Volunteer Centers of Santa Cruz County

Monterey Peninsula Foundation

Monterey, CA

Monterey Peninsula Foundation funds nonprofits, schools, and public agencies working in arts and culture, community and environment, education, health and human services, and youth. It serves Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties; listed awards range from $1,000 to $500,000, with a 2025 median of $50,000. Applicants must schedule a pre-application meeting and apply through its online portal; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Community Foundation Santa Cruz

Aptos, CA

Community Foundation Santa Cruz County funds nonprofits and public agencies in areas including arts and culture, community development, education, environment, health, and human services, with a focus on local needs and flexible support. Its 2025 giving included $31.7 million in grants and scholarships to 887 nonprofits; Community Grants typically offer flexible support, but no typical award size is stated. Community Grants focus on Santa Cruz County and are by invitation, so unsolicited requests are not accepted for that program.

The Repass-Rodgers Foundation Inc

Wilmington, DE

The Repass-Rodgers Foundation supports environmental and river conservation, education, youth sailing, and related charitable work, primarily in California, with some funding elsewhere in the U.S. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000; it funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Michael & Alice Chetkovich Foundation

Santa Cruz, CA

The foundation funds scholarships and student support, as well as community services such as food access, housing, homelessness services, health care, and hospice. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $5,500, and went mainly to California organizations, especially in the Santa Cruz area. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Newman's Own Foundation

Westport, CT

Newman’s Own Foundation funds U.S.-focused organizations that support children facing adversity, especially through serious-illness programs, nutrition education and school food, and Indigenous food justice. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $3.5 million, with a median of $25,000. It makes grants only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

The J Miles and Rosanne Reiter

Watsonville, CA

The foundation supports charitable organizations in areas including community services, environmental stewardship, health care, food access, youth programs, and education, with most of its giving going to California. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median of $5,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.

Sutter Bay Medical Foundation

Sacramento, CA

Sutter Bay Medical Foundation supports research, health care, and community programs, with 2024 grants also reaching organizations focused on senior services, food assistance, counseling, domestic violence, and youth well-being. Its 22 grants in 2024 ranged from $7,500 to $360,337, with a median of $7,500, and all went to California recipients. The supplied information does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

DJ and NB Larson Family Foundation Inc

Santa Cruz, CA

Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation

Truckee, CA

The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation funds U.S. nonprofits advancing gender and racial equity and justice, with priorities including reproductive justice, legal advocacy, education, and support for women, girls, and gender-expansive people of color. Recent grants ranged from $500 to $40,000, with a median of $10,000; it focuses primarily on Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, with occasional support elsewhere in California and nationally. It does not accept unsolicited requests; organizations must first submit an Organization Information Form and may be invited to apply.

Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust

Watsonville, CA

The health trust aims to improve health and quality of life for residents of the greater pajaro valley by providing health promotion services and diabetes self-management education. Additionally, we convene cross-sector stakeholders to align resources to realize a shared vision of health and provide grants and allied support to local groups ensuring access to health promotion and disease prevention programs as well as quality, culturally competent whole person healthcare.

The Nicholson Family Foundation

Petaluma, CA

The Nicholson Family Foundation funds youth-focused arts, education, and social services for underserved communities, prioritizing smaller-budget nonprofits in Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $5,000, and it accepts unsolicited requests through an online Letter of Inquiry process.

Sharanam Foundation

Watsonville, CA