Community Programs and Grants

reteens and children ages birth to 5 remained the focus of the Foundation's community grantmaking program in 2003 and 2004.

Ninety-two grants totaling $6 million were awarded to community partners in California's San Mateo and Santa Clara counties in those two years. These grants focused on preventing abuse and neglect of children ages 0 to 5, and on promoting resiliency and healthful choices by preteens. During 2005, the Foundation plans to re-evaluate its grantmaking program.

Also in 2003-2004, the Grantmaking Program conducted two major evaluations of its work. The first, a Grantmaking Program Satisfaction Survey, was completed in October 2003. To assess community opinion of the program, an independent firm surveyed Foundation grantees, agency applicants who were denied grants, and local leaders. The majority of respondents rated the Foundation highly on every area of inquiry, particularly emphasizing the high quality and professionalism of the staff's work. Respondents also offered suggestions for improvements. The complete report and the Foundation's response and its plans to address the suggestions are available at: satisfactionsurveysummary.pdf

Paisley Nash-Dooley, program director for the Wildcats Program, a Foundation grantee, leads a group of preteen Wildcats on a day of exploring the beach and marine life.

A second study assessed the experiences of 40 grantees who received awards during the Foundation's first three grantmaking funding cycles. The report, "Promoting Emotional and Behavioral Health in Preteens: Benchmarks of Success and Challenges Among Programs in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties," has been disseminated widely and received much positive response. The full report is available at: ppvevalfull.pdf.

For more information about the grantmaking program, see www.lpfch.org/grantmaking/.