What We Do
The community foundation serves as a catalyst, convenor, collaborator and facilitator to solve problems and develop solutions to our community’s issues.
Simply put, community foundations are grantmaking public charities dedicated to improving the lives of people in a defined geographic area. For COFONC, that includes the communities of Washington, Nevada City, Grass Valley, Penn Valley, Rough and Ready and North San Juan. In addition to growing philanthropic resources, the Community Foundation acts as the “glue” that helps bind our community together.
Programs & Services
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Your generous support enables us to make grants to nonprofit groups and organizations that provide essential services and enhance the long-term wellbeing and quality of life for all in Western Nevada County. Our grants address specific issues facing our communities while strengthening the capacity and effectiveness of local nonprofits.
Our first grant cycle will launch in Fall 2025
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As the current profound shift from public funding of public services to private philanthropic funding continues, donating to COFONC insures that contributions from donors who love Western Nevada County are going where they’re most needed to keep our region strong, healthy and thriving. We are your partner in achieving your philanthropic goals.
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We incubate and facilitate projects in our community that are seeking fiscal sponsorship. Using a fiscal sponsorship arrangement offers a way for a cause to attract donors even when it is not yet recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). In essence the fiscal sponsor serves as the administrative "home" of the cause. Charitable contributions are given to the fiscal sponsor, which then grants them to support the cause.
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Through the Center for Nonprofit Leadership, we listen to the concerns and interests of our nonprofit community and then create programming to meet those needs. Topics range from the use of AI for Organizational Effectiveness, to our perennial Board Essentials.