Our 2021 Annual Report
Since joining the Sonoma Community Foundation as interim CEO in February of 2022, I’ve been grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the dedicated and talented staff, meet our donors, and work with our board as we seek our next permanent CEO. I’ve also had...
Donor spotlight: Carol Newman and Barry Sovel
“Are you familiar with the Jewish religion? Do you know what ‘tikkun olam’ means?” Carol Newman asks. “It means, ‘to repair the world.’ It’s a mitzvah, a good deed.” Her husband, Barry Sovel, adds, “It’s very much a part of our cultural and religious background.”...
An inspiring experience: SCF hosts a two-day externship for five local teachers
Sonoma Community Foundation recently had the pleasure of hosting a two-day teacher externship for a small group of Casa Grande High School educators. The five educators joined our staff at the SCF office to learn more about the nonprofit field in Sonoma County and...
The Sonoma Valley Fund and The Sonoma Catalyst Fund: An Evolution
The Sonoma Valley Fund was born on a park bench. In 2006, Sonoma über-volunteer Whitney Evans read an article about Healdsburg Forever, one of Sonoma Community Foundation’s regional affiliates, which builds endowment funds and provides grants to nonprofits in...
Donor Spotlight: Sam and Betz Miller
Sam and Betz Miller met when Sam worked in sales for West Publishing, and Betz worked as a cataloging librarian for a Bay Area library. Married for the past 31 years, Betz and Sam have loved making their home in Santa Rosa and, after retiring early, have spent the...
It Takes a County: Learning from Student Feedback
“YouthTruth is changing how sites and districts do school,” says Jessica Progulske of the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE). The YouthTruth survey is a national effort to gather student and stakeholder feedback to inform school improvement. It asks students,...
Inspiring philanthropy in Healdsburg & The Sonoma Valley
At SCF, as we worked to innovate our grantmaking in light of the coronavirus crisis, we asked a critical question: How could we inspire more people to give? We knew our regional affiliates—Healdsburg Forever and the Sonoma Valley Fund—were already doing incredible...
Welcoming José Castro Gambino to our team
Sonoma Community Foundation welcomes José Castro Gambino as our new Community Impact Officer! José’s dedication to the nonprofit field stems from his desire to give back to his community. Born and raised in Healdsburg, José recognizes the need for nonprofit work in...
Honoring Juneteenth through your giving
Our offices will be closed on Monday, June 20, in honor of Juneteenth, which is now a nationally recognized federal holiday. If Juneteenth is a new holiday to you, I wanted to fill you in on the background of this important holiday and offer some resources for...
Twelve Ways to Help People in Need in Sonoma County
We’ve been working to keep our donors informed about ways to support those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. We want to thank all of you who have donated to organizations working in Eastern Europe. Together, our fund holders have contributed nearly $225,000 towards...
50 Nonprofits Receive Over $1M In Grants To Fight Poverty In Sonoma County
Growing economic uncertainty is stretching local nonprofits to their limits. They’re working hard to help an influx of new clients who need support physically, mentally, and financially. The sharp rise in the cost of living has led to financial stress among low-income...
SCF Search Committee Appointed; Carlson Beck Chosen to Recruit Next CEO
Sonoma Community Foundation’s board of directors has appointed a search committee to identify SCF’s next president and CEO. The committee’s work has begun in earnest, developing a transparent, equity-centered process to guide the entire search. The committee announced...
Wellness Day hosted by Sonoma Environmental Education Collaborative (SEEC)
The Sonoma Environmental Education Collaborative (SEEC) is a regional consortium of environmental education professionals from various organizations, agencies, networks, and school districts, whose mission is to create vibrant and innovative collaborations that...
Just released! YouthTruth survey results from over 60,000 students, parents, and teachers in Sonoma County
Sonoma County educational leaders and partners in the nonprofit world are digging into an unprecedented amount of feedback on how our schools are meeting the needs of students, staff, and parents and guardians. As part of a monthlong survey campaign that wrapped up in...
How you can support Ukraine
As we watch the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, our hearts go out to all families affected by the ongoing strife in the region. While it is tempting to feel somewhat helpless in the face of a crisis of this scale, this is a moment where our help is needed...