A Vision for Palo Alto: The Beginnings of PACF
In 1977, a group of visionary Palo Altans, led by attorney Jeanne Arthur, gathered to create a fund to support local nonprofits. Their goal was to provide "community capital" for Palo Alto’s services. In 1979, the Palo Alto Fund was established as part of the Community Foundation Silicon Valley (CFSV), with community leaders like Gary Fazzino, Betsy Bechtel, and William Seethaler serving as advisors.
The first gift, $59,000, came from Bernice Mitchell’s Learning House project, designated to benefit children in the area. Early support grew with a $100,000 gift from the Palo Alto Credit Union, named the Kopriva Fund after its longtime Executive Director, Robert C. Kopriva.
As the Fund matured, it launched key initiatives like the Pooled Income Fund in 1987 and held its first grant reception in 1991, awarding $20,000 to local nonprofits. In 1994, the Centennial Board contributed $526,000 to the Fund, significantly boosting its endowment.
The Fund became an independent 501(c)3 in 1998, growing its assets through campaigns like “$2 Million by 2000.” In 2002, it changed its name to the Palo Alto Community Fund (PACF) and continued to expand its impact. A major milestone was in 2009, when PACF received its first $50,000 grant from the Packard Foundation, enabling the organization to increase grantmaking significantly.
Today, PACF continues to fund a broad array of areas, including arts, education, youth mental health, health and wellness, housing affordability, and more, making a lasting impact on the communities of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, and Menlo Park.
