In early 2008, the Packard Foundation joined other foundations in California to address the challenges facing minority-led organizations and other grassroots organizations serving low-income communities. Together the foundations engaged in a series of discussions about current grantmaking practices, and held meetings with dozens of nonprofit organizations throughout California to learn how we might be more effective in meeting their needs. Those conversations resulted in a set of grantmaking activities for 2009 and beyond that will provide support for leadership development and capacity building among organizations in California.
You can read and download a copy of the coalition’s report here (PDF: 804 KB).
The coalition formally dissolved in 2009, but our Foundation has continued with our work as outlined in the report. In April 2009, we announced a partnership with the James Irvine and William and Flora Hewlett Foundations to serve low-income and diverse communities. You can read more about the initiative, the Community Leadership Project, on the Web site at www.communityleadershipproject.org.
You can also click on the links below to read an open letter from the presidents and CEOs of our three foundations explaining the scope of the Community Leadership Project, and to learn about the first-round of grants to intermediary organizations that will work to strengthen nonprofit organizations that are led by or serve low-income communities and communities of color.
Open letter from CEOs regarding the Community Leadership Project (PDF: 36 KB).
Community Leadership Project Announces Grants for Low-Income Communities and Communities of Color (PDF: 29 KB).