Field-of-Interest Funds
Field-of-Interest Funds are established to make grants in a specified area of interest (e.g., the environment or human services), or a specified geographical area, or both.
A.D. Abramson Endowment Fund for the Visual Arts
Created by A.D.’s wife and daughters in his memory, the fund recognizes the importance of artistic expression in all of our lives with grants that encourage artist-community partnerships and support works of visual artists in public places.
The Anderson Valley Fund
This fund was created to make grants in Anderson Valley in the areas of health and wellness, education, the environment, and the arts.
Animal Welfare Fund for Inland Mendocino County
This fund was created to assist with the spaying/neutering of cats and dogs in the Ukiah Valley, Anderson Valley, Round Valley and Willits.
Arts in the Schools Endowment Fund
The Community Foundation partnered with the Irvine Foundation to implement the Arts in the Schools Initiative in 2009 which led to the creation of this endowed fund. The fund provides grants to place more artists in the classroom, and support teacher training, development of arts curriculum and support for “master” artists/teachers. The Community Foundation chose Arts in the Schools because of the critical need to preserve arts in the classroom during a time when the arts are being eliminated due to school budget cuts.
Jane Anderson Developmental Disability Fund
This fund was created through the estate of Gertrude Anderson to support the mission of Special Olympics in Mendocino County and other services for people with developmental disabilities. Grants may include, but are not limited to, augmenting the costs of securing a community-based location for the Special Olympics Program (e.g., at the Alex Rorabaugh Center).
The Angel Fund
The Angel Fund was created to provide assistance for families, children and elderly individuals who have short-term needs that are not met by other public or private programs. The goal is to contribute to the well-being of individuals and to help them move forward in their lives. One Angel Fund advisor referred to using the fund as a way “to give a hand up, rather than a hand out.”
Donna Baxter Memorial Fund for STEM Education
This fund was created to support and encourage girls/women from Mendocino County to gain first-hand experiences in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Specifically, grants may assist girls who participate in the American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) Tech Trek Program, a summer camp featuring hands-on STEM classes, field trips, and opportunities to meet women role models. Learn more about Donna Baxter here.
Blood Bank of the Redwoods Legacy Fund
This fund was created in 2010 as a community legacy for the Blood Bank of the Redwoods, which had served North Bay communities since 1949 until it was acquired by the Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP). It provides grants to ensure a stable blood supply through outreach, education, and youth engagement.
Broadband Development Fund
This fund was created to develop broadband accessibility in various areas in Mendocino County, specifically targeting projects that increase broadband deployment for education, health and safety, and economic development.
Community Resiliency and Preparedness Fund
In the wake of the October 2017 Redwood Complex Fires and the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fires, the Community Foundation has been witness to the challenges our community faces when trying to recover from a natural disaster. By building a more prepared and resilient community before disaster strikes, we increase our ability to recover. The Community Foundation’s Board of Directors created this fund with a lead gift of $25,000 and is seeking matching funds to help build a stronger Mendocino County.
Pat Denny Endowment Fund
Pat Denny was a community activist who worked tirelessly for many causes, including the County’s Alcohol and Other Drug Program that established this fund in her honor. The Pat Denny Endowment Fund assists school and community projects that support youth in making healthy choices by mitigating risks related to substance abuse and building “protective” assets.
Disaster Fund for Mendocino County
This fund was created by the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors to provide disaster relief and recovery services in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Economic Development Fund
The Economic development Fund provides grants to charitable organizations that have as part of their charitable activities making loans to Mendocino Coast businesses that are unable to obtain conventional financing. These grants allow emerging entrepreneurs access to capital that might otherwise be unavailable.
Environmental Education and Conservation Fund
The goal of the fund is to encourage the appreciation, conservation, and responsible use of the natural environment by raising awareness through education and direct action. Specifically, the fund promotes ecological understanding and natural resource management; the importance of the scientific method in addressing conservation issues; the effects of climate change and humans’ role in causing and addressing it; caring for the land though stewardship best practices; habitat and watershed restoration; and providing and improving public access to natural lands so people from all walks of life can enjoy them.
Charles F. Flinn and Walker B. Tilley Fund for Sustainable Forestry
Charles F. Flinn was a leader in the early forest industry in Mendocino County. He was the Manager of the L. E. White Lumber company in Greenwood (now Elk) in the early 1900’s, and then became Manager of the Albion Lumber Company in the 1920’s. Walker B. Tilley, a member of a pioneer Humboldt County family, came to work for the Albion Lumber Company as Forest Engineer during Flinn’s tenure. He had a distinguished international career as a forester, and returned to Mendocino County to be Chief Forester for Masonite Corporation. This fund is created in their memories with the goal of making grants to non-profit organizations that are assisting public and small private (non-industrial) forest owners to maintain and enhance the economic, social, and environmental values of Mendocino County’s working forests and range lands.
Foster Fund
In response to their own experience with cancer, Lee and Bea Foster established this fund to assist low-income and non-insured cancer patients cover costs associated with cancer treatment (including medications, tests, transportation). Lee’s son Bruce told of how his father was concerned about what would happen to people less financially fortunate than him. “My dad said ‘We ought to be able to do something, things are difficult enough for people with cancer.’”
Fraeda Dubin Endowment Fund
Fraeda Dubin truly was a Renaissance woman. An intellectual, an academic, and a world traveler, Fraeda gave generously to her community. She also experienced the sadness that results from watching a loved one’s life become derailed by substance abuse. For this reason, she created an estate plan to provide ongoing grants to programs that address problems of substance abuse.
The Fund for Animal Welfare
This fund was established by a lifelong animal lover to promote the welfare of animals and facilitate projects within the scope of spay/neuter, trap/neuter/release, animal adoption, wildlife rescue, preventing animal cruelty and support for cats and dogs owned by low-income elderly residents.
