Placer Community Foundation inspires philanthropy to respond to critical community needs and build a thriving region where every person prospers.
Placer Community Foundation’s grantmaking shows a local institution using a mix of unrestricted community funds, scholarships, and hosted endowments to meet needs across Placer County. Its recent awards include support for Gold Country Wildlife Rescue, Auburn State Theatre, and Auburn Community Foundation, alongside grants tied to health, education, and neighborhood needs. The foundation’s active programs include the Community Needs Fund, Competitive Grants, Scholarships, and the Nonprofit Endowment Fund, which points to a role that is both grantmaker and fiscal host for community and nonprofit priorities. The foundation also uses one-time and program-specific funding to respond to local situations, including the Restore Rocklin ARPA grant program. Recent awards to Placer Food Bank, Auburn Interfaith Food Closet, and Seniors First show support for basic needs and human services, while grants to Placer Land Trust and Auburn Symphony reflect attention to conservation and the arts. Awards to students and educational institutions, including Cal Poly Foundation and Sierra College Foundation, add another clear strand of support. Across these examples, the foundation’s work centers on community-serving organizations and local projects rather than a narrow single-issue strategy.
Health and human services appear in several recent awards. Placer Food Bank received $47,667 in 2024, while Auburn Interfaith Food Closet received $34,850 in the same year and Lighthouse Counceling FRC received $33,000 in 2025. The arts are another consistent area. Auburn State Theatre received $257,550 in 2024, Auburn Symphony received $53,590 in 2025 and $38,371 in 2024, and Blue Line Arts received $30,680 in 2025. Environmental and land-focused funding also shows up in the grant list. Placer Land Trust received $67,750 in 2024 and $30,500 in 2025 for open space preservation. Animal welfare is present as well, with Gold Country Wildlife Rescue receiving $154,091 in 2025 and Placer SPCA receiving $105,966 in 2024 and $32,100 in 2025.
Typical grant sizes sit at $8,600 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes larger, program-level transfers such as a $680,000 grant to US Charitable Gift Trust in 2023 and a $180,656 award to Auburn Community Foundation in 2025. The pattern is not limited to one-off gifts. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Placer SPCA, Auburn Symphony, Placer Land Trust, Lighthouse Counceling FRC, and Cal Poly Foundation. Placer Community Foundation is a public charity, and its structure includes both competitive grantmaking and hosted funds, including scholarship support and endowment-based arrangements.
$1.3M
$21.9M
$4.6M
$2.5M
Most grants fall between $9K and $25K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in California, with 94% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Within that local footprint, Auburn appears frequently, along with Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, and Newcastle. Recent grants also reached Kahului, HI, and Indianapolis, IN, but the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation supports community-serving nonprofits, schools and scholarship recipients, and organizations working in animals and environment, arts and humanities, community development, children and youth, safety net, and education. Recent grants include support for animal rescue, arts organizations, food access, counseling services, and land preservation.
Yes. Scholarships are one of its active programs, and the foundation administers scholarship funds for high school seniors and current college students in Placer County. The program is listed as accepting unsolicited applications.
Typical grants are $8,600 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also shows both smaller awards and larger transfers tied to specific programs and funds.
Its grantmaking is strongly local. 94% of grants go to recipients in California, and the active programs listed are centered on Placer County and nearby communities such as Rocklin. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Yes. It operates a Nonprofit Endowment Fund that allows nonprofit organizations to establish an endowment fund with Placer Community Foundation, with investment earnings available for grants supporting operations and long-term sustainability.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Placer Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofits or requesters seeking support from donor-advised funds. Specific eligibility depends on donors' restrictions and fund agreements.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn Community Foundation | Auburn, CA | $180,656 | 2025 | Building Fund |
| Gold Country Wildlife Rescue | Auburn, CA | $154,091 | 2025 | Animal Protection/Services |
| Cal Poly Foundation | San Luis Obispo, CA | $55,000 | 2025 | Education |
| Auburn Symphony | Auburn, CA | $53,590 | 2025 | Arts |
| Placer Artist Tour | Auburn, CA | $47,800 | 2025 | Arts |
| Cntr for Nonprofit Leadership | Nevada City, CA | $44,526 | 2025 | Community Services |
| Latino Leadership Council | Auburn, CA | $38,000 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| Lighthouse Counceling FRC | Lincoln, CA | $33,000 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| Placer SPCA | Roseville, CA | $32,100 | 2025 | Animal Protection/Services |
| Blue Line Arts | Roseville, CA | $30,680 | 2025 | Arts |
| Placer Land Trust | Auburn, CA | $30,500 | 2025 | Open Space Preservation |
| Sierra Native Alliance | Auburn, CA | $30,500 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| Auburn State Theatre | Auburn, CA | $28,130 | 2025 | Arts |
