Cultivate
Our program to nourish connection and collaboration among leaders of color at local nonprofits — and close pervasive fundraising gaps that affect them, their organizations, and the communities they serve.
Members of the first Cultivate cohort
Supporting Local Leaders of Color
Local data reflect what we know is true nationwide: small nonprofits led by people of color typically receive less funding. This is true despite high-quality outcomes and strong relationships in the communities they serve.
Through Cultivate, we aim to close this gap in the Sacramento region by nourishing connection and collaboration among leaders of color at local nonprofits.
Engage with Cultivate
Applications for the Cultivate cohort program are closed. However, there are still ways for you to get involved!
What We’re Doing
Cultivate brings together local fundraisers and nonprofit leaders of color to build skills, relationships, and collective power in a space designed for learning and belonging. Through the program, participants receive:
- Personalized guidance and one-on-one coaching for cohort members
- Cultivate Community happy hours to connect with peers in the nonprofit space and share quality time
Together, these experiences help participants strengthen their fundraising practice while deepening relationships across the local nonprofit community.
Why It Matters
Nonprofits led by people of color are often closest to the challenges — and the solutions — shaping our region. They are trusted, community-rooted, and invested in the people they serve. Yet persistent funding gaps limit their ability to grow, sustain their work, and respond to community needs.
When local fundraisers and nonprofit leaders have access to support, coaching, and strong peer networks, the entire region benefits.
How We Got Here
Across the Sacramento region — and nationwide — nonprofit leaders of color consistently receive fewer philanthropic resources, even when their organizations deliver strong results and maintain deep community trust.
Local data makes this disparity clear. During Big Day of Giving 2022, nonprofits led by people of color raised 38% less on average and received 30% fewer gifts than similarly sized organizations.
These numbers reflect fewer introductions to donors, less access to networks, and fewer opportunities to learn in spaces where their experiences are centered and respected. Cultivate was shaped in response to those realities.
Good Company
Past participants of Cultivate report they are better equipped to generate funding and grow their organizations’ impact as a result of the program. To date, over 80 local leaders have participated.
We partner with longtime nonprofit fundraiser and Big Day of Giving advisor, Marisa DeSalles of Good Tilth Consulting to offer Cultivate. There is no cost to participate in Cultivate, thanks to donors to the Impact Fund of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation.
During the 2024-2025 Cultivate session, the program will provide ongoing learning and support for local fundraisers of color through two mutually supportive components:
-
Cultivate Community: a quarterly convening for people of color working to raise funds for nonprofits. Participants networked, connected with topic experts, addressed common challenges and celebrated achievements. Cultivate Community is open to all nonprofit leaders of color hoping to participate.
-
Cultivate Coaching: monthly, personalized check-ins with their coaches and attend presentations covering topics aimed to advance their organizations’ goals.
Cultivate Coaching Cohort:
- Denita Pickens-Jones, P.U.R.E. Youth Group
- Emily Sanders, Connect 2 Change
- Fatima Malik, Del Paso Heights Growers’ Alliance
- Jai Asfall, Birdhouse Fly Away
- James Jackson, iSOUND Performing Arts
- Justine Villanueva, Sawaga River Press
- Paulette Wylie, Bishop Gallegos Maternity Home
- Rabiia Ali, South Sac Mental Health Collaborative
During the 2023-2024 Cultivate session, the program provided ongoing learning and support for local fundraisers of color through two mutually supportive components:
-
Cultivate Community: a quarterly convening for people of color working to raise funds for nonprofits. Participants networked, connected with topic experts, addressed common challenges and celebrated achievements. Toward the end of this year’s program, the cohort engaged in a participatory grantmaking program that awarded $10,000 in grant funding.
-
Cultivate Capacity: support and training related to running a Big Day of Giving campaign. The first phase of the Capacity Cohort focused on readiness. Then, the second phase supplemented regular Big Day of Giving trainings to maximize participants’ success.
All leaders listed below participate in Cultivate Community; leaders marked with asterisks (*) were also members of the capacity-building portion of Cultivate.
- Creo Abraham, Leap Ahead*
- James Alexander, Sacramento Youth Center
- Ali Anderson, Feed Black Futures (fiscally sponsored by Inquiring Systems Inc.)
- Twiana Armstrong, seeMYchild*
- Shirley Arnold, Sovereignty Abound African American Community*
- Liz Baidoo, Celebration Arts*
- Keadrian Belcher, C.L.A.S.S.Y. Inc (Captivating Ladies Acquiring Successful Standards Yearly)*
- Kevin Bichanga, Women of Color on the Move*
- Judy Billingsley, National Coalition of 100 Black Women -Sacramento Chapter
- Wanda Brandon, Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center
- Janne Ault-Brown, The Race and Gender Equity (RAGE) Project*
- Damaris Canton, ION- Individual Opportunity Network*
- Denise Carter, Bright Braille
- Ebony Chambers, Black Womxn United*
- Johanna Crystal, Sunny Side Theatre Co
- Cliven Daluz, Greater Sacramento Urban League
- Victoria Deal, Grandparents Gentle hugs/Seed to Skillet*
- Tanya Faison, Black Lives Matter Sacramento
- Jovana Fajardo, ACCE Institute
- Carlita Ferguson, Sacramento Delta Foundation, Inc.
