At Community Foundation Sonoma County, we believe in the power of connecting people, ideas, and resources to benefit all who live here.
There’s a small but critical word in that mission statement, one that deserves extra attention—all.
As an organization that is deeply connected to this place and the people who call it home, we are acutely aware of what makes Sonoma County special and the disparities in who has access to what they need to thrive.
Each day we strive to close the gap in those disparities, through our work with donors, grantmaking, and participating in initiatives to tackle complex community issues. Yet our commitment to addressing inequality is not always visible, and in this uncertain time when so many are feeling fearful, we recognized that there was an opportunity to clarify just what it is we stand for.
With our board and staff, we embarked on a process to identify and highlight what we believe in–and how we put those values into action. Together we created the following Values Statement, which we are so proud to share with you now. (Please let us know if you would like your philanthropic advisor to share the Values Cards with you at your next meeting.)
We know that in order to create a fair and just community, some may need more to achieve the same. We embrace our differences and our common bond. We cultivate leaders, supporting them to advocate for their communities and empowering them to create change. We promise to tackle tough issues with compassion and courage, choosing humbly to take a step forward instead of resting in the comfort of where we are.
Here are some of the ways we are putting our values into action:
- Collectively supporting causes that address equity through our LGBTQI Giving Circle, Impact 100 Redwood Circle, and the newly formed Los Cien Giving Circle.
- Strengthening leadership through our Latino Leadership Fund, Women’s Leadership Retreat, and Assistance Beyond the Grant program.
- Addressing disparities through our grantmaking in Health and Human Services, Arts and Culture, Education, Animal Welfare, and the Environment.
- Helping donors to envision and reach their goals through values-based philanthropy.
