Click here to download our 2013 Annual Report
To Our Friends,
We are happy to report that 2013 was yet another successful year for Sonoma Valley Fund! So much happened in the past year—grants to organizations benefiting the Valley have soared, Community Foundation Sonoma County launched a much expanded scholarship program, and Sonoma Valley Fund continued to support the growth of legacy giving.
Grant Making to Nonprofits Continues to Soar
Grant making from Sonoma Valley Fund, along with our parent organization, Community Foundation Sonoma County, increased once again in 2013. Just under $417K was granted to non-profits serving Sonoma. This amount represents another record year for grant making—a slight increase over 2012 and a 200% increase over 2011! Since our inception in 2007, Community Foundation Sonoma County and Sonoma Valley Fund have directed a combined total of more than $2.1M in grants to local nonprofits and scholarship recipients.
In 2013, our grants made to nonprofit organizations serving Sonoma Valley ranged in size and covered vastly significant areas for philanthropy. Recipients included community organizations dedicated to educational and environmental improvements, increased access to basic human services, and arts and culture.
The money behind these grants came from a variety of funds managed by Community Foundation Sonoma County. Almost $300K was thanks to the generosity and foresight of Hazel and Roland Todd (see sidebar). Another $115K was distributed to Sonoma Valley nonprofit organizations through Community Foundation Sonoma County’s overall discretionary grant making processes (see sidebar).
At Sonoma Valley Fund, we are dedicated to sustaining and improving the quality of life in the Valley. It is gratifying to see that efforts to endow the Valley contribute significantly toward this worthy goal.
Scholarship Programs Expand
Community Foundation Sonoma County launched a new and expanded scholarship initiative across the county in 2013. The expanded program more than doubled the number and amount of scholarship funds available for students. The impact of that expansion on the Valley was huge. Over
$145K was distributed from a variety of funds to college-bound students who live in our community.
Nonprofit Partnerships Deepen
Sonoma Valley Fund brings nonprofit organizations together around the common goal of long-term financial health. We help them develop endowment and legacy giving programs that keep them resilient in ever-changing economic times and provide access to professional advisors. If they invest through Community Foundation Sonoma County, organizations also gain effective fund management and expert fulfillment of many fiduciary requirements. Sonoma Valley Fund partners with twenty two non-profit organizations, whose assets at Community Foundation Sonoma County now exceed $2.5M.
This year, as a part of efforts to support our nonprofit partners, Sonoma Valley Fund sponsored a lecture on “How to Think About Collectibles”. A representative of Bonham’s Auction House in San Francisco provided useful perspectives on a range of treasures owned and cared for by Sonoma Valley residents. This was the first in a series of lectures that will cover a variety of topics on wealth management and philanthropy.
Legacy Gift Promises
In 2013, Sonoma Valley Fund continued to support the growth of legacy giving in the Valley through education and events recognizing the value of philanthropy.
Community Foundation Sonoma County staff is able to work one-on-one with donors assisting them in directing charitable contributions to their favorite organizations, to donate now or in the future, within Sonoma Valley or beyond. To recognize those that make important gift promises to our community we inaugurated the Sonoma Valley Legacy Circle in 2011, which currently has 37 donor individuals and families. This past year, Sonoma Valley Fund hosted the second Sonoma Valley Legacy Circle Reception. Approximately 100 donors and nonprofit staff were honored at the event.
The Future
Sonoma Valley Fund is still young but our mission remains clear — to promote and facilitate local philanthropy and legacy giving by serving as a bridge between nonprofits, estate-planning professionals, and donors. To ensure that our organization continues to make progress toward our mission, our board embarked on a strategic planning process in the fourth quarter of 2013. This process brought to light that the needs of the community are far-reaching and that we need to focus and effectively support the growth and development of philanthropy in the Valley to meet those needs. As always, we shall keep you well informed and engaged as we learn and develop new strategies to achieve our mission in the years to come.
