In 2023, we were proud to celebrate our 25th anniversary of making a difference across the county through philanthropic leadership. As part of the 25th-anniversary activities, we developed a year-long series of events and communication strategies to showcase our historic work.
For decades, we have been connecting passionate community members to causes they care about. Thanks to continued contributions from SLO County supporters, we have reinvested $66 million back into the community via grants and scholarships.
“This anniversary and the programs that accompany it are a celebration of all of those who’ve given their time, talent, and financial resources to make our community a better place. We look forward to the prospects that lay ahead and know that we will continue building a better San Luis Obispo County by giving and growing — together.”
– Heidi McPherson, CEO of The Foundation
We invite members of the community to celebrate CFSLOCO supporting our work and the work of nonprofits across the region by making a contribution.
What does CFSLOCO mean to you?
To celebrate the incredible impact that our community has had on the Foundation and the work that we do, we invited you to share your stories with us. Thank you to those who celebrated this milestone with us and to all of you who will continue to be on this journey with us.
25 Years of Giving Back: Celebrating Our Community Impact Through Nonprofit Support
From the beginning of this year, we proudly granted $5,000 each to twenty organizations tirelessly working to enhance the well-being of our entire community. In total, we have awarded $100,000 to twenty outstanding nonprofit organizations across San Luis Obispo County.
#25for25 Showcase
Our “#25for25 Showcase” highlighted 25 stories throughout the year in honor of 25 years of philanthropy in SLO County. This non-exhaustive list represents just a fraction of the countless individuals and organizations that have impacted our Foundation and community through their time, talent, and resources.
>>> VIEW ALL #25FOR25 FEATURES <<<
Celebratory Events
To all of our supporters who have helped us reach this important milestone and who continue to support our work and the work of our partners, THANK YOU. Your long-standing involvement has been instrumental in helping us achieve our goals and make a real difference in the lives of those we serve.
We were grateful to celebrate at four regional events to represent our work and our partners in all parts of the county. View the gallery from our past events below or tag your friends on Facebook HERE.
Our Summer Picnic at Cuesta Canyon was a day to cherish, as our community’s philanthropic efforts reached a significant milestone – 25 years of making a positive impact together. To everyone who attended and contributed to the success of this memorable event, our deepest gratitude. Your support fuels our dedication to building a stronger, more compassionate community.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE EVENT GALLERY
Recognitions and Proclamations
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County was honored to be recognized by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors in celebration of our 25th Anniversary.
Supervisor Bruce Gibson read the proclamation paying tribute to the work of The Community Foundation as a catalyst for local philanthropy and the impact of $66 million dollars in grants and scholarships that have been awarded since 1998. We were grateful for the kind words of support from Supervisor Peschong, Supervisor Arnold, and Supervisor Paulding. CEO Heidi McPherson received the proclamation along with Board Members Suzanne Fritz, Jeff Buckingham, Grenda Ernst, Kath Tompkins, and Rick Williams.
Thank you also to Congressman Jimmy Panetta for taking the time to visit our office, meet with our Board and local officials, and share the statement of support that was read into the Congressional Record. SLO City Mayor Erica Stewart and County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg also joined us at this recognition.
Tune In!
Just in time for Giving Tuesday, we joined Dave Congalton on News Talk 920 KVEC Hometown Radio to speak about the power of giving and SLO County’s philanthropic impact. We were grateful to be joined by dedicated community member Jane Sinton, who offered valuable perspectives on supporting our community through acts of kindness and generosity. LISTEN HERE.
Board Member Jeff Buckingham and CEO Heidi McPherson joined host Kris Kington Barker of Central Coast Voices on KCBX to discuss our impactful work and the exciting milestones we’ve achieved over the past 25 years. LISTEN HERE.
Broadcast date: 5/25/23
