California Community Foundation

06/05/2026

What role should philanthropy play in a moment when trust is fragile, economic pressures are growing, and many people feel unheard?

That was the focus of yesterday's conversation between CCF President and CEO Miguel A. Santana and Tavis Smiley on the Tavis Smiley radio show.

Miguel shared four ways philanthropy can help meet this moment: supporting organizations that strengthen civic participation, investing in trusted sources of information, helping communities meet immediate needs, and using its voice to speak honestly about what people are experiencing on the ground.

As challenges facing our communities become increasingly complex, philanthropy has an opportunity not only to provide resources, but also to help build connection and pathways toward a stronger future.

Listen to the full conversation starting at 1:06:00 here:

KBLA Talk 1580 hosts Dominique DiPrima, Adrienne Shropshire, and Dr...

06/03/2026

Twenty young Angelenos spent months listening to MacArthur Park residents, then painted what they heard into a 21-foot mural.

Tamale sellers. Farm workers. A monarch butterfly representing the freedom to migrate.

Made possible through CCF's support of LA Commons and their incredible work empowering community storytelling.

Read more: https://www.calfund.org/news-and-events/la-commons-empowers-youth-with-training-in-storytelling-art-and-leadership/

06/02/2026

Reminder to vote today! 🗳️ Polls across California opened at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

At CCF, we believe strong communities are built when people have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Participating in elections is one way to help shape the future of Los Angeles and California.

If you're registered to vote, make a plan to cast your ballot before polls close. 💙

05/29/2026

Enrique Fernandez learned to spray paint in MacArthur Park. He's heading to Yale this fall to study architecture.

In between, he co-created a public mural through the CCF-supported youth leadership council at LA Commons, learned the history of his community, and found himself developing a deep sense of solidarity.

Read more: https://www.calfund.org/news-and-events/la-commons-empowers-youth-with-training-in-storytelling-art-and-leadership/

05/28/2026

CCF President and CEO Miguel A. Santana was recently named to the TIME100, and in this month's letter to our community, he reflects on what that recognition means, why civic participation has never been more consequential, and what it will take to protect a good life for every Angeleno.

A few of the stories featured inside:

Altadena residents finding space to grieve and heal, nearly 18 months after the Eaton Fire.
AAPI communities accessing mental health support in ways that feel culturally safe and familiar.
How Measure A is already delivering (1,530 affordable housing units committed and counting!).
+ more!

These stories reflect what community-informed philanthropy looks like in practice: meeting people where they are, and investing in the conditions that make a good life possible for every Angeleno.

Read our May newsletter: https://bit.ly/3Rqhl8S

05/26/2026

When the Eaton Fire broke out, many of LA's 433,000+ Chinese American residents couldn't access emergency alerts, because the alerts weren't in their language.

CCF grantee Chinatown Service Center 華埠服務中心 is documenting those gaps and building the multilingual infrastructure LA should have had all along.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4uvSG1m

05/25/2026

On Memorial Day, we honor the veterans and fallen service members who gave their lives in service to something greater than themselves.

That spirit of sacrifice — of showing up for others, of believing community is worth protecting — lives on in the volunteers, donors, and nonprofit leaders who serve Los Angeles every single day.

Nearly 1 in 4 adults in LA County volunteers their time, skills, or resources each year. More than just a statistic, that number shows the willingness of Angelenos to give to causes bigger than themselves.

To our veterans, and to everyone who serves our communities: thank you. 🤍

If there's a local organization you love — including those serving our veteran community — drop it in the comments. ❤️🤍💙

Data: LA2050 / Corporation for National Community Service, 2018

05/22/2026

Earlier this week, our President and CEO Miguel A. Santana joined LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and POLITICO's Liam Dillon at The California Agenda: Los Angeles to talk housing, wildfire recovery, and why this moment demands we get it right.

As Miguel put it: "When survivors tell their stories directly, it stops being political and becomes human. Communities across the country understand disaster and recovery — and when people hear firsthand what families in Altadena and the Palisades have lost, and what it takes to rebuild homes, schools, businesses and places of worship, it becomes impossible to look away."

LA is rebuilding. We're committed to making sure recovery reaches everyone. 🌱

05/21/2026

"You talk to somebody…you will hurt again and again. So I chose not to talk with somebody." Mena Liu fled her apartment in the Eaton Fire, was displaced for weeks, and still flinches at the smell of smoke — but she hasn't sought therapy.

That's what mental health stigma can look like in AAPI communities. And it's what CCF grantees like the Little Tokyo Service Center and Chinatown Service Center 華埠服務中心 are working to change — one meal, one workshop, one conversation at a time.

Read more: https://www.calfund.org/news-and-events/aapi-mental-health-needs-often-go-unrecognized-ccf-grantees-are-changing-that/

05/20/2026

A proud moment for Los Angeles: TIME has named our President and CEO, Miguel A. Santana, in its 2026 TIME100 Philanthropy list, honoring the most influential leaders shaping the future of giving.

This recognition highlights Miguel’s leadership during a pivotal year of crisis in Los Angeles County following the 2025 wildfires and reflects the extraordinary work of the entire CCF team alongside the hundreds of community partners leading recovery efforts on the front lines across the region.

Recognition as one of the world’s most influential philanthropic leaders affirms that CCF’s vision of a good life for all is resonating far beyond Los Angeles.

Read more about the work that earned this honor here: https://time.com/collection/time100-philanthropy/2026/miguel-a-santana/

And a big congratulations to each of the inspiring leaders featured on this year’s list. Full list available here: https://time.com/collection/time100-philanthropy/2026/