When young people have the opportunity to succeed — in school, at home, and in their communities — their confidence grows, their opportunities expand, and their futures open wide. Yet in Sacramento’s Del Paso Heights, systemic barriers have long made it harder for families to access the same opportunities available elsewhere in our region.
I’ve seen this disparity up close. For too long, opportunity has depended on where a child lives rather than on their potential. That reality drives our work to expand educational outcomes and invest in youth well-being, because every child deserves the chance to thrive.
This effort builds on the Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s long-standing commitment to expand educational access and support students through decades of scholarship giving. It also reflects our broader mission to advance health equity across the region, focusing our energy where it can make the greatest difference — in communities rich with potential but affected by generations of underinvestment.
In 2025, we awarded $300,000 to 16 to local organizations serving Del Paso Heights. These investments are strengthening educational opportunities, expanding access to mental health care, and creating environments where young people can grow, lead, and belong.
A portion of the funding comes from The Neighborhood Fund, established in 2021 by a local donor to support nonprofits rooted in Del Paso Heights. Recognizing both the generosity behind this fund and the growing need among nonprofits — as more than half of local nonprofits report the impacts of public funding cuts — the Foundation contributed an additional $250,000 from our Impact Fund to extend its reach and deepen its impact.
Neighborhood Fund Grantees
- 916 Ink
- Bright Brialle
- Feed Sacramento Homeless
- FosterHope Sacramento
- Hike and Hit
- Hmong Youth and Parents United
- Mercy Holistic Ministries
- TruKidz
- Youth Forward
Impact Fund Grantees
- Del Paso Heights Growers’ Alliance
- First Step Communities
- Improve Your Tomorrow
- Neighborhood Wellness Foundation
- NorCal Resist
- Roberts Family Development Center
- Sacramento Native American Health Center
The work these grants support is diverse and deeply needed. One grantee, First Step Communities, will use its award to provide additional therapy at The Grove, a 50-unit tiny cabin community for youth ages 18 to 24. “This therapy will pave the way for more youth to build emotional intelligence and develop the skills they need to face life’s challenges,” its Director of The Grove, Alexander Garlinger, told us.
That’s powerful. And it’s only the beginning. Our goal is to help build a lasting ecosystem of opportunity in Del Paso Heights — one shaped by the people who live there and supported by those who believe, as I do, that when young people thrive, families are stronger, and when families flourish, our entire community prospers.
Make Your Impact
Support efforts like this with a gift to the Impact Fund. Contribute at your preferred level and join the Impact Collaborative, a network of changemakers dedicated to building a vibrant region. Plus, enjoy exclusive access to gatherings and seminars that put you in touch with the heart of local philanthropy.