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Plinth

· Public charity

Volunteer Centers of Santa Cruz County

At the volunteer center, we connect people for good because meaningful service is the heart of a strong, vibrant community and a healthy, happy life.

$1.5M
Granted FY2025still arriving
56
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$91k
Largest
01What you fundRead
02The needRead
03Your fieldRead
01What you fund
01FY2025 · 56 grants

Where the money goes

Your grants by size, and where they go.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k11 grants · $76k
  • $10k–50k37 grants · $784k
  • $50k–250k8 grants · $582k
$17,257
Median grant
2
States reached
$1.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
DIENTES COMMUNITY DENTAL CARE$90,531
AMAH MUTSUN LAND TRUST$77,446
SANTA CRUZ WELCOMING NETWORK$75,097
COASTAL WATERSHED COUNCIL$72,945
FARM DISCOVERY$71,698
SHARED ADVENTURES$71,380
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY$67,070
SANTA CRUZ CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY$56,122
PAJARO VALLEY LOAVES AND FISHES INC$49,115
THEATRE 831$44,392
HOMELESS GARDEN PROJECT$43,423
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK SANTA CRUZ COUNTY$43,397
HOSPICE OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY$38,159
GREY BEARS$35,297
CASA OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY$35,000
02The need
02

Do your dollars go where the need is?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, then read against the area’s typical level.

show:

Your human-services grants (FY25–25, $142k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 7%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of your grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 7%HOMELESS GARDEN PROJECT: $43k → 13%PAJARO VALLEY SHELTER SERVICES: $13k → 13%MONARCH SERVICES-SERVICIOS MONARCA: $7k → 13%FAMILIES IN TRANSITION OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY INC: $5k → 13%WALNUT AVENUE FAMILY & WOMEN'S CENTER: $10k → 13%MENTORS DRIVING CHANGE FOR BOYS MEN AND DADS: $18k → 13%GREY BEARS: $35k → 13%HOPE'S CLOSET: $10k → 13%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount

Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty linein the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP; grantee ZIP can differ from where services are delivered.

US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are actually delivered. Need from public data — U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA — shown as context about the area, never attributed to your giving.

03Your field

The map has a center of gravity: the average direction from the rest of the sector toward the organizations the foundation funds — the shape of its giving. Scoring every nonprofit along that direction surfaces the ones that look most like the portfolio. These are the closest matchesthat aren’t grantees — a resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Santa Cruz Local Inc

Independent nonpartisan newsroom serving Santa Cruz County, California we are all watching and engaged in our local government, our needs are addressed, democracy works better and our community is stronger.

—
2
Santa Cruz Community Farmers Market

To serve our community by providing direct access to sustainable sources of fresh produce and other unique foods, and provide education about food issues, both local and beyond.

—
3
California Coastkeeper dba California Coastkeeper Alliance

California Coastkeeper Alliance unites Waterkeeper programs statewide to fight for swimmable, fishable, and drinkable waters for all Californians.

Environment
4
Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship

Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship is creating and maintaining world-class trails responsibly, sustainably, and collectively.

Environment
5
Just Communities Central Coast

At Just Communities we work to ensure that Central Coast schools, organizations, and communities are places of opportunity, not places of limitation. We advance justice by engaging our community in leadership development, dialogue, action…

Civil Rights
6
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

Friends of santa cruz state parks is a vital partner to california state parks, creatively working to ensure parks and beaches throughout santa cruz county and coastal san mateo county are thriving and available to all.

—
7
Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries Inc

To provide support to the city-county library system through advocacy, volunteer services and fund raising. Their goal is to create stronger neighborhoods and a culturally-enriched county through accessible and diverse library programs.

Education
8
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for Monterey County

The SPCA Monterey County's Mission is assuring compassionate treatment of all animals through rescue, rehabilitation, protection and education. The SPCA shelters homeless, neglected, and abused pets, including dogs, cats, horses, exotic…

Animals
9
San Francisco Casa

San Francisco CASA transforms the lives of children and youth traumatized and displaced in the foster care and related systems by providing one consistent, caring volunteer advocate, trained to address each childs needs in the court and…

Civil Rights
10
Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy

CAUSE's mission is to build grassroots power to realize social, economic and environmental justice for the people of the Central Coast Region through policy research, leadership development, organizing and advocacy.

Community Improvement
11
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

Land trust of santa cruz county (the organization) was incorporated in california as a not-for-profit corporation in 1978. the mission of the organization is to protect, care for, and connect all people to the vibrant natural and working…

Environment
12
Ventures

Creating compassionate and equitable local economies that contribute to the well-being of our communities.Ventures partners with rural, working-class families in Californias Central Coast to ensure a shared and equitable economic future…

Human Services

For reference, the grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance Inc and the most unlike its peers is Natural Bridges Media Ksqd. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.

Your grantees are a median of 28 years old; the field is 16. You back the established end — and your money leans older still.