We are happy to report that 2013 was yet another successful year for Sonoma Valley Fund! So much happened in the past year—grants to organizations benefiting the Valley have soared, Community Foundation Sonoma County launched a much expanded scholarship program, and Sonoma Valley Fund continued to support the growth of legacy giving.
Grant Making to Nonprofits Continues to Soar
Grant making from Sonoma Valley Fund, along with our parent organization, Community Foundation Sonoma County, increased once again in 2013. Just under $417K was granted to non-profits serving Sonoma. This amount represents another record year for grant making—a slight increase over 2012 and a 200% increase over 2011! Since our inception in 2007, Community Foundation Sonoma County and Sonoma Valley Fund have directed a combined total of more than $2.1M in grants to local nonprofits and scholarship recipients.
In 2013, our grants made to nonprofit organizations serving Sonoma Valley ranged in size and covered vastly significant areas for philanthropy. Recipients included community organizations dedicated to educational and environmental improvements, increased access to basic human services, and arts and culture.
The money behind these grants came from a variety of funds managed by Community Foundation Sonoma County. Almost $300K was thanks to the generosity and foresight of Hazel and Roland Todd (see sidebar). Another $115K was distributed to Sonoma Valley nonprofit organizations through Community Foundation Sonoma County’s overall discretionary grant making processes (see sidebar).
At Sonoma Valley Fund, we are dedicated to sustaining and improving the quality of life in the Valley. It is gratifying to see that efforts to endow the Valley contribute significantly toward this worthy goal.
Scholarship Programs Expand
Community Foundation Sonoma County launched a new and expanded scholarship initiative across the county in 2013. The expanded program more than doubled the number and amount of scholarship funds available for students. The impact of that expansion on the Valley was huge. Over
$145K was distributed from a variety of funds to college-bound students who live in our community.
Nonprofit Partnerships Deepen
Sonoma Valley Fund brings nonprofit organizations together around the common goal of long-term financial health. We help them develop endowment and legacy giving programs that keep them resilient in ever-changing economic times and provide access to professional advisors. If they invest through Community Foundation Sonoma County, organizations also gain effective fund management and expert fulfillment of many fiduciary requirements. Sonoma Valley Fund partners with twenty two non-profit organizations, whose assets at Community Foundation Sonoma County now exceed $2.5M.
This year, as a part of efforts to support our nonprofit partners, Sonoma Valley Fund sponsored a lecture on “How to Think About Collectibles”. A representative of Bonham’s Auction House in San Francisco provided useful perspectives on a range of treasures owned and cared for by Sonoma Valley residents. This was the first in a series of lectures that will cover a variety of topics on wealth management and philanthropy.
Legacy Gift Promises
In 2013, Sonoma Valley Fund continued to support the growth of legacy giving in the Valley through education and events recognizing the value of philanthropy.
Community Foundation Sonoma County staff is able to work one-on-one with donors assisting them in directing charitable contributions to their favorite organizations, to donate now or in the future, within Sonoma Valley or beyond. To recognize those that make important gift promises to our community we inaugurated the Sonoma Valley Legacy Circle in 2011, which currently has 37 donor individuals and families. This past year, Sonoma Valley Fund hosted the second Sonoma Valley Legacy Circle Reception. Approximately 100 donors and nonprofit staff were honored at the event.
The Future
Sonoma Valley Fund is still young but our mission remains clear — to promote and facilitate local philanthropy and legacy giving by serving as a bridge between nonprofits, estate-planning professionals, and donors. To ensure that our organization continues to make progress toward our mission, our board embarked on a strategic planning process in the fourth quarter of 2013. This process brought to light that the needs of the community are far-reaching and that we need to focus and effectively support the growth and development of philanthropy in the Valley to meet those needs. As always, we shall keep you well informed and engaged as we learn and develop new strategies to achieve our mission in the years to come.
