The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County (SLOCCF) is a 501(c)(3) community foundation established in 1998, based in San Luis Obispo, California. The organization provides philanthropic leadership and encourages charitable giving to address issues that improve and enhance lives throughout the county. With 19 employees, the foundation serves as a vehicle for donors to direct their charitable contributions while supporting a wide range of initiatives, projects, and organizations across the region.
Key facts about The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo
- EIN
- 77-0496500
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,951,234
- Grants made (2024)
- 83
- Average grant
- $35,557
- Median grant
- $23,457
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (13 of 83, 2024)
- Total assets
- $86,684,506
- Primary geography
- California (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation has moved its application process to a new online platform requiring all users to create new accounts. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo's 83 itemized 2024 grants were California (96%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Luis Obispo, CA (49 grants), Arroyo Grande, CA (5 grants), Morro Bay, CA (5 grants) and Grover Beach, CA (3 grants). 58% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 83 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $37K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $24K repeat.
- 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo
- How to evaluate The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo with AI
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$86.7M
+14.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.0M
+10.9% YoY
Grant Count
83
-10.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
+24.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County provides leadership and encourages charitable giving for the issues that improve and enhance lives in the county. The foundation promotes philanthropy that strengthens civic life across the San Luis Obispo County region in response to the ever-changing demographics and needs of communities.
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on eight core areas:
- Arts & Culture
- Education
- Health
- Human Services
- Scholarships
- Environment
- Community Enhancement
- Flexible category for donors with diverse charitable interests
Grantmaking
The foundation administers multiple grant programs with varying timelines and focus areas:
How to Apply
The foundation has moved its application process to a new online platform requiring all users to create new accounts.
Ready to take the next step with The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County serves the entire County of San Luis Obispo, California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 83 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Revenue: $7.79 million
- Total Expenses: $5.71 million
- Total Assets: $86.7 million
- Total Liabilities: $5.43 million
As of 2023:
- Total Revenue: $3,221,396
- Total Expenses: $5,369,282
- Total Assets: $75,470,661
The foundation operates a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $86,684,506 | $75,470,661 | $66,389,017 |
| Revenue | $7,787,984 | $3,221,396 | $8,587,085 |
| Expenses | $5,714,290 | $5,369,282 | $6,225,053 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,594,597 | $-241,136 | $1,361,711 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
640 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
37 open opportunities from The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo
Alan D. Stephenson Scholarship Grant
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Alfred I., Catharine J., and Eleanor G. Switzer Scholarship Grant
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Bernhard H. Singsen Scholarship Grant
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo
Amount
Up to US $4,450
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Slo Classical Academy ($250,000), The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County ($232,314), Cal Poly State University ($210,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SLO CLASSICAL ACADEMY San Luis Obispo, CA | RESTRICTED TO PURCHASING A NEW BUILDING, REMODELING, AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO ESTABLISH A NEW SCHOOL PREMISES. | $250,000 |
| THE LAND CONSERVANCY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY San Luis Obispo, CA | RESTRICTED TO SUPPORT THE LEARNING AMONG THE OAKS PROGRAM AND THE WHEELCHAIR WEDNESDAY PROGRAM | $232,314 |
| CAL POLY STATE UNIVERSITY San Luis Obispo, CA | 2024 STOLLMEYER BLACK TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS | $210,000 |
| CUESTA COLLEGE FOUNDATION San Luis Obispo, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $103,875 |
| LUMINA ALLIANCE San Luis Obispo, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $103,500 |
| CAL POLY FOUNDATION San Luis Obispo, CA | TO BE GRANTED TO THE LYCKE TRUST, A FUND HELD AT THE CAL POLY FOUNDATION RESTRICTED TO ESTABLISH THE CAL POLY'S NOYCE SCHOOL OF APPLIED COMPUTING EDUCATIONAL "LECTURE SERIES" | $102,000 |
| FOOD BANK COALITION OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY San Luis Obispo, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $101,507 |
| JAMES W BRABECK YOUTH LEGACY FUND FOUNDATION San Luis Obispo, CA | TO SUPPORT THE SB COUNTY FAIR BUYERS COALITION | $97,000 |
| EL CAMINO HOMELESS ORGANIZATION Atascadero, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $71,300 |
| SAN LUIS OBISPO REPERTORY THEATRE San Luis Obispo, CA | OPERATING GENERAL COSTS | $67,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kath Tompkins | President | 4 | — |
| Rick Williams | Vice President | 4 | — |
| Anita Robinson | Treasurer | 4 | — |
| Pat Hosegood Martin | Secretar | 4 | — |
| Jeff Buckingham | Director | 4 | — |
| Gwen Erskine | President of Ref, Director | 4 | — |
| Grenda Ernst | Director | 4 | — |
| Suzanne Fritz | Director | 4 | — |
| Rob Garcia | Director | 4 | — |
| Shelly Higginbotham | Director | 4 | — |
| Ben McAdams | Director | 4 | — |
| Anneka Scranton | Director | 4 | — |
| Tom Sherman | Director | 4 | — |
| Linda Somers Smith | Director | 4 | — |
| Heidi McPherson | Chief Executive Officer | 50 | $224,744 |
| Michael Jones | Chief Financial Officer | 50 | $162,294 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County announced $2.26 million in grants to stabilize nonprofits. The foundation also scaled its Critical Response Fund with a $1.2 million county investment. Over $120,000 was awarded to local nonprofits through various funds held at the foundation. Five nonprofits received Arts & Culture grants in recent grant cycles.
Member News | The Community Foundation SLO County ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo fund?
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County provides leadership and encourages charitable giving for the issues that improve and enhance lives in the county. The foundation promotes philanthropy that strengthens civic life across the San Luis Obispo County region in response to the ever-changing demographics and needs of communities. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on eight core areas: • Arts & Culture • Education • Health • Human Services • Scholarships • Environment • Community Enh…
How do I apply for a grant from The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo?
The foundation has moved its application process to a new online platform requiring all users to create new accounts. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo make grants?
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County serves the entire County of San Luis Obispo, California.
What size grants does The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo award?
In 2024, The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo awarded 83 grants totaling $3.0M — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo's EIN?
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0496500. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.