Dear Monica,

Welcome to OCCF’s nonprofit newsletter – the Nonprofit Dispatch!  Our nonprofit community is at the center of OCCF’s mission to transform our community's heartfelt intention into greater impact for good. We recognize the vital role nonprofits play in shaping our community.

With this newsletter, our aim is to highlight the community work we are doing together as well as provide information on upcoming events and opportunities you might be interested in.

In each issue, the “Collaborative Corner” spotlights the work that nonprofits are doing with each other to meet the needs of our community. If you have a project that you would like to share with us, please email Briana Stickney at bstickney@oc-cf.org. Join us in fostering collaboration, innovation, and success within Orange County and beyond.  



Here's to a shared commitment to driving positive change.  

As important members of the OCCF family, we want to share some exciting changes as we celebrate 35 years of impact in Orange County and beyond! 

In 2024, we are transforming our executive team to better serve our donors, nonprofit partners, and the Orange County community by restructuring key roles to best leverage the unique skills and experiences we each bring to OCCF’s mission.  Effective January 1, 2024, OCCF’s executive team will be organized as follows:

To learn more about our new leadership structure, click the button below!

Interested in meeting with our team? Join us at our Nonprofit Meet & Greets!  

Nonprofit Meet and Greet sessions are monthly virtual opportunities to meet with members of the Donor and Community Engagement Team to share information on your organization and programming. 

Applications are now open! Avanzar Board Leadership Academy offers a unique opportunity for Latino professionals in Orange County to make a meaningful impact by joining the boards of local nonprofit organizations. Through a 3-month training program, participants are introduced to the nonprofit ecosystem in OC and gain foundational skills to become an effective board member while building a valuable network for personal and professional growth. Deadline for applications is February 4, 2024.   

Is your nonprofit organization looking for new diverse board members? Sign up by filling out our interest form for future opportunities to connect with Avanzar graduates looking to serve on nonprofit boards.  

To learn more about the Avanzar Board Leadership Academy click the link below or contact Briana Stickney at bstickney@oc-cf.org. 

Founded by OCCF’s President, Tammy Tumbling, the mission of the African American Alliance Fund is to raise awareness about systemic racism and support programs that advance Black residents within Orange County and surrounding communities. Since its founding on Juneteenth 2020, the Fund has granted over $630,000 to 48 organizations that demonstrate their investment in the priority areas of education, health, human services, economic development, and civic engagement. 

Applications for this grant program open each year in March and grant announcements are made by the fund’s anniversary on Juneteenth of each year.  

To learn more about the African American Alliance Fund, contact Mayra Chavez at mchavez@oc-cf.org. 

Did you know OCCF has a Workforce Development Initiative that provides grant funding to innovative talent pipelines providing training for in demand middle-skills jobs? Launched in 2019, the Workforce Development Initiative has focused on a partnership model including educational, nonprofit, and employer partners working together to ensure that the trainings and certifications reflect both employer needs and student success through the training program, job placement, and onboarding process. The 12-month grant awards for these partnership programs range from $50,000 to $150,000 for planning and implementation, renewable up to three years based on annual program progress.  

To learn more contact Mayra Chavez at mchavez@oc-cf.org. 

On February 7th, 2024, 9 organizations are uniting for a collective effort to raise $160,000 in support of promoting healthy relationships in Orange County.

On March 21st, 18 organizations are coming together to collectively raise 300,000 to develop a stronger workforce for Orange County. 

STROKESTRA® had its West Coast premiere! Earlier this month, recovering stroke patients at UCI Health SeniorHealth Center participated in STROKESTRA®, a dynamic music-focused rehabilitation program by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, in partnership with the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts and UCI Health. This innovative initiative explores music's impact on stroke recovery through workshops, Q&A sessions, and leadership trainings. 

Are you working on a collaboration project? Let us know and contact Briana Stickney at bstickney@oc-cf.org