| Boys & Girls Club of Placer | Auburn, CA | $26,950 | 2025 | Youth Services |
| Stand Up Placer | Auburn, CA | $25,100 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| The Landing Spot | Rocklin, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Education |
| Almost Free to All | Auburn, CA | $22,000 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| The Gathering Inn | Roseville, CA | $21,400 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| Placer People of Faith | Auburn, CA | $19,000 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| Child Advocates of Placer | Auburn, CA | $18,600 | 2025 | MHSA/Health & Human Services |
| Feeding the Foothills | Roseville, CA | $18,500 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| Health Education Council | West Sacramento, CA | $18,000 | 2025 | Community Services |
| Kitten Central of Placer Cnty | Newcastle, CA | $16,561 | 2025 | Animal Protection/Services |
| seeMYchild | Rocklin, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Youth Services |
| Horses Honor | Auburn, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Animal Protection/Services |
| Auburn Interfaith Food Closet | Auburn, CA | $14,650 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| Placer LGBTQ Center | Rocklin, CA | $12,500 | 2025 | Community Services |
| Seniors First | Auburn, CA | $12,282 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| Compassion Planet | Rocklin, CA | $12,000 | 2025 | Youth Services |
| Auburn Trails Alliance | Auburn, CA | $11,250 | 2025 | Community Services |
| Auburn Aviation Association | Auburn, CA | $11,000 | 2025 | Education |
| Placer Family Housing | Auburn, CA | $10,500 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| Art League of Lincoln | Lincoln, CA | $10,200 | 2025 | Arts |
| ReCreate | Roseville, CA | $10,100 | 2025 | Community Services |
| Sierra Grace Fellowship | Auburn, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Religion |
| Humane Society Seattle-King | Bellevue, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | Animal Protection/Services |
| My Mothers Voice | Roseville, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Youth Services |
| Girl Scouts Heart of Cent CA | Sacramento, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Youth Services |
| KidsFirst Child Abuse Prev | Roseville, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| Keatons Child Cancer Allianc | Roseville, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| Fieldhaven Feline Center | Lincoln, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Animal Protection/Services |
| 40 Acre Conservation League | Sacramento, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Open Space Preservation |
| Girls on the Run | Sacramento, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Youth Services |
| Wayfinder Family Services | View Park, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| SS Peter and Paul Church | Rocklin, CA | $9,500 | 2025 | Religion |
| CA State Univ Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | $8,083 | 2025 | Scholarships |
| CA State University-Chico | Chico, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | Scholarships |
| Contemporary Policies Inst | Villa Park, CA | $7,000 | 2025 | Education |
| St Vincent de Paul Society | Roseville, CA | $6,750 | 2025 | Health & Human Services |
| Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR | $6,500 | 2025 | Education |
Auburn Community Foundation
$180,656Building Fund
Gold Country Wildlife Rescue
$154,091Animal Protection/Services
Cal Poly Foundation
$55,000Education
Auburn Symphony
$53,590Arts
Placer Artist Tour
$47,800Arts
Cntr for Nonprofit Leadership
$44,526Community Services
Latino Leadership Council
Health & Human Services
Lighthouse Counceling FRC
$33,000Health & Human Services
Placer SPCA
$32,100Animal Protection/Services
Blue Line Arts
$30,680Arts
Placer Land Trust
$30,500Open Space Preservation
Sierra Native Alliance
$30,500Health & Human Services
Auburn State Theatre
$28,130Arts
Boys & Girls Club of Placer
$26,950Youth Services
Stand Up Placer
$25,100Health & Human Services
The Landing Spot
$25,000Education
Almost Free to All
$22,000Health & Human Services
The Gathering Inn
$21,400Health & Human Services
Placer People of Faith
$19,000Health & Human Services
Child Advocates of Placer
$18,600MHSA/Health & Human Services
Feeding the Foothills
$18,500Health & Human Services
Health Education Council
$18,000Community Services
Kitten Central of Placer Cnty
$16,561Animal Protection/Services
seeMYchild
$15,000Youth Services
Horses Honor
$15,000Animal Protection/Services
Auburn Interfaith Food Closet
$14,650Health & Human Services
Placer LGBTQ Center
$12,500Community Services
Seniors First
$12,282Health & Human Services
Compassion Planet
$12,000Youth Services
Auburn Trails Alliance
$11,250Community Services
Auburn Aviation Association
$11,000Education
Placer Family Housing
$10,500Health & Human Services
Art League of Lincoln
$10,200Arts
ReCreate
$10,100Community Services
Sierra Grace Fellowship
$10,000Religion
Humane Society Seattle-King
$10,000Animal Protection/Services
My Mothers Voice
$10,000Youth Services
Girl Scouts Heart of Cent CA
$10,000Youth Services
KidsFirst Child Abuse Prev
$10,000Health & Human Services
Keatons Child Cancer Allianc
$10,000Health & Human Services
Fieldhaven Feline Center
$10,000Animal Protection/Services
40 Acre Conservation League
$10,000Open Space Preservation
Girls on the Run
$10,000Youth Services
Wayfinder Family Services
$10,000Health & Human Services
SS Peter and Paul Church
$9,500Religion
CA State Univ Sacramento
$8,083Scholarships
CA State University-Chico
$8,000Scholarships
Contemporary Policies Inst
$7,000Education
St Vincent de Paul Society
$6,750Health & Human Services
Oregon State University
$6,500Education
