 and must be completed online. YoYoSA awardees and their sponsoring organizations will be recognized at a reception hosted by YCF in April.

YCF seeks applications from high school seniors who have volunteered with a Yolo County nonprofit at least 60 hours during their junior and/or senior years of high school. YoYoSA student awardees will receive a $1000 scholarship to support post-high school education, which may include college, vocational or technical school. In addition, a $500 grant will be awarded to the nonprofit agency sponsoring each YoYoSA student scholarship winner.

The YoYoSA program is designed to promote Yolo County youth volunteering with local nonprofit organizations and encourages Yolo County nonprofits to engage with youth volunteers.


Yolo Non-profits Invited to Honor Volunteers

Meg Stallard, President of the Board of the Yolo Community Foundation, announced that the tenth annual Yolo County Philanthropy Day will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at the Historic Hotel Woodland, 436 Main Street, Woodland, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Read more here!


Thank you to our generous donors and match donors during the 2016 BIG Day of Giving!  With your support, we were able to raise $16,125 to help grow Yolo Community Foundation programming.  We are grateful!  We would also like to thank the organizations and individuals that supported the Yolo Prize Pool, including Nugget Markets, Yolo Federal Credit Union, Chan Family Fund, Sue Heitman, Joe Muller and Sons Farm, Todd Montgomery, CPA, and Inn at Park Winters.


Yolo Community Foundation President Meg Stallard announced that Beverly “Babs” Sandeen was named the foundation’s executive director. Read More


The Yolo Community Foundation recently held its annual Philanthropy Day celebration, at which several community volunteers were honored by local nonprofits. Read More

Yolo Non-profits Invited to Honor Volunteers

Meg Stallard, President of the Board of the Yolo Community Foundation, announced that the tenth annual Yolo County Philanthropy Day will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at the Historic Hotel Woodland, 436 Main Street, Woodland, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

“Local nonprofit organizations are invited to honor one of their most dedicated donors or volunteers at this event. So much of the good that happens in Yolo County occurs because of loyal and hard-working people who too often go unrecognized publicly,” said Stallard. “We hold this annual event to provide a forum for local nonprofits to thank one of their generous donors or volunteers publicly. It is truly heart-warming to learn how much good gets done in Yolo County because of the selfless work of many people.”

Information on participating in this event will be circulated to the local nonprofit community. Nominations are due November 3rd. Past organizations honoring their donors and volunteers have been Yolo Family Service Agency, Freedom From Hunger, Yolo Family Resource Center, Woodland Literacy Council, Woodland Tree Foundation, Yolo Land Trust, Woodland Soroptimist International, Suicide Prevention of Yolo County along with many others. Organizations may nominate one donor or volunteer. Light refreshments will be served and reservations are necessary. Information on the program may also be obtained from Executive Director Babs Sandeen at or at 530-312-0593.


Yolo Community Foundation Names New Executive Director

BabsSandeen.photo

Beverly “Babs” Sandeen

Yolo Community Foundation President Meg Stallard announced that Beverly “Babs” Sandeen was named the foundation’s executive director through an arrangement with the American Leadership Forum-Mountain Valley Chapter’s Encore Fellowship program. Sandeen is scheduled to take up her post in early January with responsibility for foundation oversight and fundraising strategy. She follows Dan DeSantis, who served as Executive Director of the foundation since 2014.

“Babs has the experience and community standing to continue to build our foundation,” Stallard said. “She will help ensure that the Yolo Community Foundation continues to grow and thrive.”

Sandeen has held senior fundraising and management posts, serving as Vice Chancellor of Resource Development at Los Rios Community College District and President of the Los Rios Foundation since 2012, and before that as Vice Chancellor of University Advancement and President of the UC Davis Foundation at UC Davis, where she was responsible for launching the first comprehensive campaign that raised $1.13 billion for the campus.

The Yolo Community Foundation is an affiliate partner of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation (SRCF), and the CEO of SRCF, Linda Cutler, said that she is “pleased to have Babs on board with the Yolo Community Foundation,” and that she looks “forward to collaborating with her on regional initiatives and programs and strengthening the existing partnership between the Sacramento Region Community Foundation and the Yolo Community Foundation.”

Sandeen has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a doctorate in social ecology from UC Irvine. In addition to her work in higher education, Sandeen also served briefly as a consultant to the automobile industry. She has served on many regional boards, including the American Leadership Forum, Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento Valley Conservancy, Woodland Opera House, and Yolo Community Foundation. She is a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy. Sandeen currently serves on the city council in West Sacramento.

