2025 Grant Announcement
PACF Invests $1.8M in Community Strength and Resilience
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Palo Alto Community Fund (PACF) is pleased to announce $1.8 million in grants to 73 local organizations. These grants will help ensure nonprofits have the stability and resources needed to sustain critical work and plan for the future in this time of profound challenges.
Nonprofits are the backbone of our community, providing essential services that support thousands of residents. With mounting uncertainty—marked by sudden cuts in public funding, shifting public policy, economic pressures, and changing donor priorities—our local nonprofit organizations are facing extraordinary disruption and instability impacting them and ultimately many of us and our neighbors who benefit from their work. PACF is proud to step up by increasing our annual grantmaking, ensuring nonprofits have the resources they need to continue the vital work of ensuring the communities of East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Palo Alto are strong and vibrant.
"Our grant investments provide critical support to nonprofits, addressing the immediate challenges they face in today’s uncertain environment while also ensuring long-term stability to help our community thrive," Irene M. Wong, CEO of the Palo Alto Community Fund, said. "This increased investment is made possible entirely by our caring and generous donors—people who deeply believe in investing locally and supporting those doing the work on the ground to strengthen our community."
Investing in Frontline Organizations
2025 Dave Mitchell Impact Grants
Three organizations at the forefront of serving historically marginalized communities—Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA), El Concilio of San Mateo County, and Nuestra Casa de East Palo Alto—will each receive a $100,000 unrestricted grant in support of their vital work. PACF aims to empower these organizations with flexible funding, enabling them to allocate resources where they’re needed most. These grants also provide the agility to adapt quickly to evolving community needs in a rapidly changing landscape, enabling them to carry out their essential work, which includes:
Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA)
Providing legal aid for asylum seekers, tenant protections, and economic advancement for low-income families.
El Concilio of San Mateo County
Connecting underserved residents to health, education, legal, and advocacy services.
Nuestra Casa de East Palo Alto
Empowering Latino families through leadership training, advocacy, and access to food and safety-net services.
Sustaining Nonprofits with Flexible, Multi-Year Support
Seventy nonprofits will receive grants totaling $1.5 million, which will help to strengthen the fabric of our community and enhance its vibrancy. A record 58 percent of those organizations will receive multi-year grants from PACF, providing them with the stability to plan ahead, strengthen their capacity, and scale their impact. Grants are strategically directed to organizations addressing both urgent needs and long-term resilience in key areas:
- After-school programs that provide safe, supportive environments for youth
- Mental health initiatives that foster connection and healing
- Affordable housing programs that offer stability for families
- Arts and cultural programs that strengthen community identity
- Essential services for seniors and other vulnerable residents
Introducing the 2025 Grantees
A thriving community is built on the collective efforts of many. The diversity of our 2025 grants ensures that key areas of community life are supported and can flourish. This year, PACF is also expanding its impact by awarding grants to nine first-time grantees, strengthening our commitment to a more inclusive and vibrant community.
View the full list of PACF’s 2025 grantees and learn how you can be part of this movement for impact.
Accessible After School Programs
Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation
City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley
Cooline Team of East Palo Alto
DreamCatchers**
East Palo Alto Academy Foundation**
East Palo Alto Peninsula Rugby Football Club (Razorhawks)**
East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring (EPATT)**
Gunn Foundation**
Izzi Early Education
Peninsula Bridge**
Rich May Foundation**
StreetCode Academy**
The Circuit EPA**
Youth Community Service (YCS)**
Addressing Food Insecurity and Affordable Housing
Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse - CORA**
Fresh Approach**
Heart and Home Collaborative**
Human Investment Project Housing
LifeMoves**
Peninsula Food Runners
St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room**
Youth United for Community Action (YUCA)**
Embracing the Arts and Our Environment
Art in Action**
East Palo Alto Community Archive
Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden**
en Avant School—a division of Mannakin Theater & Dance
EPACENTER ARTS**
Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo**
Grassroots Ecology
Hidden Villa**
Kids & Art Foundation**
Palo Alto Players
San Francisco Chamber Orchestra
San Mateo County Parks Foundation
Stanford Jazz Workshop
Helping Children and Youth Thrive
Addiction Education Society
All Five**
Eastside College Preparatory School**
Family Connections
Health Connected**
Learning Home Volunteers**
Ravenswood Education Foundation**
RISE (Reaching and Inspiring Success through Education)
Rise Together Education**
The Peninsula College Fund**
Upward Scholars**
Strengthening Local Communities
AbilityPath**
Able Works
Ada's Cafe**
American Red Cross
AVENIDAS**
Bay Area Friendship Circle
Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA)*
East Palo Alto Senior Center**
El Concilio of San Mateo County*
Family Giving Tree
Good Karma Bikes
Nuestra Casa de East Palo Alto*
Ombudsman Services of San Mateo County Inc**
Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange
The Grateful Garment Project
Supporting Mental Health and Wellness
Adolescent Counseling Services**Children's Health Council**Counseling and Support Services for Youth (CASSY)**Fit To The Core IncFriends For Youth, Inc.NAMI San Mateo CountyPalo Alto University**Peninsula Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower ('Kidpower')**Planned Parenthood Mar MonteSan Mateo County Health FoundationThe Parent VentureYWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley**
*2025 PACF Dave Mitchell Impact Grantee
**Multi-year Grantee
Community-Driven Philanthropy
A Rigorous, Inclusive Process
Guided by local expertise and a commitment to community-centered philanthropy, PACF's rigorous selection process ensures that funding reaches organizations with the greatest impact. We reviewed 138 applications, each assessed by five grant reviewers, with insights from 23 dedicated community members. Through 38 hours of in-depth conversations with applicants, we gained a deeper understanding of their work and needs. This thoughtful, collaborative approach ensures that every dollar is strategically invested, reinforcing a grantmaking process that is thorough, inclusive, and designed to build a more resilient and thriving community.