–The Growing Together: An LGBTQ Fund (GTF), a fund held at The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, is seeking nominations of leaders that have supported the LGBTQ community. An annual award is presented each year during Central Coast Pride in May to an individual, business, or organization demonstrating ongoing support of social justice, inclusivity, and equality for the LGBTQ community in San Luis Obispo County through philanthropy, business practices, direct services, advocacy or community action and/or having a positive impact on the LGBTQ community. The deadline to nominate leaders is Thursday, May 6 at 5 p.m. The application can be accessed through this online form or The Community Foundation website at www.cfsloco.org.
Heidi H. McPherson
–The Pacific Business Coast Times released their Top 50 Women in Business article on March 26, 2021. Heidi McPherson, CEO of The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, was named as one of the Top 50 Women in Business for her philanthropic career and dedication to nonprofits.
As CEO of The Community Foundation, McPherson works with her team and The Community Foundation Board to provide support for the community by serving as a catalyst and connector between donors and local nonprofit organizations. McPherson’s focus on improving the community did not slow when in-person work halted due to the pandemic. In fact, with the help of her team, McPherson led The Community Foundation through one of its most impactful years, providing over $5.1 million to local nonprofit organizations through 808 grants in 2020. Her momentum continues on as The Community Foundation just awarded over $500,000 through the Spring General Grant Cycle, making a cumulative $1.13 millio
SLO County UndocuSupport raises over $435,000 to benefit local immigrants pasoroblesdailynews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pasoroblesdailynews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Each scholarship supports specific areas of interest to enhance the development of a diverse skillset in the leaders of tomorrow.
–The San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation’s annual scholarship application deadline is Feb. 7 for high school seniors and college students. The scholarship program offers 35 different scholarships which will award over $250,000 to more than 60 students.
A full list of available scholarships and applications can be found online at www.cfsloco.org/available-scholarships.
These annual scholarships are made possible by generous donors of The Community Foundation. Each scholarship supports specific areas of interest to enhance the development of a diverse skillset in the leaders of tomorrow. Each year this program impacts students from all areas of the county supporting academic and professional aspirations.
Local nonprofit partners received half a million dollars through more than 60 grants in 2020
–Over the past nine months, half a million dollars has been awarded through the Disaster Support Fund from The Community Foundation in grants to local nonprofit organizations. The Disaster Support Fund was opened in mid-March in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic with the mission to support San Luis Obispo County nonprofits with the funds they need to aid our most at-risk populations. Since the opening of the Disaster Support Fund, The Community Foundation has received nearly 400 donations of all sizes.
Thanks to the support of community members, donors, and the board, 60 grants to date have been awarded totaling $504,000. Grants have gone to 31 different organizations making an impact on our most vulnerable populations. At-risk community members include, but are not limited to, those that are housing insecure, food insecure, low-income residents, undocumented, elderly and other population