Our community and history

Placer Community Foundation was founded as a private foundation in 1948 and was restructured by the board of directors in 2003 to support its mission of encouraging philanthropy for the betterment of communities in our region. The Foundation serves people and nonprofit organizations in communities throughout Placer County. The combined assets of the Foundation and its supporting organization are now over $5 million.

Building community, encouraging philanthropy

The Foundation resides in a 150-year-old Victorian building that was originally dedicated in 1855 as Placer County's first hospital. Our home is one of two refurbished buildings on Maple Street, the result of a community project led by The Old Town Auburn Preservation Society and The Auburn Rotary Club. One thousand volunteers helped renovate the buildings in a modern-day barn raising. The historic buildings, visible from Interstate 80, set the tone for residents and visitors as they enter the gateway to the Sierra Nevada. We share our home a with a medical museum commemorating Placer County's first hospital.

Placer Collaborative Network Project

The Placer Collaborative Network Project is a member-based association of over 60 nonprofit, government, faith-based, educational and municipal entities working on collaborative solutions to issues facing the children, adults and families of Placer County.

With every gift, impact grows

Since 1948, the Foundation has provided over $2 million in grants to hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout the region, including:

• Auburn School Park Preserve
• Auburn Symphony
• Boys & Girls Club
• Child Advocates of Placer County
• Foothills Habitat for Humanity
• Peace for Families
• Placer High School
• Placer Hills Fire Protection District
• Placer SPCA
• Salvation Army
• Senior Independent Services

Today, we join 38 community foundations in California and more than 700 serving communities across the country. We manage 19 charitable funds and support the work of nearly 100 nonprofit organizations.

You can join us in this work and give in ways that create local impact and lasting value.

Lasting value