Ventura County is home to thousands of nonprofit organizations. These organizations have missions they strive to advance and protect everyday – but what about 10 years from now?
Charitable organizations committed to providing services for the long-term will be immeasurably strengthened by a permanent endowment program.
Endowment funds help stabilize operations and allow for long-range financial planning. They also provide for a reliable source of income for the life of an organization.
Start your endowment fund today!
- Supplement annual operating programs beyond current year funding.
- Allocate seed money for new programs which cannot be supported through normal annual campaign funds.
- Accumulate funds to replace and renew physical facilities.
- Help sustain an organization in case of emergency or economic crisis.
- Promote an agency across a wider range of constituents and supporters.
- Provide a vehicle for planned or deferred gifts from donors.
*For more information, or to open a fund, please contact Jim Rivera, Chief Philanthropic Counsel, at jrivera@vccf.org or 805-330-6679.
Current Requests for Proposal:
Barbara Barnard Smith Fund for World Musics
The Barbara Barnard Smith Fund for World Musics was established in 1992 to enhance understanding of global intercultural and local multicultural environments through expanding acquaintance with artistic heritages beyond those of Euro-American concert traditions. The donor-advised fund will consider applications from schools and from organizations established to present concerts for the public to support performances of non-Western classical and folk musics by bearers of these traditions, and of contemporary compositions for traditional or Western instruments inspired by and incorporating elements of these musics.
The application is now open, click here to apply. The deadline to submit an application is January 12, 2024, at 5 p.m. PST. Time from the application deadline to decision is approximately 1-2 months.
Questions about grants may be sent to Mike Silacci, Chief Philanthropic Counsel, at msilacci@vccf.org.
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Limoneira Foundation Fund
The Limoneira Company has been building and sustaining community for 130 years. Our commitment is deeply embedded in our culture and drives value creation for our supply chain, the communities in which we live and work, the environment, our employees and the long-term success of our company. Our teams work together to raise awareness, generate resources and participate in events that resonate with our local area, customers and community members. We believe and have shown we can make a difference. We invest in the economic, social, and cultural vibrancy of Santa Paula, Oxnard and the communities of the Santa Clara Valley including, Piru, Fillmore and Ventura.
Applications for the Limoneira Foundation Fund are opening soon.
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Kimberly J. Engberg Fund for LGBTQ+ Equality
Grants from the Kimberly J. Engberg Fund for LGBTQ+ Equality shall be to provide funding to organizations serving the LGBTQ communities in the Counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo. No preference shall be given to any one county. Consideration should be given to programs that have strong, scientifically based evidence of positive outcomes and demonstrated measurable effectiveness. Funding to organizations may be provided as “Matching gift” grants in an effort to encourage organizations to broaden their donor base. *Requests for funding should not exceed $500.
Applications for the Kimberly J. Engberg Fund for LGBTQ+ Equality are now closed.
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Smith-Hobson Foundation
The Smith-Hobson Foundation supports arts and cultural projects, such as those associated with museums, historical societies, fine and performing arts, and arts education and access, in western Ventura County. The board of the Smith-Hobson Foundation may solicit or recommend grants outside of these funding priorities and/or with broader geographic focus; such grants will be solicited directly by the Smith-Hobson Foundation.
Applications for the Smith-Hobson Foundation are now closed.
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Swift Memorial Health Care Foundation
The Swift Memorial Health Care Foundation was established in 1984 with the assets of the sale of the Oxnard Community Hospital to Republic Health Corporation. Swift Memorial Health Care Foundation awards grants to agencies that provide health services to Ventura County residents. The Foundation was named in recognition and honor of Dr. Floyd J. Swift and his wife, Ida Swift, who both made significant contributions to the quality of life in Ventura County.
The Swift Memorial Health Care Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation that contracts with VCCF for administrative, investment, and staffing services.
The Swift Memorial Health Care Foundation has two grant cycles. The Swift grant cycle is currently closed. Application coming soon.
Questions about grants may be sent to Mike Silacci, Chief Philanthropic Counsel, at msilacci@vccf.org.
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Setting up an agency endowment with VCCF is simple. All that is required is:
- A name for your fund.
- A purpose for your fund, such as what programs you wish to support.
- Approval of your Board and the minutes that reflect that approval.
- A copy of your Articles of Incorporation.
Can nonprofit agencies be fund holders?
Yes! Many nonprofit agencies have started funds at VCCF in order to stabilize their operations and allow for long-range financial planning. For more information on how a fund could benefit your organization, please contact Jim Rivera, Chief Philanthropic Counsel, at jrivera@vccf.org.
Can individual donors establish a fund specifically to support us?
Yes! VCCF is home to many Designated Funds. Once established, these funds can be used for the benefit of one or more specific public charities.
How can I access the VCCF Resource Library?
Please call or e-mail to schedule an appointment at (805) 330-6671 or aweissman@vccf.org.
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Guide for Grantseekers
Each year, the Ventura County Community Foundation awards grants for all areas of community need. Grant dollars are derived from designated funds, donor advised funds, endowment funds, field-of-interest funds, special funds and greatest needs funds.
VCCF accepts proposals only in response to an open Request for Proposals (RFP).
Competitive Grant Cycles
Only certain funds are open to application. All Request for Proposals are publicly announced and specifically describe the focus areas for which proposals are being sought. The VCCF looks for projects where a moderate amount of grant money may affect a significant result, and where there is a well-planned and/or new approach to solving community problems. We encourage proposals with cooperation and partnering among charitable organizations.
Fiscal Sponsorship Policy
Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status as designated by the Internal Revenue Service may apply for grants using a fiscal sponsor.
Library for Nonprofit Research and Development
The VCCF is home to the Library for Nonprofit Research and Development with over 1,000 print publications, books and periodicals on nonprofit management topics as well as a database for grantseekers.
The resources of the library consist of two main collections:
- The Collection for Excellence in Nonprofit Management
Houses books and periodicals on nonprofit management, nonprofit start-up, board development, volunteerism and other related topics. - The Helen M. Yunker Collection for Research and Development of Nonprofit Resources
Includes titles focusing on fundraising, foundations and grants, and proposal writing. This collection also includes the Foundation Center database as well as their published materials.
The VCCF is a Funding Information Network partner of the Foundation Center. The Foundation Center has long been a leading provider of data covering all aspects of institutional philanthropy. Visitors may access the Foundation Center’s online database, Foundation Directory Online Professional, with immediate access to over 140,000 grantmaker profiles, Philanthropy News, Requests for Proposals and Grantseeker Training.
This service is appointment-only. Contact aweissman@vccf.org to find out which upcoming appointment time slots are available, as well as details on the guidelines for the service. Unfortunately, we do not accept walk-ins.
