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Inspiring Philanthropy for 40 Years

Thanks to the foresight of the Junior League of Sacramento and the efforts of generous people like you, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation has inspired philanthropy in the capital area for 40 years.

See Milestones

Celebrating Four Decades of Giving

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Realizing a Vision

The Sacramento Region Community Foundation exists today because of the dedication of the women in the Junior League of Sacramento. For years, the Junior League of Sacramento has identified gaps in the cultural and social service offerings of our region and has worked to fill the gaps by empowering existing organizations and building new ones — including your community foundation.

Since their vision was realized with our incorporation in the spring of 1983, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation has gained the confidence of generous people who recognize the value of an organization dedicated to improving the capital area through philanthropy.

Throughout the years, we have witnessed the transformative power of collaboration and the incredible impact we can achieve when we join forces. Thanks in large part to the generosity of people who partner with us to assist in their charitable giving, we have awarded $250 million in grants and scholarships in our first 40 years — including those grants we’ve directed through our community initiatives, like Big Day of Giving, which has become a game-changer for charitable giving in our region over the past decade.

Through our community initiatives, we have addressed a wide range of needs and pursued critical opportunities. We have provided scholarships for aspiring students, collaborated with cross-sector partners to strengthen social systems, and extended resources to those in need during challenging times and recovery.

Toward a Bright, Bold Future

As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our belief that philanthropy can create meaningful opportunities for all who live in the capital area. In pursuing our bold mission — to lead, serve, and inspire enduring philanthropy for a just and vibrant Sacramento region — we are proud to follow the model set by forward-thinking leaders of the past whose vision has guided our work to this point.

We will continue to identify emerging needs, collaborate with stakeholders, and implement innovative solutions. Together, we will build upon the foundation laid over the past forty years and inspire philanthropy in the Sacramento region for years to come. Let’s get started!

Renee Nunes Taylor, Foundation Board Member, and Synthia Smith, Executive Director of Sisters of Nia

Foundation staff at the Celebration of Generosity

As we reflect on the past four decades, we are filled with gratitude for the countless individuals, organizations, and businesses who have supported the Sacramento Region Communiy Foundation along the way. Together, we have brought about positive change.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you for your contributions.

Milestones

1980s

May 1983: Sacramento Regional Foundation established by the Junior League of Sacramento
1984: First grant awarded: $50,000 to the Crocker Art Museum
1985: First scholarship awarded
1986: Grew to $1 million in assets, increasing the philanthropic resources available to the Sacramento region

1990s

1997: Grew to $10 million in assets

2000s

2002: Renamed Sacramento Region Community Foundation
2003: Launched Grants Advisory Board for Youth (GABY) and grew to $50 million in assets
2005: Grew to $100 million in assets

2010s

2011: Formed GiveLocalNow, the collaboration that germinated GivingEdge and Big Day of Giving
2012: Affiliated with Yolo Community Foundation
2013: Celebrated having awarded $100 million in grants and scholarships since 1983, and held first online giving day for local arts nonprofits
2014: Held first online giving day for all local nonprofits, Big Day of Giving
2015: Launched Strategic Initiatives to catalyze significant change

2020s

2020: Total raised since Big Day of Giving began topped $50 million, with $12 million given during devastating global pandemic
2021: Grew to $200 million in assets, and celebrated having awarded $200 million in grants and scholarships since 1983
2024: After awarding $250 million in our first 40 years, we’re looking toward a future of increased impact and enhanced philanthropic resources for the Sacramento region!

40 Years of Inspiring Philanthropy

“It was a great privilege to champion the Junior League’s daring vision for a Foundation.”

Merrily Wong

40 Years of Inspiring Philanthropy

“When people ask — ‘What are some of the things you’ve done that made a difference?’ — the Foundation is certainly very high up on my list.”

Muriel Johnson

Leaders Past & Present

Current Board Members

Kathy McKim, Hawksbill Group, Chair
Garry Maisel, Western Health Advantage, Vice-Chair
Jonathan Lederer, U.S. Bank, Treasurer
Cassandra Walker Pye, Lucas Public Affairs, Secretary

Kwame Anku, Black Star Fund
Angela DePaoli, Bargas Environmental Consulting
Gordon Fowler, 3Fold Communications
Bret Hewitt, Yolo Community Foundation
Matthew Jacobs, CalPERS
William Niemi, Niemi Development Partners
Vince Sales, Everyday Impact Consulting
Renee Nunes Taylor, Community Leader
Kate Stille, Nugget Markets, Inc.
Scott Syphax, Syphax Strategic Solutions
Steven Weiss, The Weiss Group
Kate Willcox, Boutin Jones, Inc.

Past Board Members

* indicates Founding Board Members

Nicholas G. Alexander
Ralph Andersen (deceased)
Fred Anderson (deceased)
Gerald F. Bays
Stephen F. Boutin
Stephen A. Brandenburger
Frederick (Fritz) Brown*
Amador Bustos
Margie Campbell
Anker Christensen
Patricia Cochran
Dan Cole
Nathaniel S. Colley, Sr. (deceased)*
George L. Cook, Sr. (deceased)
Donna Courville
Cecilia Delury
Michael Dunlavey
Robert M. Earl
Jane Einhorn
Elfrena Foord
The Honorable Leonard M. Friedman (deceased)*
Marcy Friedman
Robert F. Gaines (deceased)
Larry Gilzean
Alice J. Gonzales
Dr. Alex Gonzalez
Mario Gutierrez (deceased)
Thomas J. Hammer, Jr. (deceased)
Scott T. Hanson
Janis Heaphy
Archie Hefner (deceased)
William G. Hegg (deceased)
Cassandra Jennings
Muriel P. Johnson
Van Johnson
Oleta Lambert (deceased)
Edward L. Lammerding (deceased)*
Elyssa Lee
Robert L. Lorber
David Lucchetti
The Honorable Thomas J. MacBride (deceased)
Dennis Mangers
C.K. McClatchy (deceased)*
Dr. Linda Merksamer
R. Burnett Miller (deceased)*
Diane D. Miller
Diane Mizell
Benjamin F. Montoya
Darren Morris
David K. Murphy

Carlin Naify
Thomas W. O’Neil (deceased)
Melena Ose (deceased)
Daniel I. Parrish
Norman J. Phillips
Forrest A. Plant, Sr. (deceased)
Dr. Claire Pomeroy
Donald C. Poole (deceased)
A. Alan Post (deceased)*
Erwin Potts (deceased)
Frank C. Ramos
Jeanne Reaves
Carolyn Reid (deceased)
Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker
Herbert S. Rodebaugh* (deceased)
Jean Runyon (deceased)
Gordon D. Schaber (deceased)*
Hardie C. Setzer (deceased)
Lillian Sioukas
Meg Stallard
Martin Steiner
Gary Strong
Fred Teichert
Henry Teichert (deceased)*
Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis
Stephen Tse
C. John Tupper, M.D. (deceased)
Moni Van Camp*
Father Jesse Vaughan
Frank G. Washington
Malcolm S. Weintraub
Frank Whittaker
Clarence Williams (deceased)
Henry Wirz
Merrily Wong*
Sandra W. Yee
Mike Ziegler (deceased)