In a time of unprecedented challenges, the San Marcos Community Foundation (SMCF) has helped provide hope and support to essential community services that keep our city strong.
The Foundation’s important grant program has provided more than $75,000 in funding within the last year and a half to local organizations ranging from the North County COVID-19 Emergency Fund and the San Marcos Prevention Coalition to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos.
“Everybody wants to do good, but they’re not always sure how to go about it. That is where the San Marcos Community Foundation comes in,” said Collen Lukoff, president of the SMCF. “We are here to help when someone wants to create change locally.”
In a year full of uncertainty, that drive to create positive change and help others throughout the community has been paramount. “Every grant applicant we have had this year has been affected by COVID-19, and they speak to that in their applications,” Lukoff said.
Jim Floros, President and CEO of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, credits the Community Foundation for recently providing 15,000 pounds of fresh produce to local San Marcos residents who needed it most.
“Organizations like the Community Foundation make what we are doing possible,” Floros said, noting that approximately 65 percent of food bank funding comes from community partners. “It takes a community to feed a community, and we are only as good as the partners that support us.”
Serving as stewards since 1988, the San Marcos Community Foundation’s mission is to enrich quality of life by providing grants to a wide variety of nonprofit groups serving San Marcos residents. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.4 million to 125+ nonprofit organizations.
Most recently, the SMCF has approved grants to organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, Classics 4 Kids, the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, North County COVID-19 Emergency Fund and TrueCare (formerly North County Health Services). Over the years, grants have benefited purposes including arts and culture, children and seniors, civic life, education, health and wildlife.
A recent Community Foundation grant allowed the San Marcos Prevention Coalition’s youth group to provide parent/student drug prevention forums along with funding to help promote their message of a healthy and drug-free lifestyle.
“The Community Foundation understands that organizations in San Marcos are doing vitally important work, and they want to encourage and show their support through grant funding. We are very grateful,” said K.C. Strang, Executive Director for the San Marcos Prevention Coalition.
Nonprofit groups supporting San Marcos residents may request up to $10,000 in grant funding for a wide variety of purposes. Grant applications and lists of grants are available on the San Marcos Community Foundation webpage.
The Foundation’s fundraising campaign, called ‘Now and Forever,’ helps boost the endowment fund and grant opportunities. Since only a portion of the Foundation’s earnings are spent on grants, the endowment fund is an ongoing source of funding benefiting the community. Grant requests are accepted year-round, with research and decisions made by volunteer board members.
“I am humbled by the requests we see each month, and the dedication of the nonprofits who serve San Marcos. The Board thoughtfully reviews them all, and spends time learning about the many services occurring here,” Lukoff said.
For more information about the San Marcos Community Foundation, or to make a donation, please visit the webpage or call (760) 744-1050, ext. 3100.
