MONTEREY COUNTY — Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) has announced a record year of impact in 2023.
A total of $41.1 million was awarded in 2,422 grants to nonprofit organizations in Monterey County and beyond thanks to caring individuals, families and businesses. The grants brought the cumulative total to more than $340 million distributed since 1982.
The $41.1 million awarded set a new record, an increase of 13.5% over the previous high of $36.2 million in 2021. Grants and awards help feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, improve literacy, inspire artists and musicians, care for animals, protect the environment, and help students fund a college education.
About $15.4 million came from donor advised funds, through which people support a wide range of causes. Proceeds from the 2022 Monterey County Gives! campaign (granted in 2023) accounted for $10.7 million. Monterey County Gives! is a partnership of the Monterey County Weekly, the CFMC and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation.
The CFMC granted over $2 million through the Monterey County Storm Relief Fund in response to winter storms in early 2023. More than $2 million in scholarships helped create opportunity for 495 local students, and $1.5 million was distributed through Community Impact grants, fueled by the CFMC’s Fund for Monterey County.
“The power of local philanthropy continually inspires us,” said Dan Baldwin, CFMC president/CEO. “We’re honored to help people make a positive and lasting impact through their giving.”
Donors can partner with the CFMC to enhance their philanthropy by creating charitable funds, establishing life income gifts, and including the Community Foundation as part of their estate.
Nonprofits can find grant information at cfmco.org/grants and explore professional development opportunities through the CFMC’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence at cfmco.org/cne. Monterey County students can apply for more than 70 scholarships with just one application at cfmco.org/ScholarshipApply.
The mission of the CFMC is “to inspire philanthropy and be a catalyst for strengthening communities throughout Monterey County.” For more information, visit cfmco.org or call 831-375-9712.
