Community Grants Assist Nonprofits in Economic Downturn

On the heels of a series of Town Hall meetings in which 180 nonprofit board and staff members met to discuss how to effectively sustain their vital programming during these economic times, the Placer Community Foundation’s Board of Directors awarded technical assistance grants to the following organizations: A Touch of Understanding, Advocates for Mentally Ill Housing, Animal Spay & Neuter Clinic, Keaton Raphael Memorial for Neuroblastoma, KidsFirst (Child Abuse Prevention Council), PEACE for Families, Placer Land Trust, Placer SPCA, Roseville Home Start, Seniors First, and Sierra College Foundation.

Grant money totaling $42,000 will pay for a specialized consultant to work directly with the board and staff of each group to improve an aspect of their business model. The type of assistance requested illustrates the focus and commitment nonprofits have to weather the current economic climate. They include evaluating programs that are mission-specific in light of state and county budget cuts, fundraising strategies to garner new streams of revenue, creating business efficiencies, board development and strategic planning.

“Our individual donors understand that without a healthy nonprofit sector, our community suffers,” said Veronica Blake, Chief Executive Officer of the Placer Community Foundation. They fill a huge gap in providing services to our residents and need our collective support.”

Placer SPCA participated in the Town Hall meetings and was awarded a grant to conduct a community needs assessment for the purpose of streamlining their programs for greater impact. “We are fortunate to have Placer Community Foundation in our region to cultivate donors and help build the infrastructure that nonprofits need for long-term sustainability,” stated Leilani Vierra, Chief Executive Officer of Placer SPCA.

Support for these grants comes from local donors who contributed to two separate component funds at the Placer Community Foundation—the Community Fund and Placer County Employee Giving Fund. The Community Foundation administers the technical assistance grant program as part of its Nonprofit Initiative to strengthen and support nonprofit organizations along the western slope of Placer County.

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