Bonnie Ferreira, the CEO of the American Leadership Forum’s Mountain Valley Chapter, said that “There is no one more qualified to lead the Yolo Community Foundation. Babs has a proven track record of leading foundations. She operates from a space of personal integrity and incredibly high intellect.” Sandeen also chaired the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s Cap-to-Cap program in 2013 and was recognized by the chamber as the 2013 Volunteer of the Year. In 2014, she was named one of the Sacramento Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business.

“I am excited to serve the Yolo Community Foundation in this important leadership role,” Sandeen said. “The opportunity to continue to grow philanthropy in Yolo County and to serve the donor community is a great honor.”

At the Los Rios Community College District, Sandeen played a critical role in raising the visibility of the foundation’s work through involvement in the region’s Big Day of Giving and by organizing the 50th anniversary gala recognizing alumni and donors. During her tenure at Los Rios, $37.9 million in grant funding was secured from federal, state, and private sources and $5.8 million in private support was raised. Sandeen recently co-chaired the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s national Conference on Community College Advancement and serves on the board of the Network of California Community College Foundations.

About The Yolo Community Foundation
The mission of the Yolo Community Foundation is to inspire and support giving and to provide philanthropic leadership in the community. It gives scholarships to Yolo County high school seniors who have worked with nonprofit agencies – the Yolo Youth Service Awards; organizes a Philanthropy Day celebration; and supports the efforts of nonprofit agencies in Yolo County. The Foundation is also a sponsor of the Big Day of Giving. For more information, call 530-312-0593 or www.yolocf.org. Yolo Community Foundation is an affiliate partner of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation.


Yolo County Volunteers Honored on Philanthropy Day

Back row, left to right: Sue Smith, Dave Ellis, Ed Ellis and Scott Maxwell Front row, left to right: Diana Davidson, Carole Pirruccello, Roz Stone, Dorothy Peterson and Mary Jo Bryan

The Yolo Community Foundation recently held its annual Philanthropy Day celebration, at which several community volunteers were honored by local nonprofits. Meg Stallard, president of the Yolo Community Foundation, said, “We started this event a number of years ago to give Yolo County nonprofit agencies a public forum to salute their volunteers and donors. Our citizens give so much of their time and treasure to good works. This helps make Yolo County a special place to live and work.”

Seven Yolo County nonprofits recognized donors and/or volunteers:

The Yolo Land Trust honored Carole Pirruccello and Diana Davidson, trustees of the John and Eunice Davidson Fund for their financial support of the Land Trust over several years. CommuniCare Health Centers honored contractor, donor and volunteer Scott Maxwell, who has had a hand in building CommuniCare’s facilities for many years. The Yolo Food Bank honored volunteers Dave and Ed Ellis, a father and son team who began volunteering when their son/brother began working as the volunteer coordinator of the Food Bank. MaryJo Bryan was honored by Suicide Prevention of Yolo County for her many years as a board member and volunteer. She was also recognized by the Yolo Community Foundation for her service to that organization. The Pence Gallery honored Sue Smith, who has been Co-President since 2006. Sue has coordinated the successful Pence garden tour for eight years, among other activities. Yolo Farm to Fork honored longtime volunteer Dorothy Peterson, who began teaching gardening to school children in the 1990s before the Farm to Fork movement became fashionable. Fourth and Hope in Woodland honored volunteer cooks Jackie Scott and Roz Stone, who have provided nourishing meals to homeless people on a regular basis for many years.

The Foundation also welcomed organizations and individuals and families who have opened new funds during the year. The organizations include the Davis Arts Center, Putah Creek Council, the City of Winters, the Yolo County Historical Society, Yolo County CASA, the Yolo County Children’s Alliance, and First 5 Yolo. New Donor Advised Funds have been opened by the Chan family, the Luna family, the Roe family, Martha West, Bill Julian and Robin Kulakow, the Weiss family, and the Douglas family.

The mission of the Yolo Community Foundation is to inspire and support giving and to provide philanthropic leadership in our community. It gives scholarships to Yolo County high school seniors who have worked with nonprofit agencies – the Yolo Youth Service Awards; sponsors Philanthropy Day; and supports the efforts of nonprofit agencies in Yolo County. The Foundation is also a sponsor of the Big Day of Giving. For more information, call 530-312-0593 or www.yolocf.org. Yolo Community Foundation is an affiliate partner of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation.