Community Foundation of Mendocino County
The Community Foundation of Mendocino County is a public charity based in Ukiah, California, that administers permanent charitable funds and makes grants and scholarships supporting communities throughout Mendocino County. It was formed in 1993 and describes its work as serving donors, making grants, and acting as a community catalyst for positive change.
Community Foundation of Mendocino County at a glance
In short: Community Foundation of Mendocino County gave $1.8M across 120 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in California. 34% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,824,011
- +5.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 120
- +10.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,200
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,800
- Total assets
- $66,424,521
- +11.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (40 of 118, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Community Foundation of Mendocino County
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; applications are considered through specific grant programs and their posted deadlines. Competitive applications are screened for completeness and program eligibility, then reviewed by staff, volunteers, and regional advisors. Applicants may be assessed on their response to community needs, ability to deliver services, potential to attract additional funding or volunteer support, and contribution to local quality of life. Competitive programs fund 501(c)(3) organizations and public agencies serving Mendocino County. Most grants require reports on the use of funds, and a grantee may need to submit an interim or final report before receiving another grant. The Foundation’s 2024 filing narrative also states that grants require board approval, a signed grant agreement before funds are released, and recipient reports on how funds were used.
- Contact
Mailing address: 204 South Oak St, Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: (707) 468-9882
Website: https://communityfound.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
43 open opportunities from Community Foundation of Mendocino County
Agricultural Families' Scholarship Fund
Community Foundation of Mendocino County
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Alma and August Mendosa Scholarship Fund Grant
Community Foundation of Mendocino County
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Alma and August Mendosa Vocational Scholarship Grant
Community Foundation of Mendocino County
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Community Foundation of Mendocino County funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Don't Ever Give up Inc ($175K). Together the top 10 received $720K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($7,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
526 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 485 grants of 526 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated focus is Mendocino County and its residents. Its annual competitive grant process seeks proposals from organizations based in the county or from organizations with projects that specifically benefit county residents. In 2025, 89% of itemized grant dollars went to recipients in California; the remaining reported shares went to North Carolina (10%), Illinois (1%), and Maryland (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 120 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Community Foundation of Mendocino County open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 40 of 118 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $11K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2021) to $3.0M (2022). In 2025 it made 120 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Don't Ever Give up Inc Cary, NC | Program Support | $175,000 |
| Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County Redwood Valley, CA | General Operating Support | $109,677 |
| Ukiah Senior Center Ukiah, CA | General Operating Support | $75,557 |
| Mendocino Coast Humane Society Fort Bragg, CA | General Operating Support | $70,500 |
| Mendocino Presbyterian Church Mendocino, CA | General Operating Support | $66,585 |
| Mendocino Music Festival Association Mendocino, CA | General Operating Support | $55,129 |
| Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens Fort Bragg, CA | General Operating Support | $49,129 |
| Redwood Coast Seniors Inc Fort Bragg, CA | General Operating Support | $47,684 |
| Kelley House Museum Mendocino, CA | General Operating Support | $37,108 |
| Mendocino Art Center Mendocino, CA | General Operating Support | $33,938 |
Ready to take the next step with Community Foundation of Mendocino County?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $66,424,521 | $6,766,329 | $3,630,325 | $1,824,011 | 120 | $4,259,048 |
| 2024 | $59,811,769 | $4,612,010 | $3,471,073 | $1,734,296 | 109 | $561,110 |
| 2023 | $52,345,801 | $4,993,048 | $3,405,975 | $1,840,526 | 102 | $678,941 |
| 2022 | $45,683,169 | $10,888,124 | $4,349,761 | $2,960,695 | 135 | $490,504 |
| 2021 | $47,391,742 | $4,557,734 | $3,681,514 | $1,571,281 | 60 | $1,321,730 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to inspire and steward generosity to foster vibrant, inclusive, and healthy communities throughout Mendocino County. It provides competitive and non-competitive grant opportunities, as well as scholarships. Its website says applicants may include nonprofits based in Mendocino County or organizations proposing projects with specific benefit to county residents.
Examples of supported organizations reflect varied community needs. The Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County describes its work as providing a safe haven for adoptable animals and educating the public about humane treatment. Ukiah Senior Center says it works to improve quality of life for area seniors and help them remain independent. Mendocino Music Festival describes its mission as presenting music to enrich, educate, and entertain residents and visitors.
Grantmaking
IRS filing data for 2025 lists 120 grants totaling $1,824,011. Itemized grants ranged from $5,300 to $175,000, with a median of $7,800. The largest listed award was $175,000 to Don’t Ever Give Up Inc. in Cary, North Carolina, for program support. Other large awards included $109,677 to the Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County for general operating support; $75,557 to Ukiah Senior Center for general operating support; and $70,500 to Mendocino Coast Humane Society for general operating support.
