Record $128 Million in Gifts to East Bay Community Foundation

OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As one of the largest sources of philanthropic support for Alameda and Contra Costa counties, the East Bay Community Foundation has added to the total of recent large contributions to Bay Area community foundations, ringing up a $120 million donation during 2013.

"On the quantity side for charitable money coming into  the foundation from donors, we're pleased to have set a record of $128.17  million in new contributions to the Foundation from donors during 2013, primarily as a result of two gifts from the same anonymous donor totaling $120 million," said the Foundation's interim President & Chief Executive Officer Deborah Alvarez-Rodriguez. "And on the quality side of  charitable grants made by the Foundation and our donors, our annual review of this grant making shows particularly positive results from 'Matching' or 'Challenge' grants to nonprofit organizations in the East Bay."                

"Matching" or "challenge" grants are considered a particularly effective use of social investments for individual donors, foundations and corporations because they encourage grantees to reach out to new donors and ask ongoing donors for a higher level of support.

These kinds of grants are normally time limited and usually require grantees to be diligent about  raising additional funds, creating  "buzz" about their work,  garnering public attention and attracting new sources of financial support.   Often, donors make challenge grants at a higher level than they might ordinarily give because of the opportunity of the grantee to provide the match, thus increasing the total value of the social investment.

The "Matching" or "Challenge" grants described below are part of the  total $25.7 million in grants made by the Foundation and its donors during 2013.  Typically, about 60% of the Foundation's total grants directly benefit causes and needs in the East Bay:

Concord

Michael Chavez Center for Economic Opportunity/Monument Community Partnership
works to improve the quality of life for the Monument Community of Concord with programs promoting economic self-sufficiency, health and safety, civic engagement, lifelong learning and community connections.   A $35,000 matching grant from an anonymous donor at the East Bay Community Foundation enabled the Center to launch its "In Unity There Is Strength" Matching Gift Campaign. "Our first-ever matching gift campaign was a huge success, due to the urging and support from the East Bay Community Foundation and their anonymous donor," stated Mike Van Hofwegen, the Center's Executive Director.  "The campaign provided us with a critical opportunity to increase community awareness, build a stronger donor database, and attract many first-time donors. We raised more than $44,000 along with the $35,000 matching grant for a total of $79,000 to directly support our programs for low-income families." Photos here.

Richmond

An unusual urban national park, the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, is located on the waterfront in Richmond. It's the flagship national park for telling stories of home front efforts across the United States during World War II..  Park sites include the Oil House Visitor Center, the Rosie the Riveter Memorial, the historic Ford Assembly plant, and the Maritime Childcare Center. In addition, the Park runs a summer program called "Rosie's Girls" that introduces young women to non-traditional careers.

New to formal fundraising, Rosie the Riveter Trust received a $10,000 challenge grant from an East Bay Community Foundation donor and not only exceeded the match with its fund raising but also doubled the Museum's membership.

Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP)   is an interfaith, multiracial collaboration that brings together more than 40 Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist member congregations to address issues of human dignity and social justice affecting the poor, the homeless and the disenfranchised. A recent matching gift from an anonymous East Bay Community Foundation donor helped GRIP raise $26,000 from 130 donors to support its shelter and feeding of the poor and homeless.  

Brentwood

Village Community Resource Center serves the lowest income, neediest Latino families in Brentwood and the surrounding area.   Although the center has existed for a number of years, funding for food distribution, a monthly medical van, after-school homework assistance, a parenting program and a cultural program has always been inadequate and on several occasions the center has been on the verge of closing.  As a result of $220,000 in grants and bridge funding  from the East Bay Community Foundation and our donors, the community and the Center's board of directors have come together to keep the center open and functioning.

Fremont & Livermore

You might not think of a scholarship as a "Challenge" grant, but it is. Students receiving four-year Lam Research Corporation scholarships have to perform academically.   Nine students received four-year scholarships of $10,000 through the Lam Core Values Scholarship Program. Since its start in 2003, the program has awarded nearly $630,000 to 70 students. Each year, scholarships are awarded to graduating high-school seniors in Fremont and Livermore, as well as in Tualatin, Oregon. Students are selected based on academic achievement, school and community involvement, and demonstration of the Core Values of Lam Research Corporation.

Alameda

The Alameda Museum operates the Meyers House Museum and Garden. Designed and built by prominent architect Henry Meyers in the 1890s, the house was the home of Meyers' daughters Jeanette, Mildred and Edith, who bequeathed the family's assets to the East Bay Community Foundation to establish a permanent endowment. With a $10,000 matching grant from the Meyers Endowment at the Foundation, the Alameda Museum launched a capital campaign to fund much-needed maintenance, repairs, painting and improvements for the Meyers House Museum and Garden.  More than 100 people donated to the campaign, with donations ranging from $25 to $10,000—a total of $40,000 was raised to restore this historic gem.

Oakland

Girls Inc. of Alameda County,  dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, is a local affiliate of the national Girls Inc. organization, which provides vital educational programs to millions of American girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas. East Bay Community Foundation donor Kaiser Permanente loaned Girls Inc. $1 million for the purchase and renovation of its new headquarters and Resource Center with the stipulation that the loan would be forgiven if Girls, Inc. raised additional funds on its own, which it did successfully.   

Destiny Arts Center aims at ending isolation, prejudice and violence in the lives of young people  through a variety of programs that nurture physical, emotional and spiritual development of young people. The Center provides kids and youth with after-school, weekend and summer programs in the performing and martial arts, and violence prevention at its main site as well as outreach programs at schools and community centers. An East Bay Community Foundation donor provided a $50,000 challenge grant that assisted Destiny in the final push for its new home where it celebrates 25 years of service to the community.

East Bay Community Foundation (www.eastbaycf.org) transforms lives by harnessing financial capital, leadership and philanthropic expertise through the power of many: partnerships with individual donors, business, government, and private foundations.  We are especially dedicated to advancing economic opportunity for those in need and the education that leads to it.  As a leading resource on charitable giving and community needs, we manage more than 500 charitable funds and endowments.     

SOURCE East Bay Community Foundation