Join us on Saturday, May 15th for an Avanzar Board Leadership Academy showcase! If you are looking for new board members or board committee members, we invite you to connect with the Avanzar Board Leadership Academy 2025 cohort and graduates for a workshop exploring different forms of social capital and how to leverage the many talents and networks of your board.
We will also hear from Avanzar graduates and nonprofits that have matched since the program launched in 2023. Since then, Avanzar has graduated 43 outstanding Latino professionals who now bring their fresh perspectives and expertise to the boards of local nonprofits including Waymakers, H.I.R.E., the National Hispanic Business Women Association, Arts & Learning Conservatory, WisePlace, Charitable Ventures, and many others!
Beyond Donations with Orange County Community Foundation
The Association of Fundraising Professionals – Orange County Chapter held its much-anticipated Conference on Philanthropy on March 25, 2025 and we were proud to join the programming. Cathleen Otero, COO, and Margita Labhard, Senior Director of Philanthropic Strategy at the Orange County Community Foundation led the workshop: Beyond Donations: Building Lasting Legacy & Capacity which provided valuable insights for nonprofit development teams eager to elevate their fundraising strategies and deepen community connections.
Harnessing the Power of Endowment for an Enduring Legacy
As Orange County's 65+ population is projected to account for 29% by 2060, the region stands on the brink of a significant demographic shift. This transition aligns with the anticipated $84 trillion wealth transfer expected through 2045, with $12 trillion potentially targeted towards charitable causes. Nonprofits can strategically position themselves by establishing nonprofit endowment funds, ensuring long-term financial sustainability and honoring donors' legacies. Endowments not only provide a steady income stream but also demonstrate organizational stability, fostering donor confidence and encouraging substantial, lasting contributions.
Contact Joanne Forster, Director, Philanthropic Strategy atjforster@oc-cf.orgto learn more.
Did you know OCCF provides grant funding to arts and culture programs for music education, classical music, and dramatic arts?
Since 2000, the Jane Deming and Robert and Doreen Marshall Fund for Dramatic Arts and Classical Music have granted over 2 million to support arts and culture programming in Orange County.
The Jane Deming Fund focuses on programs that are producing, participating in, performing or supporting musical activities, or musical education. The Robert and Doreen Marshall Fund for Dramatic Arts and Classical Music focuses on supporting dramatic arts and classical music programs.
The 12-month grant awards for these programs range from $2,500 to $6,000. Both funds share the same RFP, and the deadline to apply is April 16th.
For more information, contact Joe Cordell at the link below.
For the 13 organizations that joined in on this inaugural event, Together We Belong was more than a giving day—it was a powerful, intentional collaboration to uplift organizations that serve some of Orange County’s most underrepresented communities.
In launching this new addition to the i ❤OC Giving Days roster, the Donor and Community Engagement team at the Orange County Community Foundation were tasked with assembling a coalition of local nonprofits committed to supporting diverse communities in Orange County. On February 25th, 13 dedicated nonprofit organizations rose to the occasion, sharing a vision for an equitable and diverse Orange County.
Virginia Nguyen of Educate to Empowershared, “as a small, part-time team of three at Educate to Empower, the idea of coordinating a large-scale fundraising effort felt daunting. But with the vision, leadership, and unwavering support of Elaine Chen and her team at OCCF, we not only met our fundraising goal—we witnessed the power of true collaboration in action.”
We are proud to celebrate these incredible organizations for their commitment to this cause and for their tremendous efforts culminating in a collaborative success, raising $96, 930!
Congratulations to these nonprofits for making the first-ever Together we Belong Giving Day a smashing success:
On April 23, 2025, 29 organizations are coming together to raise 1.5 million to end homelessness in Orange County by connecting individuals and families to shelter and resources to keep them safe and secure today, and every day.
To learn more about how you can donate or participate in the cause click the link below.
Mark your calendars for May 7, 2025! There are over 250,000 people with disabilities living in Orange County. Empowering Possibilities supports organizations working to bring people together to advocate for and serve this vulnerable population.
