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Regional Vibrancy and Sustainability

Making this a place we can all call home. 

Northern California is diverse and beautiful, with a rich cultural history and commitment to social justice. We are called upon to preserve it through shared effort. Today, the region’s economic boom is deepening income disparities and displacing the very people who form the backbone of the services and cultural building blocks for safe, thriving communities.

In addition, our nonprofit and arts institutions are themselves experiencing record displacement, further eroding the vibrant character and culture that have been the legacy of our region for generations.

Preservation of our environment and the beauty of our surroundings, as well as the mitigation of climate change, are also central to the vibrancy of our region.

Defining our Terms

Regional Vibrancy. The unique and distinct character that defines Northern California: its natural beauty, human diversity, artistic and cultural richness, innovative, entrepreneurial and creative economic engine, and deep legacy of social justice. Our "heartbeat," if you will. 

Sustainability. Strengthening and preserving our region's vital workforce, diverse and rich populations, nonprofit, nonprofit infrastructure, artistic and cultural communities and institutions, and natural environment. 

Events

Impact Investing: Investing to Create Equitable Jobs
Tuesday, December 1, 2020 - 10:30am

As we rebuild our economy in the wake of COVID-19, we are left with an opportunity to make inclusive growth a new cornerstone of American economic progress.

Impact Investing: An Impact Investing Journey to address California’s Housing Crisis
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 - 11:00am

Moderated by Amy Denhart, Director of Funders Together To End Homelessness San Diego, hear how two California impact investors are using non-traditional, inclusive approaches to build housing smarter and faster. Come and learn from your peers about emerging partnerships and structures.

Impact Investing: Disruptive Innovations in Health Care Investing and How Impact Investors Accelerated the COVID-19 Response
Wednesday, September 2, 2020 - 10:00am

The race for COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics is bringing forth the most powerful and innovative scientific collaboration in history.

Protecting Access to California’s 2020 Election and Beyond
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 - 10:00am

As our nation grapples with a global health emergency, our democracy and elections remain uncertain. Concerns regarding voter turnout, physical distancing, and the resurgence of the virus are moving state leaders to an all-mail voting system.

Aging Intersections: A Funder Network | Conversation about Older Adults, Food Security, and Equity
Tuesday, June 2, 2020 - 2:00pm

Access to healthy food and adequate nutrition is an increasing struggle for low-income older adults.

All RVS Events

Resources

CHCF Health Innovation Fund

The California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) supports the testing and evaluation of innovative approaches to improve health care.

Creating Order from Chaos: Roles for Philanthropy in Disaster Planning and Response

When the Jessie Ball duPont Fund went beyond its traditional disaster relief support after two devastating tornadoes struck Alabama in 2011, staff realized that they did not know enough about how public and private systems work, about where, when and how they intersect, or about organized philanthropy’s proper role. Through this document, they share their lessons and reflections.

Resources from Hurricane Irma: What Funders Should Know (Webinar)

The “Hurricane Irma: What Funders Should Know” webinar gathered several expert panelists to provide updates on U.S. damages and the situation throughout the Caribbean, and ways funders can address recovery needs.

Resources from There’s a Hole in My Budget: What’s the Governor Covering and What’s Left Out?

With a new federal tax plan recently passed and budget cuts looming, the Governor and other state policymakers will face a tall task in order to fund the programs that provide the opportunities California values. To help finance tax reductions for corporations and the wealthiest Americans, Congre

Resources from Innovations in Nonprofit Capacity Building with a Regional Approach

How can foundations address the targeted capacity building needs of nonprofits, at scale, throughout a region? The San Francisco Foundation and The East Bay Community Foundation are mobilizing resources and acting as catalysts for change to build strong communities, foster civic leadership, and promote philanthropy. As a part of this work, they are building regional collaboratives that focus on nonprofit sustainability in innovative new ways. in a June 26 program, they shared their vision to think innovatively and in partnership with other foundations to achieve their goal of greater racial and economic equity across the region.

All RVS Resources

News

Alice Hom and Daniel Lau
Thursday, May 7, 2020
What We're Reading: May Equity & Social Justice Edition

As the pandemic illuminates the structural cracks in our system, the spring month of May brings about renewal and growth—we hope this collection of articles does just that for you. This month's collection aims to increase understanding and bring more attention to the impacts our communities are facing. We specifically highlight increasing disparities in communities of color, hardships of front line workers, the war narrative, and the need for racial equity inclusive economic power shifts.

Friday, May 1, 2020
All In for All of Us: A Public-Private Fund for Undocumented Immigrants

As Californians we know that our own well-being is tied to everyone else’s. California’s Immigrant Resilience Fund is making headlines demonstrating that we are standing together to make sure each and every one of us—native and newcomer—has resources to prevail through the outbreak. No one stands alone. We are one beloved community. Kathleen Kelly Janus, Senior Advisor to the Governor, and Daranee Petsod of Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees joined NCG’s Emily Katz to explain how the fund came to be, some surprising new supporters, and what it means to have a ‘Si Se Puede’ moment (Yes, We Can!)

Thursday, April 23, 2020
Six Questions You Can Ask To Support Disability Inclusion

Funders have an opportunity to protect and preserve disability civil and human rights for the 1 in 4 Americans that have a disability. How can we alter our practices to be intentional about disability-inclusive giving? How can applying a disability lens create more effective grantmaking, especially now?  

Thursday, April 9, 2020
Kicking Off Our Search for a New President and CEO

At the end of last year, we announced the departure of Ellen LaPointe as president and CEO of Northern California Grantmakers. When she left the organization on February 28, little did we know how much would change for our organization, our region and the world in the weeks that followed.

Thursday, April 9, 2020
What We're Reading: April Equity & Social Justice Edition

More than ever, the focus on equity and social justice is needed during this time. April finds us physically distancing ourselves and for some communities the challenges are not new, just exacerbated with life-and-death consequences. The articles this month highlight the impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities and how we need to re-think care, who does the care work, and why do disparities exist.

All RVS News