Impact Collaborative - Sacramento Region Community Foundation

Impact Collaborative gatherings

Where Community & Generosity Meet

You belong in the Impact Collaborative because you care about your community and want to make a difference alongside others who feel the same way. When you join, you combine your contribution with fellow members, learn about local nonprofits, and help decide where to invest charitable dollars to make the greatest difference in the Sacramento region.

You don’t need a large giving budget or a background in philanthropy to take part! What matters most is your willingness to show up for the community you call home.

The Impact Collaborative is a giving circle, a popular and welcoming way for people to make a difference together. Here’s how it works.

Give

Contribute $300 alongside others to create a pool of funding that adds up to make a meaningful difference in our community.

Easy Giving
Join with a simple annual contribution of $300, given once or in convenient monthly installments.

Bigger Impact
Combine your gift with others, grown through professionally managed investment, to support local nonprofits in a bigger, more impactful way.

Gather

Connect with others who care about the Sacramento region and learn about the issues and organizations shaping our region.

Community Connection
Attend events and conversations throughout the year that build relationships and deepen your connection to the community.

Local Understanding
Hear directly from nonprofit leaders and community members about the work happening on the ground.

Grant

Use your voice to help decide where funding goes, turning shared generosity into collective action that makes a positive difference.

Smart Decisions
Once a year, review and discuss proposals from local nonprofits doing important work.

Shared Voice
Vote alongside fellow members to award grants that strengthen our region.

Impact Collaborative gatherings

A Powerful Gift

The Impact Collaborative combines the simplicity of a single gift with the power of pooled investment and shared decision-making, helping you and others grow your collective impact.

	Impact Collaborative	Non-Foundation Giving Circles	Cash Gifts to Nonprofits
Direct support to nonprofits making a difference	✓	✓	✓
Simple contribution	✓	✓	✓
Have a voice in how funds are distributed	✓	✓	✓
Build community with others who care about the community	✓	✓
Learn about local needs and nonprofit solutions	✓	✓
Year-round volunteer and social opportunities	✓	✓
Connection to a trusted local philanthropic institution	✓
Grow grantmaking through managed investment	✓
Professional support and trusted oversight	✓
Flexible and convenient payment options	✓
Complex gifts like stock accepted	✓

Become a Member

Annual Contribution: $300

Joining the Impact Collaborative is designed to be easy, with flexible payment options through a one-time contribution or monthly installments. If you’d like to give in a different way — such as through appreciated stock, your Donor Advised Fund, or another type of asset — we make the process simple.

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Credit Card

Pay quickly online using your credit card, with a single annual payment or monthly recurring gifts.

Join Today

Check

Mail or deliver a check to the Foundation to complete your contribution.

Mailing Address

Apple Pay, Venmo, Google Pay, PayPal

Use the convenient payment options offered on GivingEdge, our nonprofit database.

Give Now

After making your gift, you’ll receive an immediate tax receipt, and membership details will follow within two business days.

Donor Advised Fund

Recommend a grant from your Donor Advised Fund to join the Impact Collaborative.

Make a Grant

If your Donor Advised Fund is housed elsewhere, recommend a grant to the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, noting Impact Collaborative.

Appreciated Stock

Donate shares of appreciated stock to support your membership and receive potential tax benefits.

Download Stock Form

To expedite processing, send the original of the completed Stock Transfer Form to your broker, keep a copy for yourself, and send a copy to us. Note Impact Collaborative in the Fund field.

Bank Account

Set up a one-time or recurring payment directly from your bank account.

Donate Today

Use our secure online donation form and, when prompted, select US Bank Account. Gifts are typically received in 3-5 business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Impact Collaborative?

The Impact Collaborative is a giving circle at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. Members pool their contributions, learn about local needs, and work together to decide which nonprofits will receive funding. It’s a simple, meaningful way to support the community while connecting with others who care about making a difference.

How do I join?

Joining is easy. Choose the donation method that works best for you on this page and make your membership contribution. Once you’re a member, you’ll be invited to events, learning opportunities, and the annual grantmaking vote.

What is the contribution to join?

Membership is $300 per year. You can pay in one annual contribution or in convenient monthly installments of $25.

Contributions to the Impact Collaborative are processed through the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, a qualified 501(c)(3) public charity, and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor related to your specific circumstances.

