The last thing I expected to be talking about on a funders’ tour of the North State was what leadership has in common with fishing… Read More »
economic opportunity
Rural Leaders Are Rewriting the North State’s Economic Future
Too often, rural Northern California is treated as monolithic. But across 19 rural counties—from Humboldt’s redwood coast to Butte’s foothills and beyond—the North State is… Read More »
Exploring a Fossil-Free Future in California
The Smart Growth California team joined Southern California Grantmakers and local funders on May 29, 2026, for a day of learning, conversation, and exploration in… Read More »
Seeds of Change in Fresno: Funders Witness CEMI at Work
West Fresno knows what it means to be overlooked. When Valley Children’s Hospital relocated to another community 25 years ago, it left a void in… Read More »
From Scarcity to Strength: Three Strategies for Funders in Rural Places
Rural communities in California, and nationwide, are reeling from federal workforce cuts that threaten jobs, incomes, and already-strained safety nets. These pressures came into sharp… Read More »
Partners for Places: California’s Growing Movement for Climate and Equity
Partners for Places is a matching grant program managed by The Funders Network (TFN) in partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) designed to enhance local… Read More »
Defending Against Federal Funding Cuts to the Environment & Implementing California’s Climate Investments
As federal rollbacks threaten environmental justice and California prepares to implement its largest-ever climate bond, philanthropy has a critical opportunity — and responsibility — to… Read More »
Resilience and Equity in Action: A Day with the Great Communities Collaborative
Shade trees softened the sun as we stepped onto Jardín del Pueblo, a vibrant community farm in Healdsburg where local farmworkers grow their own food… Read More »
Learning from Lithium Valley: From Brine to Green Energy
The Lithium Crossroads Once a beachfront haven for celebrities, Southern California’s Salton Sea turned toxic long ago from too much agricultural runoff and too little… Read More »
Beyond City Limits: Opportunities for Smart Growth Amidst New Migration Patterns
We all know the story: tired of high housing costs and wanting space after being stuck inside during lockdown, many folks left their small urban… Read More »
