Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

08/28/2026

Our county’s nonprofits serve as advocates on issues core to community well-being including renter protections, affordable housing and healthcare, food security, climate resilience, funding for the arts, and more.

But navigating the rules of advocacy and civic engagement as a nonprofit can be complex. That’s why nearly 40 local nonprofit leaders gathered yesterday for our workshop “Nonprofit Advocacy: Roles, Rules, and Responsibilities” co-hosted by Nonprofit Connection Santa Cruz County.

We joined in conversation and learned from Community Bridges / Puentes De La Comunidad CEO Raymon Cancino, Santa Cruz County District 5 Supervisor’s Analyst J.M. Brown, League of California Community Foundationsnity Foundations CEO Laura Seaman.

A big thank you to our speakers and everyone who attended!

📷 (From left):

1) Community Bridges CEO Raymon Cancino Cruz County District 5 Supervisor's Analyst J.M. Brown, and California League of Community Foundations CEO Laura Seaman led the discussion.

2) Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship Institutional Engagement Senior Manager Lydia Gonzales and Shared Adventures Board Chair Steve Miller.

3) Housing Santa Cruz County Executive Director Elaine Johnson and Santa Cruz Welcoming Network co-founder Miriam Strombler.

4) Highlands Park Senior & Community Center Board President Coco Raner-Walter, Board Vice-President Susan McKenney, and Board Secretary Alisan Andrews.

5) Santa Cruz Local Managing Editor Alexandria Bordas engages with the panel.

6) Arts Council Santa Cruz County Arts Education Director Sarah Brother and Executive Director Jim Brown.

7) Ray Cancino shares his expertise with attendees.

8) Community Foundation Communications Coordinator Josue Monroy, COPA organizer Eli Holliday, and Community Foundation Director of Engagement and Impact Kevin Heuer

08/21/2026

Believe it or not, nearly 2,900 nonprofits serve Santa Cruz County, and each one needs people willing to raise their hand and say, "How can I help?"

That's exactly what our annual Board Connect mixer is all about.

Last night, nonprofit leaders, current trustees, and community members gathered for an evening of connection, conversation, and a little friendly matchmaking between organizations and prospective board members.

Attendees heard inspiring stories from current trustees, learned what nonprofits are looking for in board leaders, and discovered new ways to put their skills and passions to work for the community.

To everyone considering board service: thank you for answering the call. And to the nonprofits recruiting their next great trustee: we hope your dance card is full of promising new connections.

And a big, huge thank you to our friends at FoodWhat for donating such beautiful flowers and to Lily, their Farm Education Program Manager, for making (and delivering) the bouquets!

08/12/2026

Our friends and neighbors in Monterey County are battling the Timber Fire in Big Sur. Please help support relief efforts by giving to the Monterey County Fire Relief Fund through the Community Foundation for Monterey County

I just helped those affected by the Timber Fire in Big Sur through the Monterey County Fire Relief Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Join me: give.cfmco.org/FireRelief

08/12/2026

We're running it back! After last year's great inaugural contest, we are excited to see what this year's entrants have in store.

Winning entries will be featured on the Community Foundation website, in publications and marketing materials, and at a special reception celebrating our photographers. The winners will also be able to direct a prize grant to a local nonprofit.

The contest runs from August 10th to September 18th and is open to all residents of Santa Cruz County, as well as photographers from outside the area whose photos were taken here.

There is no fee to enter, and local students are encouraged to participate.

Submit your photos here: https://www.cfscc.org/blog/our-shared-story

📸: Some entries from the 2025 contest (Clockwise from top left)

1) "Brown Pelican" by Tony Britton

2) "Estrellas at Dia de Mu***os" by Carlos Campos Charlíë

3) "She's Still Sleeping" by David Poznic

4) "Young Outdoor Leaders Tree Planting" by Carlos Campos Charlíë

08/07/2026

Our friends at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center have a podcast called "Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz." Their most recent guest was our very own Hilary Bryant, Donor Services Director at the Community Foundation!

