Anaheim Community Foundation

About Anaheim Community Foundation

A defining feature of Anaheim Community Foundation’s grantmaking is its mix of place-based awards and program support for Anaheim-serving nonprofits. Recent grants show that pattern clearly: the foundation has backed the Anaheim Family YMCA, Anaheim Public Library Foundation, and Dwelling Place Anaheim at meaningful levels, while also directing funds to smaller community-specific efforts. Its giving is built around community-based organizations that serve youth, families, residents, and volunteer-supported projects in Anaheim. The foundation’s portfolio includes support for mental health services, homelessness response, youth development, arts and culture, food access, and community events. It also funds neighborhood-oriented work through programs such as the Community Catalyst Fund and Helping Hands Grants, which are tied to Anaheim and, in some cases, specific city council districts. Recent awards range from short-term emergency support to larger program grants, showing a blend of direct service funding and capacity building for local nonprofits. Across the recent grants list, the same Anaheim institutions appear more than once, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. That recurring pattern is visible in awards to Anaheim Public Library Foundation, Jmh-anaheim Foundation Inc, and Anaheim Family YMCA.

What Anaheim Community Foundation Funds

Mental health is one of the clearest threads in the foundation’s recent grantmaking. It gave $207,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire Inc for program support - ACT Mental Health/Helping Hands, and $72,917 to Western Youth Services for program support - ACT Mental Health. Homelessness and shelter services also appear repeatedly. The foundation awarded $152,000 to Kingdom Causes Inc for homeless support and $150,000 to Covenant House California for homeless support. Arts and youth enrichment are supported through targeted program grants. It gave $50,000 to The Chance Theater for program support - youth theatre and $50,000 to Reaching Youth Through Music Opportunities for program support - music classes. Food access and healthy living show up in smaller but specific awards, including $78,500 to Jmh-anaheim Foundation Inc for program support - food pantry and $35,000 to Kid Healthy - One Oc for program support - healthy cooking.

How Anaheim Community Foundation Gives