THE FIELDby orgYOUR GRANTEESby number21%0%<5yr14%12%5–10yr20%29%10–20yr18%27%20–35yr16%25%35–55yr11%8%55yr+
THE FIELDby orgYOUR MONEYby value21%0%<5yr14%12%5–10yr20%32%10–20yr18%32%20–35yr16%14%35–55yr11%10%55yr+

The field is 21% startups (under 5 years old) — 0% of your grantees by number, and just 0% of your money.

Closures · last 5 years

The orgs you fund almost never close — 0.0% lost their exemption, against 12% of the field you don’t fund.

orgs you fund
0.0%0/55
the rest of the field
12%
164/1,424

Age = years since IRS exemption (a founding proxy). “Closed” = auto-revocation for 3 years of non-filing — a floor on closure, not proof, and bigger established orgs lapse least. Association, not causation.

03the grantee network

54 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each one resolved to its own IRS returns and tracked year by year — your grant beside their revenue from every source. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

Counted here: distinct organizations you funded across 2017–2025, not grant rows in a single year — so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 54 of the 55 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile; the rest are funded organizations whose filings we could not track year by year.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
15
Early backer (in before they grew)
54/54
Grantees still filing
16/54
Grew since you first funded

Where your money sits — by cause, then by grantee

Amah Mutsun Land Trust — $77,446 · EnvironmentAmah Mutsun Land Trus…SANTA CRUZ HUB FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING — $75,097 · EnvironmentSANTA CRUZ HUB FOR SU…COASTAL WATERSHED COUNCIL — $72,945 · EnvironmentCOASTAL WATERSHED COU…WATSONVILLE WETLANDS WATCH — $23,459 · EnvironmentWATSONVILLE WETLANDS …EAT FOR THE EARTH — $18,420 · EnvironmentEAT FOR THE EARTHEcology Action of Santa Cruz — $11,911 · EnvironmentSHARED ADVENTURES — $71,380 · Human ServicesSHARED ADVENTURESHOMELESS GARDEN PROJECT — $43,423 · Human ServicesHOMELESS GARDEN P…GREY BEARS — $35,297 · Human ServicesGREY BEARSMENTORS DRIVING CHANGE FOR BOYS MEN AND DADS — $18,230 · Human ServicesMENTORS DRIVING C…PAJARO VALLEY SHELTER SERVICES — $12,676 · Human ServicesPAJARO VALLEY SHE…WALNUT AVENUE FAMILY & WOMENS CENTER — $10,266 · Human ServicesHOPES CLOSET OF SANTA CRUZ — $10,187 · Human Services+3 more — $19,391 · Human Services+3 moreSanta Cruz Childrens Museum of Discovery — $56,122 · Arts & CultureSanta Cruz Chil…THEATRE 831 — $44,392 · Arts & CultureTHEATRE 831SENDEROS — $24,021 · Arts & CultureSENDEROSNatural Bridges Media KSQD — $21,038 · Arts & CultureNatural Bridges…TANNERY WORLD DANCE & CULTURAL CENTER — $20,466 · Arts & CultureTANNERY WORLD D…ARTS COUNCIL SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — $12,563 · Arts & CultureARTS COUNCIL SA…SHAKESPEARE PLAY ON SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE — $10,220 · Arts & CultureFree Guitars 4 Kids — $6,819 · Arts & CulturePajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes Inc — $49,115 · OtherPajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes In…HOSPICE OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — $38,159 · OtherHOSPICE OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTYCamp Opportunity Inc — $24,521 · OtherCamp Opportunity IncThe Santa Cruz Lesbian and Gay Community Center — $16,067 · OtherSECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — $43,397 · OtherSECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK SANTA CRU…CENTER FOR FARMWORKER FAMILIES — $25,860 · OtherCENTER FOR FARMWORKER FAMILIESLIVE EARTH FARM DISCOVERY PROGRAM — $71,698 · OtherLIVE EARTH FARM DISCOVERY PROGRAMCourt Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Cruz County — $35,000 · OtherCourt Appointed Special Advocates …COMMUNITY INITIATIVES — $17,257 · OtherASSOCIATION OF FAITH COMMUNITIES OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — $14,614 · Other+10 more — $100,884 · Other+10 moreDIENTES COMMUNITY DENTAL CARE — $90,531 · HealthDIENTES C…PLANNED PARENTHOOD MAR MONTE INC — $22,639 · HealthPLANNED P…JACOBS HEART CHILDRENS CANCER SUPPORT SERVICES — $12,931 · HealthJACOBS HE…BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — $67,070 · Youth DevelopmentTEEN KITCHEN PROJECT — $11,349 · Youth DevelopmentLIVE LIKE COCO FOUNDATION — $10,355 · Youth DevelopmentGirls Incorporated of the Central Coast — $5,232 · Youth DevelopmentSANTA CRUZ COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER FOUNDATION — $27,741 · AnimalsSanta Cruz SPCA and Humane Society — $24,789 · AnimalsPaws Helping People Inc — $21,633 · AnimalsBIRCHBARK FOUNDATION INC — $16,636 · Animals
Environment$279,278Human Services$220,850Arts & Culture$195,641Other$436,572Health$126,101Youth Development$94,006Animals$90,799

