Bringing People Together Around What Matters
We believe philanthropy is at its best when it's shared. Understanding the issues facing our community is central to how we work, which is why we create spaces where people can gather, listen, and learn from those doing the work every day.
These conversations inform our own grantmaking, and they give our donors the insight they need to make their own giving decisions. Our donors are an engaged group, working alongside nonprofits and fellow funders to make a real difference in Sonoma County, and we're proud of the community we've built together.
Exploring Our Strategic Priorities
This year we hosted three gatherings centered on our strategic plan and the initiatives at its heart: economic well-being, health equity, and environmental action. We invited nonprofit leaders to share what they're seeing in their communities, including the challenges families are facing, the solutions that are working, and where gaps remain. These conversations help us see the bigger picture beyond our grantmaking and sharpen our thinking about where support can do the most good.
“I am so impressed with the work the Community Foundation is doing to encourage and support collaboration among nonprofits to make measurable progress in critical areas of need. Again, you and your team developed a very informative session. You all are making your strategic plan come to life!”
- Event Participant
A Gathering for the Fund for Belonging
For donors already invested in the Fund for Belonging, we hosted a gathering at Art Farm, where the setting itself reflected the spirit of the fund: connection, creative thinking, and the heart of our work, the belief that we all have a place here. Vicki Handron of Sonoma Immigrant Services and Monica Julian of VIDAS shared the realities facing legal service providers supporting immigrant families right now, from case backlogs to the difficulty of accessing reliable information, and the crisis unfolding in our community. Donors then had the chance to ask these leaders questions directly. We're honored to host conversations like this that bring people together to solve pressing problems.
Site Visits and Lunch & Learns
Our informational lunch and learns offered a smaller format, allowing us the chance to dig into specific topics over a shared meal or site visit. These photos are from a site visit to The People’s Garden, hosted by Zeke Guzman.
Why We Gather
When we understand our community's needs deeply, we can give more strategically and do more good, together. Our donor community aren’t just funders; they are partners in this work. We're grateful to the nonprofit leaders who shared their time and expertise, and to every donor who showed up with curiosity and an open mind.
We look forward to gathering again soon. Join us on Sunday, October 11 for a conversation between Óscar Chávez and Vu Le, writer of the blog Nonprofit AF and a nationally recognized voice on philanthropy. RSVP here.
