Grant Snapshot: Listening to Our Community
The Community Foundation of San Carlos continues to grow alongside the city we love, and this year’s grant cycle is a powerful reflection of that momentum. With more applications and more volunteer participation than ever before, our community is speaking clearly about what matters most—and we’re listening.
For years, the Foundation has invested in nonprofits that make a measurable difference for the people who live, work, learn, and play in San Carlos.
These partnerships help ensure that essential services and enriching programs are accessible to everyone in our community. You’ll recognize many of these stories from our recent article, How Your Donations Strengthen San Carlos, which highlights the meaningful, local impact your support makes possible.
A More Responsive, Community-Centered Process
This year, our grantmaking process was strengthened by a diverse group of volunteer readers who helped us evaluate proposals with fresh insights and lived experiences. Their perspectives reflect the true fabric of San Carlos today, and they played a key role in surfacing priorities voiced by residents across the city.
To better support both applicants and volunteers, the Foundation streamlined the grant process, reviewed and refined our grantee eligibility guidelines, and made the overall experience clearer and more accessible.
This is an investment we plan to revisit annually to ensure that our process continues to evolve with the needs of the community.
What We’re Hearing from San Carlos
A pantry cupboard at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Applications this year came from dozens of nonprofits operating across four core areas:
Basic Needs
Art and Culture
Community Building
Education and Youth Programs
One message rose above the rest: essential needs are growing sharply. Requests related to food security, housing stability, and emergency assistance have surged to the highest levels we’ve ever seen. For many families and individuals in San Carlos, these supports are a lifeline.
In response, the Foundation expects to allocate twice as much funding toward basic needs compared to last year. While we will still provide smaller awards across other categories, this shift ensures that resources flow where they can make the most immediate impact.
Gratitude for a Community That Shows Up
We are deeply grateful to every volunteer reader who lent their time and expertise, every nonprofit partner who continues to serve our residents with care, and every donor who helps amplify this work.
The strength of our grant program comes from the people who believe in a connected, inclusive San Carlos—and who take action to help build it.
Your support makes these investments possible.
Make Your Gift Today
Your donation directly fuels the programs and services that strengthen our community, support our neighbors, and ensure San Carlos remains a place where everyone can thrive.