Collaborate With Us

Let’s work together to make Santa Cruz County a better place to live for everyone who calls it home.

Agency Funds

Increase Your Assets

Start a fund and grow your reserves. Advantages of having an agency fund with us include:

  • Growth & Stability of Financial Assets
  • Strong Investment Returns
  • Flexibility to create an endowed fund for steady revenue or a fund expended as needed
  • Acceptance of Securities on Your Behalf
  • Issuing Charitable Gift Annuities on Your Behalf
  • And Much More

Learn more about starting an Agency Fund »

Support for Nonprofits

$251m
Grants Awarded Since 1982
894
Nonprofits Served in 2023

Grantmaking


We’re here to help Nonprofit Partners and Grantseekers understand our funding opportunities and what they may mean for your organization.

Recent Impact

Due to the generosity of the Santa Cruz County community, we awarded $26M in grants to nearly 900 organizations in 2023.

Here to Help

Nonprofit Resources

Supported by a gift from the Borina Foundation, we're part of a nationwide network of community foundations and libraries helping nonprofits and grantseekers. We offer free self-guided access to:

Schedule an appointment to access our online collections of grant guides and research reports on trends and patterns of giving by U.S. grantmakers.

Looking for help finding a consultant for your nonprofit organization? Our consultant directory is a shared service we offer in concert with our peer community foundations in Monterey and San Benito counties. Listings are posted by consultants – not vetted by Community Foundation Santa Cruz County.

Learn more about our approach to grantmaking and who we're funding here.

2023 Grants List

Thanks to donors past and present, we celebrated another record year of giving and grantmaking in 2023.

2024 Community Grantees

In spring of 2024, we awarded $1.97 million to 92 local nonprofits.

Need More Information?

Contact Kevin Heuer, our Director of Engagement & Impact, to discuss how we can work together to make Santa Cruz County a better place for everyone.

Or call him at 831.662.2030