California

The San Francisco Foundation has announced the appointment of Khanh Russo as its vice president of policy and innovation. Russo joined the foundation in 2020, and most recently served as its interim vice president for policy and innovation and senior director for the Partnership for the Bay’s Future.

The California Southern Small Business Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation, has announced the launch of a $500,000 fund with the San Diego Foundation. California Southern is focused on providing access to capital, such as loans for the start-up or growth of small businesses, particularly minority- and women-owned enterprises that cannot qualify for a bank loan without a guarantee. The new fund’s grantmaking will focus on programming, such as internships and workshops, for small businesses located in San Diego County.

Florida

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation in Venice has announced the promotion of Kelly Carlstein to vice president of brand strategy. Carlstein previously served as the director of strategic marketing and public relations for more than three years.

Illinois

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois in Peoria has announced that it is partnering with the Gilmore Foundation to award $1.2 million each to UnityPoint Health–UnityPlace to address behavioral health and psychiatric needs in the community. The joint funding will support the development and provision of a comprehensive and accessible array of services, delivered where people need them the most and ensuring access to vulnerable populations across central Illinois. UnityPlace is partnering with other mental health services in the Peoria area to meet rapidly growing mental health and substance abuse needs in ways that were not previously possible.

Maine

Funded in part by a $10,000 grant from the Maine Community Foundation’s Downeast Innovation Fund, a group of nonprofits is working to showcase the region as the Eastern Maine Life Sciences & Technology Hub of Excellence, Mainebiz.com reports. According to organizers, the Hub of Excellence aims to build awareness in Maine and beyond of the region’s depth and breadth of facilities, opportunities, and talent engaged in life sciences and technology by working to create connections among R&D, education, entrepreneurship, and investment groups; providing networking and learning opportunities; and promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. To that end, the grant will help it develop messaging and marketing materials, including a website, to build connections between job seekers, new entrepreneurs, and investors.

Michigan

The Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KZCF) has announced a $1.5 million grant from the Stryker Johnston Foundation to create a Justice Hub in Kalamazoo County. KZCF will house the community-driven initiative until its nonprofit status is finalized this summer. The hub will serve as a central organizing space for social justice leaders and an incubator for organizations and projects that address systemic oppression in the community. In addition, it will make it easier for the foundation to fund and build the capacity of grassroots efforts addressing community needs and aspirations in the county.

Nebraska

The Omaha Community Foundation has announced the final round of Community Resilience Fund grants to organizations serving communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Twelve local nonprofits received funds totaling $165,974. Launched in April 2021, the fund focused on providing grants in five areas: arts and culture, housing, learning recovery, mental health, and workforce. Recipients include the Union for Contemporary Art, Freedomtainment, Women’s Center for Advancement, and Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy.

New Jersey

The Community Foundation of South Jersey in Haddonfield has announced grants from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation totaling nearly $100,000. The awards include $71,500 in support of its strategic plan work and $25,000 for its Atlantic City Community Fund. The Community Foundation of South Jersey aims to build assets to create an equitable region, impactful grantmaking, and leadership in local communities in the region.

Ohio

The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, in partnership with the Cincinnati Black Giving Circle, a coalition of Black residents pooling their dollars to accelerate social change, has announced grants totaling $155,000 to five Black-led and/or Black-serving nonprofits. This year’s recipients are Envision Children, BYOC Camps and Clubs, Guiding Light Mentoring, Found Village, and Law and Leadership, LLC.

Pennsylvania

The Erie Community Foundation has announced the addition of three trustees to the board. Annē L. Lewis is director of marketing at Red Letter Hospitality. Robin Scheppner serves as president and managing owner of American Tinning & Galvanizing. And Karinna Vernaza is the dean of the College of Engineering and Business and a professor of mechanical engineering at Gannon University. 

Washington

The Seattle Foundation has announced 23 grants totaling $425,000 in support of community-based organizations. Awarded through the foundation’s 2021 Resilience Fund, the grants will provide critical resources to communities that are negatively impacted by federal policy decisions, the national political climate, and anti-Black racism. Recipients include Hip Hop Is Green, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and Families, the Afghan Health Initiative, and Project Be Free.