Placer Community Foundation
Placer Community Foundation is a nonprofit community corporation created by and for the people of Placer County, California. Based in Auburn, CA, the organization serves as a philanthropic intermediary that connects donors, nonprofits, and communities to address local challenges and build a thriving region. Founded in 1948, the foundation operates as a public charity and enduring organization dedicated to growing local giving and serving as a preferred conduit for donors and professional advisors interested in establishing charitable endowments.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.9M
+17.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-14.9% YoY
Grant Count
57
+3.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
-17.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to inspire philanthropy to respond to critical community needs and build a thriving region where every person prospers. As a trusted advisor and navigator for individuals, families, businesses, and government partners, the foundation serves as a critical link between caring donors, committed nonprofits, and local communities.
Primary funding areas include:
- Community Needs: Education, health and human services, animal welfare, senior programs, and preservation of historical landmarks and open space
- Arts: Development, promotion, and encouragement of arts and culture in Placer County, including visual arts residencies and workshops
- Youth Development and Education
- Civic Engagement
- Human Services and Health
The foundation also operates the Placer Collaborative Network, which brings together 40 nonprofit, government, health care, faith-based, educational, and municipal entities to work on collaborative issues facing children, adults, and families in Placer County.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications and maintains an open application policy.
Grant Range
$5,000–$258,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds in California, with a specific focus on Placer County and the Auburn area. Grant-making also extends to Washington and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Giving (2024)
- Total assets: $21,945,309
- Total giving: $1,477,928
- Giving rate: 8.1% of assets
Historical Assets
- 2024: $18.6 million–$21.9 million
- 2023: $16.3 million
Operations
- Annual revenue: $10.0 million
- Annual expenses: $2.8 million
- Total revenues (2024): $4,570,305
- Total expenses (2024): $2,505,098
- Employees: 5–6 staff members
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,945,309 | $18,615,872 | $16,321,586 |
| Revenue | $4,570,305 | $3,980,860 | $2,435,295 |
| Expenses | $2,505,098 | $2,813,270 | $2,669,921 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $815,641 | $978,195 | $259,226 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
244 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Auburn Community Foundation ($180,656), Gold Country Wildlife Rescue ($154,091), Cal Poly Foundation ($55,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 40 Acre Conservation League Sacramento, CA | Open Space Preservation | $10,000 |
| AAUW of Auburn Auburn, CA | Education | $5,500 |
| Almost Free to All Auburn, CA | Health & Human Services | $22,000 |
| Animal Spay and Neuter Clinic Auburn, CA | Animal Protection/Services | $5,500 |
| Art League of Lincoln Lincoln, CA | Arts | $10,200 |
| Auburn Aviation Association Auburn, CA | Education | $11,000 |
| Auburn Community Foundation Auburn, CA | Building Fund | $180,656 |
| Auburn Interfaith Food Closet Auburn, CA | Health & Human Services | $14,650 |
| Auburn State Theatre Auburn, CA | Arts | $28,130 |
| Auburn Symphony Auburn, CA | Arts | $53,590 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Veronica Blake: CEO
- Paul McKenna: Board Member
- Jim Williams: Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veronica Blake | CEO | 40 | $207,717 |
| Jason Bell | Treasurer | 5 | — |
| David Boesch | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Chey Bryant | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Sheila Cardno | 1st Vice Chair | 5 | — |
| Dick Kramer | 2nd Vice Chair | 5 | — |
| Elise Baker | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Ken Larson | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Margaret Fulton | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Vicki Spannagel | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Larry Welch | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Paul Aronowitz | Secretary | 5 | — |
| Pamela Constantino | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Guy Gibson | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Robert Weygandt | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Sue Thompson | Chairman | 10 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation celebrated its 20-year anniversary, marking two decades of inspiring philanthropy to respond to critical community needs and build a thriving region.
Sacramento Region Community Foundation Celebrates Nine Grant Recipients ofSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Placer Community Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to inspire philanthropy to respond to critical community needs and build a thriving region where every person prospers. As a trusted advisor and navigator for individuals, families, businesses, and government partners, the foundation serves as a critical link between caring donors, committed nonprofits, and local communities. Primary funding areas include: • **Community Needs**: Education, health and human services, animal welfare, senior programs, and preservation o…
How do I apply for a grant from Placer Community Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024)** • Total giving: $1.5 million • Number of grants: 55 • Median grant: $21,000 • Grant range: $5,000–$258,000 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023)** • Auburn State Theatre (Arts): $258,000 • Auburn Symphony (Arts): $38,000 • Auburn Interfaith Food Closet (Health & Human Services): $35,000 • Assistance League of Greater Placer (Health & Human Services): $29,000 • Allegiant Giving Corp (Community Services): $25,000 • A Touch of Understanding (Health & Human Services): $19,000 •…
Where does Placer Community Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds in California, with a specific focus on Placer County and the Auburn area. Grant-making also extends to Washington and Texas.
What size grants does Placer Community Foundation award?
In 2024, Placer Community Foundation awarded 57 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Placer Community Foundation's EIN?
Placer Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1485011. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Placer Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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