California

The Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) in Newport Beach has received a $400,000 grant from the James Irvine Foundation and a $100,000 award from the Nicholas Endowment in support of OCCF’s Workforce Development Initiative (WDI), Stu News Newport reports. The grants will enable OCCF to create formal pipelines for community college students to acquire credentials and secure employment in career-oriented, living-wage, middle-skill jobs in Orange County. Launched in September 2019 in response to community data indicating a dire need to connect low-income youth and young adults to unfilled middle-skill jobs in the region, the initiative aims to increase the number of community college students who secure middle-skill jobs by partnering with educational institutions, employers, and nonprofits to eliminate barriers preventing students from achieving their educational and career goals.

Colorado

The Community First Foundation in Arvada has announced that more than 100,000 donors contributed $53.2 million during the Colorado Gives Day campaign on December 6. All participating nonprofits that received a donation between November 1, when early giving opened, and December 6 will receive a percentage of a $1.4 million Incentive Fund that will boost the impact of every dollar donated. Community First Foundation and FirstBank seeded the first $1 million, and sponsors contributed to increase the fund to $1.4 million. The five categories that received the most support were human services ($12 million), education ($8 million), youth development ($5 million), arts and humanities ($5 million), and animal welfare ($5 million).

Florida

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation has announced a $100,000 grant to Venice Area Beautification, Inc. (VABI), a 30-year-old volunteer-based organization, in support of the Venice Urban Forest. Since 1998, the foundation has provided more than $1.5 million in its partnership with VABI. Phase 3, the final phase of the Urban Forest, is focused on the installation of additional piping to irrigate the new trees and understory plants. The grant will cover the purchase and planting of native trees, including 400 slash pines, 200 red cedars, and 10 longleaf pines. The Urban Forest, which lost approximately 125 trees as a result of Hurricane Ian, is home to more than 90 species of birds.

Michigan

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has announced that its Pontiac Funders Collaborative initiative has awarded 15 grants totaling $122,500 to build capacity among local leaders and organizations working to improve the quality of life in Pontiac through community-driven change. Now in its third year, the funders collaborative has awarded 75 grants totaling $3.8 million in support of economic growth and prosperity in Pontiac. The latest recipients include Accent Pontiac, Baldwin Center, E-Community Outreach Services, and Hope Against Trafficking.

Nebraska

The Omaha Community Foundation has announced the 10 nonprofit leaders of color who have been selected to participate in its Nonprofit Capacity Building Program. Selected from among 67 applicants, the cohort will participate in a 10-month curriculum designed to unpack and uplift their unique experiences, while increasing their organizational and leadership capacity. Participants also will receive a $5,000 grant for personal and organizational development.

New Mexico

The Santa Fe Community Foundation has announced that its Envision Fund, the largest LGBTQ+ funder in New Mexico, has awarded $100,000 in grants to 16 LGBTQ+-serving nonprofit organizations across the state. Recipients include Heart Gallery of New Mexico Foundation, IndigenousWays, Santa Fe Dreamers Project, and Way Out West Film Fest.

New York

The Rochester Area Community Foundation has announced that Monroe County Aging Alliance has become a joint initiative of the foundation and the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes. Patricia Campbell and Leanne Rorick will serve as co-directors. For the past 10 years, the alliance has been an informal consortium that convened local leaders in the field to set an aging agenda for the community.

Oregon

The Oregon Community Foundation has announced grants totaling more than $900,000 to 30 Oregon-based nonprofits working to close the opportunity gap for children from low-income families, communities of color, and rural areas. Recipients of grants from the GO Kids initiative include the ARC of Lane County, Better Together Central Oregon, and the McMinnville School District.

Texas

The Permian Basin Area Foundation in Midland has announced more than $1.7 million in grants awarded during its fall grant cycle. Recipients include Addy’s Hope Adoption Agency, Chinati Foundation, Manor Park, and Pink the Basin.

Wisconsin

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation has announced a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor in support of its Greater Together Campaign to redevelop the ThriveOn King building. The donor directed $500,000 of their $1 million gift to the ThriveOn Early Childhood Education Fund and $500,000 to the ThriveOn Collaboration Fund to respectively support capital costs and construction of the early childhood education space and first-floor development overall.