Beyond Gifts
The Philanthropic Planning Team loves to ask questions that help identify values, life experiences and knit people together. This recent blog post by Leslie Silverman on Philanthropy Northwest has the power to do the same thing. Ms. Silverman, highlights eight...
ABC’s of DAF’s
Community Foundation Sonoma County sat down with Vice President, Philanthropic Planning J Mullineaux to discuss donor advised funds. What is a Donor Advised Fund? A donor advised fund (DAF) is a philanthropic vehicle established at a public charity such as the...
Happier Holidays
The frenzy of the holidays can detract from the joy and generosity that is the season’s hallmark. Stepping back for perspective just got easier with Lisa Parker’s fun philanthropic guide for families at the holidays, “The Hip Family’s Guide to Happier Holidays”....
Staff Gratitudes
During the month of November, Community Foundation Sonoma County staff recorded several gratitudes each day as part of an organization-wide exercise. We were instructed to reflect upon our day and jot down two – four people, experiences or things that we were grateful...
Weaving a Future for the County
“I’ll always remember a girl at my grade school who only had one dress. That just blew my mind. My family was in the retail business so I had a wonderful wardrobe and she had just one dress. I have never forgotten that and I never will,” says Julia Grant. Ms. Grant...
Women’s Leadership Retreat
Community Foundation Sonoma County is hosting a retreat for women nonprofit leaders. The purpose of the retreat is to connect and reflect. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with other women leaders both during and before and after the retreat to...
Geographic Giving
Do you give close to home? You aren't alone. Some donors give locally to build and grow something that they can connect to over time. Others are driven by community needs that they can identify in their own backyard. Still others are passionate about a cause,...
The Opposite of Spoiled
Our holiday reading list includes a gem about raising generous children. The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money by New York Times financial columnist Rob Lieber takes the sting out of talking to kids about money. Lieber...
LGBTQI Giving Circle
The LGBTQI Giving Circle of Community Foundation Sonoma County has recently made 5 grants to non-profit organizations that serve the needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQI) residents of the region. The special grants were...
Social Security Changes
Social Security changes may affect us all. Are you discussing these changes? At a recent seminar for professional advisors hosted by the Community Foundation, Stephanie Curry, from Pacific Life, presented an overview of Social Security which knocked the socks off our...
Advising Literacy
Get ready for National Financial Literacy Month (April 2016). Elite Advisors have a unique opportunity to improve financial literacy and awareness and thereby increase the quality of life of clients, friends, and family. The Financial Awareness Foundation (FAF), a...
Big Impact
Melissa Kelley, Co-founder of Impact 100 Redwood Circle is just about to lead more than 125 members through the process of making a $100,000 impact grant. This is a phenomenal accomplishment considering the new giving circle began earlier this year. Melissa was...
CFSC’s Behind the Scenes Engine: Finance and Operations Team
Every organization has a critical engine that keeps things running smoothly, ensures consistency and reliability, and controls resources and expectations in a measured way to meet the goals of the organization. At Community Foundation Sonoma County, our engine is the...
Celebrating Star Volunteers!
Community Foundation Sonoma County's Sonoma Valley Fund knows how to throw a party! This year, they have celebrated 26 of the communities brightest volunteers through their Star Volunteer awards. Volunteers were included from many - if not most - of the valley's...
The Unlikely Philanthropist
Ty Cobb’s strategic approach to giving contradicts everything we know of him. His journey to assess the needs of a community, perform due diligence, and set specific and personal giving criteria preceded many other philanthropists in his time. Today, we recall Ty Cobb...