Hilary was authentic, knowledgeable, caring, and focused on, well... solutions.

The host, Jonathan Hicken, leaned into Hil's cross-sector experience as a former elected official, small-business owner, and philanthropic leader, intertwined with her decades of leadership in protecting the Monterey Bay ecosystem.

Hilary's love for Santa Cruz County shines through, as does her call for pragmatic, realistic, unflinching, and loving action that we must all take to protect our home for generations to come.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J2243Rc7no&list=PLMif4c5zvokzXfsqhSYIbxJxRbre6Qvy-&index=2&t=10s

08/06/2026

We had a great time at our recent Strengthening Planned Giving workshop, sharing strategies and stories with peers hoping to inspire legacy giving in our community.

We love being a resource for our local nonprofits and community members, and our in-house experts like Donor Services Director Hilary Bryant and Chief Philanthropy Officer Kea Gorden are happy to connect with you.

ICYMI, reach out to us for access to helpful materials for your planned giving program.

📸:

Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley Director of Development Nikki Patterson and Community Foundation Donor Services Director Hilary Bryant were all smiles at the session.

Community Foundation Director of Engagement and Impact Kevin Heuer opens the conversation.

Coastal Watershed Council Development Associate Miranda Hansen and Housing Matters Donor Relations Manager Maria Campbell.

08/05/2026

We are so proud of SC Long Term Recovery Group, Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay and other partner for organizations for coming together to make this happen. It's been a long road for Tonia to rebuild her home, but our community has been with her every step of the way and will continue to be with her and others still recovering and rebuilding.

08/03/2026

The effects of federal policy shifts continue to impact our local safety net. Our local nonprofits are facing rising demand and deep uncertainty.

To help our community better understand these changes, we’re proud to sponsor “Mending the Net,” a new KAZU 90.3 reporting series exploring how federal policy changes from H.R. 1 are affecting Santa Cruz County and how local nonprofits are responding.

These issues are complex, interconnected, and can be difficult to follow. Trusted local journalism helps our community move beyond the headlines and better understand what these changes mean here at home.

The monthly series will feature five interviews with local leaders airing during Morning Edition and All Things Considered, with longer videos available online.

The first episode features a conversation with Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz CEO Erica Padilla-Chavez, MPA.

Federal cuts have frayed the Santa Cruz County safety net. Can the community hold it together? Each episode of this is five-part series will explore how a sector of Santa Cruz County's safety net was impacted by funding changes brought by H.R. 1, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act."

07/31/2026

We celebrated a huge community win this week with the ribbon cutting for Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy’s brand-new clubhouse in Watsonville. This is the first dedicated facility for the program since its inception, and we are proud to support this organization and its founder and Community Foundation board trustee Gina Castañeda.

Read more about Aztecas and what this means for local youth in The Pajaronian

https://pajaronian.com/aztecas-youth-soccer-club-unveils-new-clubcouse/

📸: Todd Guild for The Pajaronian

From left: Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell, Gina Castañeda, Chief Probation Officer Sandra Mendez, 1440 Multiversity co-creator Joanie Kriens, Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah, Ramon Gomez from Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez’s office and Watsonville Police Chief Brian Shab.

Aztecas Youth Soccer Club unveiled its new clubhouse Tuesday, a place that will give participants wraparound services and a place to gather.

07/01/2026

Last week, the wonderful people at Cocoa Vino in Capitola Village held a bingo night to benefit the Greatest Needs Fund at the Community Foundation, raising over $500!

The fund enables immediate impact on the community’s most pressing challenges, giving people a simple, powerful way to respond to urgent needs. Gifts to the Greatest Needs Fund help provide flexible, rapid response funding to allow our local safety net organizations to adapt to shifting needs and keep staff in place.

Thank you to all who came out and to Brian and Cocoa Vino for hosting!

📸: Our Philanthropic Services Manager Abbey Ohtake was on hand representing the Foundation.