Special Projects
Placer Community Foundation's ongoing community endeavors.
Nonprofit Leadership Initiative
For five years Placer Community Foundation’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP) offered funding for a consultant to work with a nonprofit organization to address an area of its business model. In 2010 the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors sought ways to maximize TAP by addressing current needs affecting nonprofit organizations of all sizes. We surveyed the nonprofit sector and received guidance from a steering committee comprised of nonprofit executives and volunteer board members.
The result was the defining of our Nonprofit Initiative and the development of a comprehensive Nonprofit Leadership Summit which is offered annually free-of-charge to nonprofit organizations operating throughout most of Placer County. In addition to honoring the leaders who volunteer their time on boards of directors, the full-day event addresses best practices and an array of techniques that work to engage every board member.
Placer Housing Matters
It seems impossible to read a news publication in California today that doesn’t mention the housing crisis in our state. The need for housing that is attainable by everyone is staggering. Given that commercial and housing developments are still being planned and built in Placer County, we have a unique opportunity to provide more affordable housing for our workforce.
It was reported in 2016 that 54,000 new homes are projected to be built in the next 20 years in Placer County, adding over 165,000 more residents.
As part of our Community Leadership Initiative, PCF has created Placer Housing Matters, a project with the goal of educating the public and shining the light on the need for attainable housing for our workforce in Placer County. The project is centered around its website, which you can find at PlacerHousingMatters.org.
Quality, stable, affordable homes in a vibrant community contributes to individual and community success throughout Placer County. Attainable and well-located housing options are at the heart of individual economic opportunities and strong local economies. Your support matters!
This campaign has one simple goal: To send a call-to-action to our policy makers to prioritize housing needs in Placer County.
Visiting Artist
The Susan Cooley-Gilliom Artist in Residence and Teaching (ART) Program is a lasting gift to the many artists, arts educators and students, and arts enthusiasts we are fortunate to have in our community. The program represents a significant part of Susan’s lasting legacy–as a beloved local artist and environmental advocate. The ART program works to develop and enhance the visual arts through short-term residencies and workshops taught by nationally-established and highly reputable artists who create in a range of media.
2019 Visiting Artist: Ana Lisa Hedstrom
The Susan Cooley-Gilliom Artist in Residence and Teaching (ART) Program Visiting Artist recipient for 2019 is textile artist, Ana Lisa Hedstrom
Hosted by Blue Line Arts, Hedstrom will share her artistic vision this October with the best practices for the use of natural dyes as well as basic applications to dye both fabrics and wool yarns.
Placer Collaborative Network
A project of the Community Foundation, the Placer Collaborative Network (PCN) is a member-based association of over 60 nonprofit, government, faith-based, educational and municipal entities working on collaborative solutions to issues facing children, adults and families of Placer County.
The Placer Collaborative Network brings community leaders together to develop creative solutions for change. Change that brings about a better quality of life for those living in Placer County.
Values of collaboration, creativity and service drive the work at Placer Collaborative because we believe together we really are better.
Access to Food
A task force of the Placer Collaborative Network was formed to look at Placer County Food Systems and identify areas to strengthen it and help families have access to healthy food. The report below is the result of several focus groups and an online survey. It will be used as a tool to design training and network needs, to encourage collaboration, and to educate the public on the opportunities to support the systems.
Additionally, through a partnership with Placer Food Bank and the UC Davis Center for Regional Change, the map to the left was developed to show areas of low food access.