Each org by its size and your share of it — top-left is where you’re load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ your share of their budgetDIENTES COMMUNITY DENTAL CARE — $90,531 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetSANTA CRUZ HUB FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING — $75,097 over 1y, 10% of budgetCOASTAL WATERSHED COUNCIL — $72,945 over 1y, 12% of budgetSHARED ADVENTURES — $71,380 over 1y, 22% of budgetSanta Cruz Childrens Museum of Discovery — $56,122 over 1y, 13% of budgetPajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes Inc — $49,115 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetSECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — $43,397 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHOSPICE OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — $38,159 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGREY BEARS — $35,297 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCourt Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Cruz County — $35,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetCENTER FOR FARMWORKER FAMILIES — $25,860 over 1y, 4.1% of budgetSanta Cruz SPCA and Humane Society — $24,789 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetCamp Opportunity Inc — $24,521 over 1y, 31% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD MAR MONTE INC — $22,639 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPaws Helping People Inc — $21,633 over 1y, 26% of budgetNatural Bridges Media KSQD — $21,038 over 1y, 7.8% of budgetEAT FOR THE EARTH — $18,420 over 1y, 11% of budgetMENTORS DRIVING CHANGE FOR BOYS MEN AND DADS — $18,230 over 1y, 7.7% of budgetCOMMUNITY INITIATIVES — $17,257 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Santa Cruz Lesbian and Gay Community Center — $16,067 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetASSOCIATION OF FAITH COMMUNITIES OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — $14,614 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetHABITAT FOR HUMANITY MONTEREY BAY — $12,821 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPAJARO VALLEY SHELTER SERVICES — $12,676 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetARTS COUNCIL SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — $12,563 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetCommunity Bridges — $12,510 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetVeteran Surf Alliance — $11,717 over 1y, 20% of budgetPAJARO VALLEY PREVENTION AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE INC — $11,490 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTEEN KITCHEN PROJECT — $11,349 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetSAVE OUR SHORES — $11,066 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetWALNUT AVENUE FAMILY & WOMENS CENTER — $10,266 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetLife Lab Science Program — $8,253 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetBIG BROTHERSBIG SISTERS AGENCY OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY INC — $7,974 over 1y, 2.6% of budgetVETS 4 VETS SANTA CRUZ — $7,537 over 1y, 7.3% of budgetFree Guitars 4 Kids — $6,819 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetMONARCH SERVICES-SERVICIOS MONARCA — $6,795 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFAMILIES IN TRANSITION INC — $5,446 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGirls Incorporated of the Central Coast — $5,232 over 1y, 0.4% of budget
Go grantee by grantee — a decade per org, and how each moved after you funded them

A decade per grantee — revenue shaded, your grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

The grantmakers whose grantees overlap with yours far more than size alone predicts. Each orbits closer the stronger the alignment; the arcs between them show where they also fund each other. Here it reads as a tightly interlocked camp — most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Community Foundation …Monterey Peninsula Fo…Caroline's Nonprofit …Pajaro Valley Communi…The David and Lucile …Newman's Own Foundati…Kaiser Foundation Hos…East Bay Community Fo…The J Miles and Rosan…Silicon Valley Commun…Santa Cruz Community …Rotary Club of SC Sun…
Community Foundation Santa Cruz CountyCA91.6× affinity43 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation Santa Cruz County · Monterey Peninsula Foundation · Caroline's Nonprofit Thrift Shop · Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust · The David and Lucile Packard Foundation · Newman's Own Foundation · Kaiser Foundation Hospitals · East Bay Community Foundation · The J Miles and Rosanne Reiter Family Foundation · Silicon Valley Community Foundation · Santa Cruz Community Credit Union · Rotary Club of SC Sunrise Foundation

Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. A research starting point: overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Government reliance of your grantees

Every dot is one organization Volunteer Centers of Santa Cruz County funds. Left–right is the share of its income from government; up–down is the share from you. Bigger dots raise more. Filter to federal or a single department — and drag the year to watch it move.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%10%23%40%your share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    23report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25

    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending — grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that your grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first — a floor, not a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12–24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read directly from IRS e-file XML — your own 990/990-PF and the multi-year returns of the 55 grantees we resolved across every year we hold, several hundred filings in all (a different count from the grant rows on the cover, which are one fiscal year)— each linked to its source. Grantee achievements and outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III); we read these as association with sustained funding — the foundation is one of several forces — suppress low-confidence name matches rather than guess, and say so where a figure rests on a single grant or filing. Not everything on this page is a filed figure, and the difference matters. Filed is what you reported on your return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears. How we build these →

    Generated from your IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12–24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home
    State money flows
    the interactive map of money crossing state lines