2022 Community Grants
West Marin Fund awarded 26 nonprofit organizations a total of $219,750 to improve and strengthen programs and services in unincorporated West Marin – in response to the continuing covid pandemic, rising costs, inadequate housing, climate impacts and educational inequities. Funded activities include: financial literacy training; building food security through school gardens and gleaning; broadcasting programs in Spanish on community radio; providing home signage for emergency services; and supporting senior citizens to secure their sensitive medical and health data. This round of Community Grants emphasizes West Marin Fund’s commitment to activities that promote justice, diversity, equity and inclusion; challenge racism; and positively affect the health and wellbeing of marginalized communities, particularly Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), as well as members of low-income households. Since 2013, West Marin Fund has awarded more than $1,380,000 to nonprofit organizations and collaboratives serving West Marin – made possible by generous support from our donors. Special thanks to Corey Goodman, Marcia Barinaga and Kalliopeia Foundation for their generous contributions to our community grants program in 2022. Congratulations to all of our 2022 Community Grant Partners! Audubon Canyon Ranch Bach’s Daughter Bolinas Community Land Trust Bolinas Museum Bolinas Stinson Summer Camp Bolinas Stinson Young Stewards…
westmarinfund_0e3fc1August 4, 2022
The Status of West Marin Nonprofits in 2021
In summer 2021, West Marin Fund conducted an online survey of thirty-seven West Marin nonprofits. The purpose of the survey was to acquire information to help funders and policymakers provide West Marin’s nonprofits with the best support and resources possible. The survey will be repeated annually for the next several years. The following results were compiled and analyzed by a local nonprofit consulting firm, Mission Met. Key Findings Mixed Nonprofit Results in 2020 Financially, on balance, the nonprofits ended the year stronger than 2019. The wildfires and Covid pandemic negatively impacted the programming of many nonprofits—though many increased their emergency response services. The West Marin nonprofit sector saw significant growth in focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. 89% of respondents are addressing DEI issues in their own organizations. Staff and board member numbers dropped slightly; the number of volunteers dropped by 25%. A Virtual Pivot Not surprisingly, nonprofits were forced to adapt their services in a virtual world. Program delivery, board meetings, and fundraising were significantly shifted online. Volunteer Impact Due primarily to Covid, the nonprofits lost roughly $2.5M in in-kind volunteer services due to a 25% reduction in volunteers. Metrics Monitoring and evaluation are weak in 75% of…
westmarinfund_0e3fc1November 16, 2021
2021 Community Grants
West Marin Fund awarded $209,549 to 29 organizations that are responding to the social, economic, and health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in West Marin. Funded activities included: strengthening food security, school garden development, and enhanced nutrition for children and seniors living in poverty;community center activities to respond to trauma;digital literacy training for parents;financial aid training and assistance for students pursuing a college or university education;strategic planning efforts that advance equity and inclusion; andsupporting the transition to more efficient digital record keeping and data management systems for improved program delivery. The following gives a sample of grant results, conveying the impact and success of 2021 Community Grants: Parent Services Project Impact Technology Provided digital literacy workshops for 26 low-income parents/caregivers of students attending Tomales Elementary, West Marin Elementary, and Tomales High School to increase parent/school communication and student success100% of parents/caregivers reported an increase in digital literacy skills and their ability to effectively engage with school technology in support of their students learning100% of parent/caregiver participants reported that they have a deeper understanding of how to navigate the educational system online, build partnerships with school personnel, and support their students KWMR Strategic Framework for Equity and Inclusion With the help…
westmarinfund_0e3fc1July 13, 2021
Early Childhood Equity in West Marin (Video)
Learn more about West Marin Fund's investment in the children of the West Marin community.
westmarinfund_0e3fc1December 2, 2020
The Impact of Covid-19 on West Marin Nonprofits
In August 2020, the West Marin Fund conducted an online survey of fifty West Marin nonprofits. The following results were compiled and analyzed by a local nonprofit consulting firm, Mission Met. Key Findings Workforce The total workforce (employees and volunteers) of West Marin nonprofits dropped by 33% during the first half of 2020. Programs 96% of the survey respondents either cut at least one program, canceled at least one program or event, reconfigured a program or event, or closed a facility. Over 50% of the respondents reported a decrease in effectiveness and impact. Smallest Nonprofits West Marin’s smallest nonprofits are being disproportionately impacted by COVID compared to larger nonprofits. Biggest Challenges Moving forward, the two biggest challenges that these nonprofits are facing in response to COVID are adapting programs and raising funds. PPP Funding from the federal Paycheck Protection Program was acquired by 54% of the qualifying nonprofits, helping to defer COVID’s impact. Moving forward In an analysis of short answer questions, fundraising and programming are viewed as both the biggest challenge and opportunity. Download Summary Download Complete Report View all nonprofit survey results ➝
westmarinfund_0e3fc1November 16, 2020
2020 Community Grants
West Marin Fund awarded $160,455 to 24 organizations for building a strong team to better serve community, particularly disadvantaged and underserved people who live, work and visit in West Marin. Funded activities include professional development and coaching for staff and board; a facilitated seven-part strategic planning process on zoom; increasing the diversity of the healthcare workforce through academic training and enrichment; pivoting to online educational programming for at-home learning that supports students and their families in the learning process; and internships for Latinx youth interested in the cultivation and use of food and plants as medicine, with curriculum programming in community resilience. With this 13th round, the fund has awarded more than $950,000 in community grants over the past eight years to nonprofit organizations serving West Marin – all made possible by generous gifts from our donors. Congratulations to all of our 2020 Community Grant Partners! 10,000 DegreesBlack Mountain CircleBolinas Community CenterBolinas Community Land TrustBolinas MuseumBolinas Stinson Young Stewards of the LandEnvironmental Action Committee of West MarinGallery Route OneGreater Farallones AssociationHalleck Creek RanchInverness Garden Club of West MarinNatura Institute for Ecology and MedicinePapermill Creek Children's CornerParent Services ProjectPoint Reyes National Seashore AssociationRiver Otter Ecology ProjectSan Geronimo Valley Community CenterSlide RanchSound OrchardThe…
westmarinfund_0e3fc1July 2, 2020
West Marin Nonprofits Equity Statement
We, the undersigned nonprofit organizations of West Marin, add our voices to the protests against the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Maurice Gordon and countless others at the hands of law enforcement and vigilantes. We acknowledge the systemic racism at play in our country and county, and commit to facilitate change and foster the inclusivity that this moment in history demands. We recognize that this is the work we must do to truly live out our values of equity and inclusion. Together we agree to: Carry out our own internal work within our respective organizations to address bias and racism, while advancing equity, diversity and inclusion; Share our learning with each other for more effective action; and Collaborate as West Marin nonprofits to work with our communities in confronting systemic racism. We draw our inspiration from courageous leaders who over the centuries have challenged exploitation, racism and violence. Declaración De Las Organizaciones Sin Fines De Lucro De West Marin Sobre La Equidad Nosotros, las organizaciones abajo firmantes sin fines de lucro de West Marin, agrega nuestras voces a las protestas contra el asesinato de George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Maurice Gordon…
westmarinfund_0e3fc1June 30, 2020
