Explore the local impact of donor-advisors at Orange County Community Foundation
Keeping the Music Alive
In 1995 the estate of Jane Deming established an endowed fund to honor her lifelong support of music, education and therapeutic services for youth and families. Started with $779,000, the fund has granted more than $1,040,000 to programs including KidWorks, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Pacific Symphony’s Class Act music education program. Today the fund’s balance is over $880,000 – reflecting net growth of nearly 10 percent even after more than $1 million in grants. This would be music to Jane’s ears!
Building a Village
Sharing office space is a proven way for small nonprofits to build capacity and impact. Former OCCF board member Bill Podlich was inspired by a nonprofit hub in Colorado and set out to explore whether this model would work in Orange County. OCCF connected Podlich with philanthropist Warren Lortie, an architect and real estate investor. OCCF helped the pair form Orange County Shared Spaces Foundation and purchase a building they dubbed The Village at 17th. Welcoming its first tenants in 2010, The Village is now home to 15 nonprofits and over 170 staff who enjoy monthly lunch-and-learn sessions and community events. The Village was just a building – until the power of community philanthropy made it so much more.
Investing in Impact
Mike’s brother George was diagnosed with Down Syndrome in the 1950’s, a time when this often meant a life of institutionalization. Their mother became George’s fiercest advocate and was an early champion for children with disabilities. When Mike met Linda in college, they discovered they both had siblings with Down Syndrome – in Linda’s case, her brother Bob. Together Mike and Linda created the George and Bob Fund. They were eager to give but unsure where to start, so they turned to OCCF, who helped them find the Glennwood Housing Foundation in Laguna Beach. With another donor-advisor, they gave $1 million in social impact loan funds to launch an innovative housing project for 50 special needs adults. Ten other OCCF fund advisors have since given over $750,000 in grants to Glennwood Housing.
Giving the Gift of Dance
In 2008 Tod and Linda decided to transition their private foundation to a donor-advised fund. OCCF guided the couple to nonprofits that match their philanthropic passions. In 2010 Tod and Linda started their giving with just $5,000, and today the fund has have given more than $9 million to over 80 nonprofits, including $1.3 million to the Wooden Floor, a leading youth development nonprofit that transforms the lives of young people in low-income communities through the power of dance and education.
