Marin Community Foundation (MCF) in Novato, California, has announced the launch of its three-year, $30 million Community Power Initiative.

As part of the initiative, MCF will award $10 million annually to 80 organizations in Marin County. The multiyear, general operating grants are designed to reduce nonprofits’ administrative burden and increase both the level of their flexibility and stability. They are also designed to support smaller, and in some cases newer, organizations.

The Community Power Initiative is the largest grantmaking program to be developed through MCF’s newly created strategic plan. According to MCF, moving away from its previous theme-based grantmaking approach has enabled the foundation to support a greater variety of issues and populations. For example, in addition to continuing to provide support for education, child care, older adult-care, and food security, CPI will support individual organizations addressing the growing crisis with youth mental health, a broad array of new arts and culture organizations, youth-focused physical fitness, and legal assistance for low-income and immigrant populations.

“This is an historic moment at MCF,” said MCF president and CEO Rhea Suh. “Never before has MCF engaged in a truly open call for submissions, inviting any nonprofit serving Marin residents to participate. And never before have we offered general operating support over several years. It’s an explicit way for MCF to relinquish some of its power to those doing the hard work in [this] community, and to communicate the trust we have in our partnerships.”

For a complete list of recipients, see the Marin Community Foundation website.

(Photo credit; Getty Images/Vladimir Vladimirov)