The Foundation’s 2024 filing narrative separately reports approximately $2,167,000 in grants to 250 nonprofit organizations serving Mendocino County, supporting arts and culture, healthy communities, environmental stewardship, and disaster relief. It also reports administering 50 scholarship funds and awarding approximately $446,000 in scholarships to 125 students pursuing postsecondary education or career training.
The Foundation describes annual competitive programs, along with some programs that accept applications on an ongoing basis as funding allows. Its grantmaking page lists programs such as Field-of-Interest, Community Enrichment, Angel Fund Block, Community Support, Save-the-Day, and American Youth Services. The supplied program information for two Field-of-Interest opportunities was last updated in August 2025 and should not be read as confirmation that applications are open now.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Albert Ganter as chairperson; Dave Riemenschneider as vice chair; Philip Thomas as second vice chair; Allyne Brown as treasurer; Linda Ruffing as secretary; and Winston Bowen, Amy McHenry, Emily Ellickson-Brown, Holly Brackman, and Margot Rawlins as directors.
Community Foundation of Mendocino County is led by Tawny Bailey, President & Ceo- From Feb on the 2025 filing; none of the 16 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Tawny Bailey
President & Ceo- From Feb
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Albert Ganter
Chairperson
1st Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2022
Board Chair → Chairperson, 2023
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Mayfield
Director
Treasurer → Past Treasurer, 2024
Past Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Margot Rawlins
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Monte Hill
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paula Cohen
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Winston Bowen
Director
Board Member → Past Chairperson, 2023
Past Chairperson → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy McHenry
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Holly Brackman
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Ellickson-Brown
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dusty Duley
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Ulises Velasco
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Linda Ruffing
Secretary
2nd Vice Chair → Director, 2023
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Philip Thomas
Second Vice Chair
Board Member → Director, 2023
Director → Second Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allyne Brown
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dave Riemenschneider
Vice Chair
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Jim Taul (2021–2024) — Past Chairperson
- Former: Megan Barber Allende (2021–2024) — President & CEO
- Former: David Riemenschneider (2021–2023) — Second Vice Chair
- Former: Gayle Greene (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Tom Johnson (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: James Mayfield (2022) — Treasurer
- Former: James Taul (2022) — 1st Vice Chair
- Former: Thomas Johnson (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Alan Falleri (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Kathy Wylie (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Zach Stephens (2021) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Community Foundation of Mendocino County
How much does Community Foundation of Mendocino County give each year?
Community Foundation of Mendocino County gave $1.8M across 120 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 109 grants.
What is Community Foundation of Mendocino County's typical grant size?
Community Foundation of Mendocino County's median grant in 2025 was $7,800, and its average grant was $15,200, across 120 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Community Foundation of Mendocino County that year got $9K on average.
Where does Community Foundation of Mendocino County give grants?
Community Foundation of Mendocino County gives mostly in California: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Bragg, CA (25 grants), Ukiah, CA (23 grants), Mendocino, CA (13 grants) and Willits, CA (11 grants).
Does Community Foundation of Mendocino County give general operating support?
Yes: 42% of Community Foundation of Mendocino County's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (50 of 120) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (22 grants) and "Disaster Relief/Preparedness" (4 grants).
Who are Community Foundation of Mendocino County's largest grantees?
Community Foundation of Mendocino County's largest 2025 grantees include Don't Ever Give up Inc ($175,000), Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County ($109,677) and Ukiah Senior Center ($75,557), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($7,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Community Foundation of Mendocino County?
Community Foundation of Mendocino County reported $66.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.8M.
What does Community Foundation of Mendocino County fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to inspire and steward generosity to foster vibrant, inclusive, and healthy communities throughout Mendocino County. It provides competitive and non-competitive grant opportunities, as well as scholarships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Community Foundation of Mendocino County?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; applications are considered through specific grant programs and their posted deadlines. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Community Foundation of Mendocino County's EIN?
Community Foundation of Mendocino County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0330462. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Community Foundation of Mendocino County accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Community Foundation of Mendocino County's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Community Foundation of Mendocino County funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/community-foundation-of-mendocino-county-morg_20ed43b9350c4490855758e0f822b8fa
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_680330462_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Community Foundation of Mendocino County funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/community-foundation-of-mendocino-county-morg_20ed43b9350c4490855758e0f822b8fa},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Community Foundation of Mendocino County's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Community Foundation of Mendocino County down — hundreds of funders to go?