Throughout the years and especially during the pandemic, the larger Palo Alto community is served by dozens of nonprofits who work day in and day out to make sure that our neighbors and the most vulnerable among us get the help they need. As a decades-long partner of these organizations, the Palo Alto Community Fund (PACF) is pleased to announce that we have distributed a total of $800,000 in new grants to 70 nonprofit organizations serving neighbors in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park. The grants are possible through the generosity of hundreds of local donors, who pitched in to support our 2020/21 fund.

Supporting continued relief and recovery

As we begin to emerge from this historic worldwide shutdown, many in our community are still reeling from the ripple effects of COVID-19.  Whether it is helping with food insecurity, rent assistance, childcare challenges, or many other hurdles, the need is clear, and our local nonprofits are being stretched in unprecedented ways.

PACF’s latest round of grants is focused on both addressing immediate relief, and providing broad, deep support for nonprofits offering programs and services that help local families, uplift our most vulnerable communities, improve education opportunities, mental health support and enhance community life for all of us.

This year’s PACF annual grant portfolio reflects an emphasis on nonprofit organizations that:

• serve East Palo Alto and Belle Haven
• address educational inequities exacerbated by COVID
• focus on growing mental health needs — especially youth
• meet basic needs, including food, shelter, healthcare and childcare
• deliver services to vulnerable populations such as seniors, people with disabilities, foster youth and immigrants
• enhance community life by providing fair access to a healthy environment, the arts and meaningful life skills

Trust-based Philanthropy

PACF is honored to stand with our local nonprofit partners. Smaller, community-based organizations are the “last mile” in the distribution of a wide range of resources and services, such as food, rent relief, COVID-testing and vaccine delivery. Our grant giving is trust-based, and gives nonprofits flexible funding to allow them to be nimble and responsive to the needs of the community they serve. PACF’s 40-plus years of experience working locally and the time we spend understanding and working with nonprofits ensures our grants are impactful and meaningful.

Thank you to our donors

In the past twelve months our donors have stepped up with record-setting donations to PACF — of which more than $2 million has been distributed to local organizations. Your generosity has enabled us to efficiently and effectively support our community during this unprecedented time.

What’s next?

In May, we will announce our 2nd annual Impact Grants, named in honor of the memory of community leader and longtime supporter Dave Mitchell.

Please Join Us in Thanking and Congratulating the Palo Alto Community Fund’s 2021 Annual Grant Recipients

Posted Apr 6, 2021