Northern California Grantmakers

NCG member Judy Patrick, CEO and President of the Women’s Foundation of California, was featured as a guest blogger last June on Council of Foundation‘s Re:Philanthropy blog.

In her blog post, Judy reflects on the effects of California budget cuts on the individuals and communities served by the Women’s Foundation of California:

“After years of watching the California state budget balanced at the expense of women and families, we decided it was time to put a human face on the impact of budget cuts. As a foundation serving communities directly affected by the budget cuts, we saw firsthand the impact on California’s women and families.”

The foundation decided it was time to try and influence the budget debate, instead of solely dealing with the effects of budget cuts on women and families in California.

Partnering For Change

The Women’s Foundation decided to partner with the “California Budget Project (a well respected budget analysis organization) and fund research for policy makers and advocates to make the economic and human case for preserving the small safety net that still remains in California.”

As a result of this partnership, the California Budget Report has released three reports to legislators, advocates and journalists.

To learn more about the Women’s Foundation of California’s public policy work on the California Budget, read Judy Patrick’s full blog post online.

Earlier this week NCG member The California Endowment (TCE)  announced “an expansion of its longstanding support of minority-led nonprofits, with more than $1.4 million in new funding to strengthen grassroots organizations focused on improving the health and well-being of communities of color.”

TCE has “selected eight minority-led intermediary organizations with close ties to communities of color to administer grants under the new initiative.  The grants will range in size from $5,000 to $20,000 and will support an estimated 200 organizations across the state. ”

The intermediary grantmaking organizations include:

• Akonadi Foundation*
• Bay Area Black United Fund
• Brotherhood Crusade
• Liberty Hill Foundation
• Sierra Health Foundation *
• Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development, Inc.
• Tides Foundation * / California Fund for Youth Organizing
• Women’s Foundation of California *

* NCG member

Read the full press release online.