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Community Foundation reports grants, disaster-relief work and a co-ad blueprint after county contract
Summary
The Community Foundation of Nevada County told supervisors it has leveraged the county $250,000 contract to secure more than $550,000 in philanthropic support, incubated local programs, funded emergency warming shelter nights and produced a blueprint for a co-ad consortium to coordinate nonprofit disaster response.
The Community Foundation of Nevada County (CFNC) told the Board of Supervisors on May 19 that a county contract has helped the foundation attract outside funding and launch programs to strengthen disaster readiness and nonprofit capacity.
Kimberly Parker, the county economic development program manager, summarized the agreement the board approved in March 2024: a three-year, $250,000 contract with a required two-to-one match (CFNC committed $500,000), for a combined $750,000 of initial capital to stand up the foundation. Christine Kelly, CFNC executive director, said the foundation has raised an additional $110,000 in grant funding in 2025 and has secured more than $550,000 in philanthropic grants, contributions and endowed funds since the county investment began.
Kelly highlighted early results: CFNC incubated and fiscally sponsored the Community Roots school food program, expanded emergency sheltering (an emergency warming shelter recorded more than 182 overnight stays and 517 meals), provided refrigeration to the Oak Tree Family Resource Center and supported leadership development in small communities such as North San Juan. The foundation also launched an arts endowment and is working on a giving platform for fall 2026.
CFNC described a completed blueprint for a co-ad (a coordinated network of nonprofit, faith-based and community partners that complements government emergency operations). The proposed co-ad manager would be hosted at an existing community information hub (Connecting Point/2-1-1); CFNC said it would accept and manage philanthropic funds on the co-ad behalf and recommended braided funding to pay for a paid coordinator and operating costs.
Board members and nonprofit leaders in the audience praised CFNC for moving quickly to provide fiscal sponsorship and for raising funds for local priorities. Several speakers said the foundation helped keep dollars local during recent disasters and that it reduces administrative burdens for small nonprofits by offering pooled administrative and investment services.
Supervisor response: Supervisors accepted the informational presentation unanimously and commended CFNC for its early progress and outreach into rural parts of the county. Several members urged CFNC to continue broadening its board to reflect diverse community perspectives and to pursue donors beyond the county where appropriate to increase philanthropic capacity.
What to watch: CFNC said it is pursuing accreditation, building a community-giving platform for fall 2026 and seeking braided funding to staff the co-ad coordinator role; supervisors encouraged continued county partnership on implementation.
