The Community Foundation Inc

Educational success: together, we want to ensure that children begin school ready to learn and are supported academically and socially throughout their educational experience. Youth become skilled, self-sufficient and contributing members of the community. Strategic focus areas include:- kindergarten readiness: ensuring access to quality preschool and childcare; offering child development-related home visitation; engaging parents and caregivers.- k-12 academic success: supporting students by increasing the quality or capacity of in-school resources; teaching positive behavior and self-management skills; engaging parents and caregivers.- college and/or career readiness: developing youth to enter the workforce; increasing access and exposure to post-secondary opportunities.

Economic prosperity, capacity building, and other: together, we want to ensure that residents access and maintain safe and affordable housing in thriving, sustainable communities. Residents gain the financial knowledge, skills, and resources to support themselves and are able to access to career and economic opportunities. Strategic focus areas include:- neighborhood development: building household income, financial stability, and wealth; revitalizing neighborhoods; engaging residents to self-advocate.- adult workforce development: training and education that leads to workforce preparation, certifications, credentials, and degrees; reducing employment barriers; increasing access to transportation and wraparound services to maintain employment.- homelessness reduction: avoiding homelessness through shelter diversion; providing emergency shelter; facilitating rapid re-housing and exits to permanent housing.- safe & affordable housing: creating housing units or preserving affordability of existing units; offering wraparound services to maintain housing; assisting older adults to age in place.

Community vibrancy: together, we want to ensure that residents are enriched and educated through a diverse offering of arts and cultural activities in their communities and schools. The region's historic, cultural, and natural assets are supported to enrich current and future areas. Strategic focus areas include:- arts & culture: providing access to programs for low to modest-wealth residents and school-aged youth; offering education and events that appeal to diverse and multi-generational audiences.- national resources: providing access to natural resources and sustaining our environment through education, preservation, and restoration.- community inclusion: fostering community inclusion and connectivity; facilitating volunteer and civic engagement opportunities.all other: this includes grants given to the region through donor advised funds and field of interest funds outside of the scope of our 4 focus areas. The majority of grants are to animal welfare, religious, and environmental purposes.