$2.26 Million Mobilized to Stabilize SLO County Nonprofits
December 12th, 2025
FOR RELEASE
CONTACT: Leila Dufurrena / Director of Philanthropy / The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County
leila@cfsloco.org / (805) 543-2323
Public & Private Partners Unite to Protect Essential Services
San Luis Obispo, CA – December 12, 2025 – The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County today
announced $2.26 million in unrestricted grants to support the operating and program needs of 27 local
nonprofit organizations through Together for SLO County: A Critical Response Fund. The fund is the
result of a coordinated public-private effort designed to stabilize essential services during a period of
significant financial strain on the nonprofit sector.
These awards were made possible through a powerful collaboration that brought together the County
Board of Supervisors, First 5 San Luis Obispo County, and generous community donors who stepped
forward as nonprofits across the region faced rising demand alongside substantial funding losses. This
combined investment will help sustain critical programs serving families, seniors, youth, and vulnerable
residents across San Luis Obispo County.
“This is what collective leadership looks like,” said Christine Dawson, CEO of The Community
Foundation San Luis Obispo County. “The County Board of Supervisors’ early investment of $1.2 million
dollars created the foundation for action, and the partnership with First 5 and individual donors allowed
us to rapidly expand the impact. Together, we moved resources where they were most urgently needed
to the organizations holding our community together.”
Beyond grantmaking, the Community Foundation is launching a comprehensive sustainability support
initiative for this cohort of grantees. Organizations will have access to consulting services, one-on-one
coaching, organizational assessments, and tailored technical assistance. Each organization will complete
a needs assessment to help identify priority areas of support needed, with the goal of strengthening both
immediate and long-term resilience.
“Emergency funding is significant, but stability comes from pairing dollars with strategy,” added Dawson.
“These organizations deserve both immediate relief and the tools to plan confidently for what comes
next.”
Organizations receiving funding provide a wide range of critical services including mental health care,
housing stabilization, food access, youth development, medical and dental services, and safety
resources for survivors of violence. The impact of the funding was felt immediately by recipients.
“Community Counseling Center is utterly breathless, humbled, and overjoyed,” said James Statler,
Executive Director of Community Counseling Center of San Luis Obispo County. “The community has
stepped up in a monumental way to support the nonprofit sector. This award goes straight to the heart of
our work and will shine through in the quality of care provided to our clients.”
Supervisors Heather Moreno and Dawn Ortiz-Legg, who served on the subcommittee that facilitated the
partnership, emphasized the importance of aligning public and private resources.
“We recognized that by joining forces with The Community Foundation, we could increase funding for the
local nonprofits that provide critical services for San Luis Obispo County families, seniors, and youth,”
they said in a joint statement. “It worked, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to
the Together for SLO County campaign, as well as the Community Foundation staff for their dedication.
We are especially appreciative of the hardworking nonprofits on the front lines supporting our
community.”
First 5 San Luis Obispo County also joined this effort by contributing $100,000 to ensure continuity of
early childhood and family support services during this period of heightened community need. "During
these challenging times, Together for SLO County is a bright example of shared commitment to a
common cause. First 5 is proud to partner as a co-investor in this collective effort through which we are
not just filling urgent gaps, but planting the seeds of stability, resilience, and hope for families with young
children across San Luis Obispo County," said Wendy Wendt, Executive Director of First 5 SLO County.
A complete list of 2025 Together for SLO County grant recipients is available at:
“These nonprofits are trusted anchors in our community,” Dawson said. “This funding provides breathing
room while organizations plan for long term resilience in an unpredictable funding environment.”
The Community Foundation continues to welcome contributions to Together for SLO County to ensure
ongoing support for essential nonprofit services. To learn more or contribute, visit cfsloco.org.
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