League of California Community Foundations

Join the League of California Community Foundations

The League is a member-driven coalition of 30+ community foundations across the state. Our members drive the strategic goals and priorities of the League as it fosters collaboration, capacity building and knowledge sharing across California.

The League gives me instant access to a remarkable set of peers whom I can turn to on a moments notice. We share a passion for community and a desire to increase impact. I frequently call on colleagues for best practices, advice or problem solving.
Dan Baldwin
Dan BaldwinCEO, Community Foundation for Monterey County
The League of California Community Foundations has been the single most beneficial professional association of my 20-year tenure at the Orange County Community Foundation. The connection with colleagues both personally and professionally has elevated the effectiveness of my leadership, and allowed me to contribute to the advancement of our field in meaningful ways. If I could only belong to one membership group or association, LCCF would be the one!
Shelley Hoss
Shelley HossCEO, Orange County Community Foundation
The League has helped weave what were siloed community-serving organizations throughout our state and galvanized us all to work together to increase our impact in serving our own communities and our state. Whether through joint advocacy, content-knowledge or capacity building, our membership in the League is a fundamental resource for our work.
Nicole Taylor
Nicole TaylorCEO, Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Belonging to the League of California Community Foundations has been such a gift for our community, for my team, and for me personally. The professional growth the League offers has been amazing – I continue to learn so much from my colleagues! Even more important, the friendships made over the years have served as a continual source of inspiration, hope, and renewal. We tackle big things together – from disaster response and rebuilding, to the 2020 Census, and public policy – I can’t wait to see what we do next!
Vanessa Bechtel
Vanessa BechtelCEO, Ventura County Community Foundation
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Core Benefits

Networking/Collegiality

The League is a networking hub for community foundation CEOs across California. Board Chairs also have the opportunity to convene annually to share about the direction and governance of their organizations. Additionally, the League is a venue for community foundation staff to exchange best practices in grantmaking, development, finance, communications and more.

Capacity Building

The League hosts learning events and resources designed to build organizational capacity and advance the field of community philanthropy in California. These resources are developed in response to member priorities and emerging trends.

Information Sharing and Communications

The League regularly collects and distributes data and insights on a wide range of issues relevant to its members, to inform their decision-making and amplify their impact. The League also hosts regular forums between members and across the wider field of community foundations.

Funding Opportunities

The League works with corporate and private foundation partners to deploy resources to community foundations across the state in response to crises and disasters.

Public Policy

The League advocates on behalf of community foundations statewide, including through a standing public policy committee and a lobbying representative in Sacramento. The League also hosts a forum for members to share their own work on public policy issues, and co-sponsors policy events with statewide partners like Philanthropy California and the California Association of Nonprofits.

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Recent Highlights

  • LCCF partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to deploy $2 million in rapid response grants for COVID relief to 22 community foundations across the state.
  • In partnership with Philanthropy California and the State of California, LCCF launched the California Disaster Relief, Recovery and Resilience Fund that has deployed over $1.4M in grants to community foundations in its first year.
  • LCCF developed and produced a new course on Fiduciary Training for Community Foundation Boards, now available virtually and on-demand, free of charge to members.
  • Guest speakers from statewide and national initiatives joined LCCF members for roundtable discussions, including:
    • Kathleen Kelly Janus, Senior Advisor for Social Innovation, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
    • Abby Browning, Chief of Private Sector and NGO Coordination, California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)
    • Micah Weinberg, CEO, California Forward
    • Kevin van Bronkhorst, Manager, National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations
    • Kim McCoy Wade, Director, California Department on Aging
    • Mario Lugay, Senior Innovation Director, Justice Funders
    • Janet Spears, CEO, Metta Fund
    • Jen and David Risher, Founders, #HalfMyDAF movement
    • Lindsie Bear, Director, Native Cultures Fund
    • Ingrid Skoog, Security Director, Center for Digital Resilience
    • Ted Lempert, Director, The Children’s Movement of California
    • Ami Nagle, Director, EITC Funders Network
  • Through a new monthly member forum LCCF members shared strategies and insights on topics including:
    • Rapid response crisis grant making
    • Facilitating government funds
    • Supporting movements for racial justice
    • Public policy advocacy
    • Fostering quality local journalism
    • Virtual donor and grantee engagement
    • Online giving days
    • Remote work transition
    • Finance and investment strategy
    • Nonprofit capacity building programs
    • E-reporting grants data with Candid