California

The Silicon Valley Community Foundation has announced a $250,000 grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to its Strengthen the Safety Net campaign. The community foundation previously announced that it would commit up to $1 million for food and shelter to match gifts from individuals and corporations through the end of 2008. In less than a month, SVCF has received almost $500,000 toward the campaign.

The Redwood City-based PARSA Community Foundation has announced grants totaling $138,000 to sixteen nonprofits focused on civic integration, leadership development, and arts and culture as part of its Mehregan grant program. Recipients include the Asia Society, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the National Geographic Society, and the National Iranian-American Council.

New Hampshire

The Concord-based New Hampshire Charitable Foundation has announced eighteen grants totaling $993,964 from the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund to organizations in northern New Hampshire and Vermont. The grants, which range from $13,150 to more than $155,000, will provide support for organizations working to address basic needs, the community safety net, economic development, conservation, and education.

South Carolina

The Charleston-based Coastal Community Foundation has launched a new program that will award a total of approximately $50,000 each year to Berkeley County arts nonprofits. The Giving Back to Berkeley County Fund will award grants of up to $5,000 to each organization.

Tennessee

The Nashville-based Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has announced the creation of the Josh Turner Scholarship Fund to provide assistance to high school students who would like to pursue a career in the arts and entertainment field.

Texas

The Dallas-based Communities Foundation of Texas has announced that Monica Egert Smith will administer its discretionary grants program.

Virginia

The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust has received a bequest of more than $700,000 from the estate of Henriette J. Gill. A fund in her name at the trust will support a variety of organizations, including the Lynchburg Humane Society, the South Central Spay and Neuter Clinic, and Lynchburg Grows.

Washington

The Yakima Valley Community Foundation has announced grants totaling $385,000 to local nonprofits. The grants include $46,000 to the Yakima Youth Soccer Association and $25,000 to Latinas Networking for Justice. The foundation's Youth Advisory Council, made up of local high school students, awarded an additional $50,000.

Wisconsin

The Oshkosh Area Community Foundation has announced that it will shift the priorities of its Community Impact program to support basic needs — including food, clothing, shelter — through the end of the fiscal year. In the past, Community Impact grants have supported projects in the areas of community development, historic preservation, and health and human services. The criteria for the foundation's other grant programs have not changed.