The Fund for Homeless Services
The Fund for Homeless Services was created by Donna Vaiano and will provide grants to programs that serve homeless families and individuals in Mendocino County. Priority will be given to programs that provide treatment for homeless people suffering from mental illness, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other debilitating illnesses, especially for programs providing services that are not otherwise provided by public benefits.
Fund for Trails and Open Space
The fund supports the acquisition, preservation, and restoration of parks, trails and open space areas that are free and open to the public for low-impact recreational uses. Low-impact is defined as resource-oriented outdoor recreation that complements the unique and natural features of a site without harming the environment. Facilities may include, but are not limited to, trails, trailheads, restrooms, parking areas, informational/interpretive kiosks, and directional signage. The Fund is created with an appreciation of the natural beauty of Mendocino County and a belief that activities in the natural world contribute significantly to mental, physical, and spiritual health and well-being.
Haigh-Scatena Youth Leadership, Empowerment & Advocacy Fund
This fund provides grants in Mendocino County and its service areas to support programs which promote youth leadership, empowerment, and advocacy.
Jerry Juhl Fund for the Arts
Jerry started playing with puppets as a small child and never stopped. His brand of silliness touched millions of lives through his work as the head writer for The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock and as co-writer of the Muppet Movie, among many other things. Jerry and Susan’s support of local artists and arts organizations has been manifested in countless ways. One of those is through a fund at the Community Foundation that Susan created in Jerry’s memory: The Jerry Juhl Fund for the Arts. Initially the fund will provide for scholarships for Mendocino, Fort Bragg and Point Arena high school students who are pursuing careers in the performing arts (music, dance, theatre, film and puppetry) and design (sound, lighting, set and costume).
Judy Pruden Historical Preservation Fund
This memorial fund was opened by Judy’s husband, Mike Morgan. Judy was a long-term member of the Ukiah Planning Commission and over the past several decades was active in preserving the city’s history and historic buildings. This fund makes grants to community-based projects that involve the public (all ages) in the understanding and appreciation of Mendocino County’s history.
Jim Levine Youth Endowment Fund
The County Board of Supervisors established this permanent endowment to benefit the youth of the county. Formally known as the "Board of Supervisors' Youth Endowment Fund," it was renamed in 2013 as a memorial to Jim Levine to recognize his prominent administrative and volunteer roles in community organizations serving youth.
Vivian Martin Fund
This fund provides grant funds to buy gifts that will be used by volunteer-based community Christmas efforts in Ukiah, CA, specifically the Ukiah Valley Christmas Effort.
John and Sandra Mayfield Family Economic Development Fund
This fund was established by John and Sandra Mayfield to increase the prosperity of communities and individuals in Mendocino County through business and community development, education and entrepreneurship support.
Mendocino Coast Healthcare Fund
Retired physicians Neil and Carol Anderson established this fund with the goal of making health care available to Mendocino Coast residents who are uninsured or under-insured.
Mendocino Coast Youth Mentorship Fund
Established by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mendocino County, the purpose of this fund is to make grants in support of youth mentorship programs on the Mendocino County Coast.
Mendocino County Endowment for Community Health Projects
The County Board of Supervisors allocated a portion of the money received from Tobacco Settlement revenues to create an endowment to support community health.
Moorehead Endowment Fund for Seniors
The Fund aims to benefit older adults (age 65+) and their families living in Mendocino County by helping them to age in place in their homes and communities and lead their lives with dignity and worth. Areas that may be funded include, but are not limited to, programs that: promote the mental, emotional and physical well-being of the elderly and their caregivers; provide opportunities for social engagement and life-affirming activities for seniors; improve the health, nutrition and transportation services available to seniors; and encourage older adults to “give back” to youth and others in the community.
Poverty Program Fund
At the end of 2006, an anonymous donor gave the Community Foundation a $50,000 donation to start a Poverty Program Fund, providing annual support to organizations that are working to help feed, clothe, and shelter individuals.
The Fund for Round Valley
This fund was created to make grants in the Round Valley region of Mendocino County in the areas of health and wellness, education, the environment, and the arts.
Evelyn G. Smith Science Fund
As a member of the Willits chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Evelyn Smith started a mentor program for science fair participants. Grants enable Evelyn’s work with science education in Willits to be continued.
Ukiah Saturday Afternoon Club Endowment
This fund was created by the Ukiah Saturday Afternoon Club with proceeds from the sale of their building. Grants are made to help women and girls develop their potential.
Textile and Fiber Arts Endowment Fund
The goal of this fund is to encourage the practice and appreciation of traditional and contemporary textile and fiber arts in Mendocino County. Textile and fiber arts include, but are not limited to, surface design, textile printing, quilting, fabric painting, fabric and yarn dyeing, wool processing, weaving, spinning, knitting/crochet, felting, basketry, rug hooking, braiding, macramé, and lace making. Grants will be made to organizations, governmental entities (including museums), and public and private schools for programs including, but not limited to: special projects, speakers, publications and exhibitions; community and K-16 education programs; scholarships and internships advancing textile and fiber arts; and equipment.
Women's Legacy Fund
The primary purpose of the Women’s Legacy Fund will be to support organizations in Mendocino County that assist women and girls to strengthen their physical, emotional, intellectual and financial well-being. Annually a focus area will be determined for the grant-making from the broad fields of economic independence, basic needs, safety, reproductive health, education and mental health.
Workers’ Memorial Fund
The spirit in which this fund was created is one of compassion. The intent is to extend immediate aid, with a one-time gift, to families who find themselves victims of workplace tragedies and may be temporarily paralyzed both emotionally and financially. Through this fund donors hope to provide a moment of comfort and relief in regard to pending bills due to the loss of income during a time of unimaginable grief.
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