Community Foundation San Luis Obispo
ActivePhilanthropy & Voluntarism
About Community Foundation San Luis Obispo
The Community Foundation inspires philanthropy and serves as a catalyst and connector for community impact.
Focus Areas
Arts & CultureEnvironmentHealth & Human ServicesSeniors and People with DisabilitiesEducation & ScholarshipsLGBTQ+ supportWomen's servicesHousing and food security
Who They Fund
children and youth (K–12)college-bound students and community college transfer recipientsfarmworkers and their families (vineyard/farmworker communities)LGBTQ+ survivors and sexual assault / IPV survivors
About Community Foundation San Luis Obispo
A $542,903 operating grant to the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, paired with another $500,000 award to Neighbor Church, shows how The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo combines large local gifts with broad community support. Recent grants also reach conservation, housing-related services, youth programs, scholarships, and disaster recovery, all within San Luis Obispo County and nearby communities. The foundation’s portfolio includes unrestricted operating support, capital and construction funding, and targeted program grants, with awards that can reach into six figures for organizations with specific facility, education, or service needs. Several of its largest gifts point to recurring priorities. Pacific Wildlife Care received support for a capital campaign and county programs, while The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County was funded for the Learning Among the Oaks program and Wheelchair Wednesday, linking environmental work with accessibility. Education appears in grants to Cal Poly State University and Cal Poly Foundation for transfer scholarships and an applied computing lecture series. Other sizable awards supported San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre, Slo Classical Academy, Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County, and Lumina Alliance, indicating a grantmaker that funds both institutions and direct community services.
What Community Foundation San Luis Obispo Funds
Arts and culture are a clear theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art received $133,700 in 2024 for unrestricted support, and San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre received $107,500 that year for its building fund and new construction. Studios on the Park also received $66,000 for arts education programs for county schools. Education and scholarship support appears in several forms. Cal Poly State University received $210,000 for the 2024 Stollmeyer Black Transfer Scholarship recipients, while Cuesta College Foundation received $103,875 in unrestricted support. Slo Classical Academy received $90,000 to purchase two electric vans, and $250,000 in 2025 for a new building, remodeling, and equipment. Food security and human services are another priority. Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County received $101,507 in 2025 unrestricted support, and El Camino Homeless Organization received $71,300 for unrestricted use. Lumina Alliance was awarded $103,500 in 2025 unrestricted support.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$5.8M
Total Assets
$98.9M
Total Revenue
$10.6M
Total Expenses
$8.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $32K, with a median of $19K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$19K
75th Percentile
$32K
Geographic Reach
Local10 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
MICHAEL JONES
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