- Matthew Gilliam, Access Sacramento
- Terrence Gladney, Terrell Christopher Gladney Memorial Academy*
- Kara Green, ABLED*
- Janina Guarino, Better Decisions Counseling*
- Kristee Haggins, Safe Black Space*
- Adrianne Hall, St. HOPE Academy
- Ashley Hammock, World of Powerful Youth*
- Maria Madril Hernandez, Central Valley Movement Building Organizing Institute*
- Dr. Rita Mukherjee Hoffstadt, Folsom History
- James Duran Jackson, I Sound Music Performing Arts Community Development Inc*
- Christina Marie Jeffers, Access Sacramento
- Jenine S Jenkins, Stand Up Placer
- Priya Kumar, Sacramento LGBT Community Center
- Clarissa Laguardia, The California Center for Civic Participation*
- Lee Lo, Asian American Liberation Network*
- Fatima Malik, Del Paso Heights Growers’ Alliance
- Justin Margolis, Family and Community Connections*
- Sydney Mathis, Africa House Sacramento*
- Messiah Millares, Sacramento Literacy Foundation
- Robin Moore, Weforce of California Incorporated*
- Brittney Gandy, PhD, MPH, Sierra Nevada Journeys
- NJ Mvondo, Interactive Healing Arts Project (Fiscally sponsored by Yolo Arts)*
- RoShawn Perry, Daughters of Zion (DOZ) Enterpryz
- Vanessa Richardson, California Groundbreakers*
- Christopher Robinson, 4 Your Epiphany Foundation, Inc.*
- Shacunda Rodgers, Holding Space*
- Qiana Hill-Ross, The GreenHouse*
- Alyssa Saunders, WEAVE
- Leah Savage, Living Well Community Foundation*
- Antonio Smith, AOYNOM FOUNDATION*
- Synthia Smith, Sisters of Nia, Inc.*
- Joshua T. Smith, Improve Your Tomorrow Inc.
- Janae Supuni, Mutual Assistance Network
- Chris Gee Schoon-Tong, My Sister’s House
- Yolanda Torrecillas, KidsFirst
- Mykim Tran, Wake-Up Foundation
- Sommer Hayes-Ware, Associated Students at Sacramento State
- Josephine E Watts, BEST (Building Empowerment Skills Together)*
- Renee West, Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum*
- Linda White, Sacramento Delta Foundation
- Astin Williams, Love Liberated*
- Bobbie Wooten, Feed Sacramento Homeless*
- Liz Baidoo, Celebration Arts
- Myesha Britt, Gateway Community Charter School
- Johánna Crystal, Sunny Side Theatre Co
- Roula England, 350 Sacramento
- Carlos Fuentes, Sacramento Community Concert Association
- Sandra M. Gallardo, Friends of the Sacramento Library
- Dr. Kristee Haggins, Safe Black Space
- Danielle Hamilton, Center for Fathers and Families
- Ashley Hammock, World of Powerful Youth
- Qiana Hill-Ross, The GreenHouse
- Paula Kelley, Kiwanis Family House
- Christina Laygo, Dress for Success Sacramento
- Maria Madril Hernandez, Tower of Youth
- Faith J. McKinnie, Black Artist Foundry
- Gloria Partida, Davis Phoenix Coalition
- Diana Patterson, Sacramento Area Congregations Together
- Josilyn Porras, Franklin Boulevard Business District
- Dr. Shacunda Rodgers, Holding Space
- Synthia Smith, Sisters of Nia, Inc.
- Maria Tebbutt, The Bike Campaign
- Mykim Tran, Wake-Up Foundation
- Sawan Vaden, Community Against Sexual Harm
- Josephine Watts, Building Empowerment Skills Today
- Renee West, Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum
- Nedra Williams, The Living Heritage Foundation
- Wanda Williams, Center for Fathers and Families
- Bobbie Wooten, Feed Sacramento Homeless
“Cultivate has been an immense and immeasurable blessing for me. It’s helped me figure out what philanthropy is, what giving is, how to ask for donations, how to build networks. I don’t know that I would have had that without this program.”
Shacunda Rodgers, Holding Space
Stories of Impact
Discover how Cultivate is helping local nonprofit leaders build a more just and vibrant capital area.
Ready to Get Involved?
Whether you’re a nonprofit leader seeking support or a community member hoping to bolster efforts for nonprofit leaders of color, there are many ways for you to get involved.
