Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
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About Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
To bring together people, ideas, and resources to inspire philanthropy and accomplish great things. Our vision is to make Santa Cruz County thrive for all who call it home, now and in the future.
Focus Areas
Grantmaking to local nonprofitsYouth & educationSeniors & end-of-life careEnvironment & conservationHuman servicesArts, culture & historyImmigrant servicesLGBTQ+ supportHealthScholarshipsWater resource management
Who They Fund
local community members in Santa Cruz County and surrounding regionsdisaster-affected households / wildfire victims (CZU fire)
About Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
Community Foundation Santa Cruz County’s largest recent grant was $7,509,167 to the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project to support the Watsonville Community Hospital acquisition. That scale is consistent with a funder that works through major operating support, capital needs, disaster response, and community infrastructure across Santa Cruz County. The foundation’s recent grants also include $2,020,050 to Amah Mutsun Land Trust for general operating support and property purchasing, showing that it backs both institutions and place-based assets. Its portfolio reaches across health, education, food access, environmental stewardship, and arts and culture. Santa Cruz Community Health Centers received $1,920,645 for general operating support, vaccine pop-up clinics, and outreach with Cradle 2 Career, while Land Trust of Santa Cruz County received seven-figure support for general operations and conservation-related work. The foundation also funded Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, and The 418 Project, reflecting a mix of public-serving systems and community organizations. A notable pattern in the recent grants is the repeated support for organizations tied to housing, health, disaster recovery, and local capacity. Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey, Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, and the Watsonville Community Hospital project each appear in multiple years, indicating sustained relationships rather than one-time awards.
What Community Foundation Santa Cruz County Funds
In health care, the foundation backed the Watsonville Community Hospital acquisition with $7,509,167 through the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project, then later gave $554,500 to the same hospital project for general operating support. It also awarded $1,920,645 to Santa Cruz Community Health Centers for general operating support, vaccine pop-up clinics, and outreach with Cradle 2 Career. Education and youth support appear in multiple forms. Pajaro Valley Unified School District received $540,210 for Raising a Reader and a teaching kitchen/garden learning center, and Cabrillo College Foundation received $457,993 for general operating support, WES, emergency fund, CAP, and more. The foundation also gave $505,000 to Cal Poly Foundation tied to the Thomas Mackin Fund, Cal Poly Farm Store, and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Environmental and land conservation work is another clear thread. Land Trust of Santa Cruz County received $1,260,876 for general operating support, Beach Ranch Project, and Circle P Ranch, while Elkhorn Slough Foundation received $539,185 for general operating support.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$20.7M
Total Assets
$252.5M
Total Revenue
$46.9M
Total Expenses
$26.9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $23K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$23K
75th Percentile
$50K
Geographic Reach
Local31 states funded
About 81% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Community Foundation Santa Cruz County Funds
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Community Foundation Santa Cruz County.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 935 | $75.1M | 98.1% |
| 2 | Mexico | 18 | $2.4M |
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