Where does the money go?

Members collectively decide which nonprofits will receive grants each year. Your contribution is combined with those of other members to create a larger pool of funding that can make a meaningful impact in the community.

What is a giving circle?

A giving circle forms when individuals come together to pool their dollars and decide collectively where to direct the funds.

The Impact Collaborative is a giving circle of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, the go-to resource for philanthropy in the Sacramento region and the organization behind programs such as Big Day of Giving. Known for its financial strength and sound investment strategies, the Foundation brings decades of experience stewarding charitable funds and supporting other giving circles at work in the region. That experience provides the structure and guidance that allow Impact Collaborative members to focus on what matters most: connecting with one another and directing their pooled resources to make a meaningful difference locally!

For those interested in learning more, Giving Circles: A Growing Force for Democratizing Philanthropy from the Nonprofit Quarterly is a helpful resource, and it includes a curated list of additional materials to explore.

How does the year-end grantmaking work?

The Impact Collaborative is a member-driven giving circle. Throughout the year, members pool their donations and their time to support nonprofits working to strengthen our Sacramento region.

Members shape the focus of year-end grantmaking by learning together about community needs and opportunities. Through conversations with nonprofit leaders and our Impact Team, members gain insight into the issues facing our region. These shared experiences help inform the priorities and funding decisions made at the end of the year.

When it’s time to make year-end grants, members review information submitted by area nonprofits, discuss, and vote on which organizations they would like to support. Funding is directed to the organizations that receive the most member support, ensuring that decisions reflect the collective voice of the group.

To maintain fairness and transparency, any member who is employed by or serves on the board of an organization under consideration is asked to recuse themselves from voting on that organization.

Do I have to be an expert in philanthropy to participate?

Not at all. The Impact Collaborative is designed to be an easy entry point for people who want to learn more about community needs and how to give effectively. You’ll have opportunities to ask questions, hear from nonprofit leaders, and make informed decisions alongside others.

Can I give more than the annual membership amount?

Yes. Many members choose to make additional gifts to support the grant pool or specific nonprofits. Every contribution helps expand the impact we can make together.

Can my company or workplace join?

Yes. Businesses and teams are welcome to participate. Joining together can be a great way to build community, support local nonprofits, and demonstrate your organization’s commitment to the region.

Is my contribution tax-deductible?

Yes. Contributions to the Impact Collaborative are processed through the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, a qualified public charity, and are generally tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

What are the benefits of membership?

When you’re looking for a more hands-on way to get involved with and invest in your community, the Impact Collaborative offers a supportive space to learn, engage, and take action. Benefits include:

Your membership supports solutions to pressing needs in our region and helps strengthen the organizations serving our neighbors every day.
Membership brings you into a welcoming community of individuals who care about making our region stronger and more equitable.
Members guide grantmaking decisions by learning about community issues and participating in the selection of nonprofit partners to support.
Members are invited to quarterly gatherings, volunteer opportunities, and special events that bring you closer to the work happening across the Sacramento region.

What kinds of nonprofits receive funding?

The nonprofits supported by the Impact Collaborative focus on strengthening our region — from improving access to food and education to supporting youth, families, and community well-being. Members learn about the organizations and vote on where funding should go.

Will I remain anonymous to grant recipients?

Yes, we do not release the personal information of any member of the Impact Collaborative without their prior consent.

Member Hub

As a member of the Impact Collaborative, you’re welcome at a variety of events throughout the year! Register for these upcoming gatherings that connect you with the people and organizations shaping our region.

Not a member of the Impact Collaborative? Join today!

See More Events

Donors, Impact Collaborative

Impact Collaborative: Sacramento Youth Center & King Cong Brewing

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Join fellow Impact Collaborative members and guests for a behind-the-scenes tour of Sacramento Youth Center, followed by a happy hour at King Cong Brewing just down the street.

Advisors, Donors, Fundholders, Impact Collaborative, Nonprofits

Big Day of Giving 2027

Thursday, May 6, 2027

During the capital area’s annual celebration of local philanthropy, give to nonprofits that make our communities stronger and more vibrant each day.

The Difference You Make

To date, the Impact Collaborative has helped strengthen efforts to address food insecurity and create brighter futures for young people and their families. Members have also rolled up their sleeves alongside nonprofit partners through volunteer activities across the region.