A commitment to social justice, opportunity, and inclusion

Diversity Partnership Fund

Photo credit: The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County

Strengthening alliances, promoting respect and enhancing services for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community in Santa Cruz County is vital to creating a more open, welcoming, and diverse county.

About the Fund

In 1997, we became one of the first community foundations in the U.S. to establish a social justice grantmaking and leadership program for LGBTQ+ people. In 2005, we launched a campaign to build a permanent endowment to advance the goals of the partnership.

This permanently endowed fund has reached the $1 million mark thanks to the collective effort of many community partners and donors. We are grateful for the impact that generosity has made on Santa Cruz County. As a member of Funders for LGBTQ Issues, more than $718,000 in grants have been awarded since 1997, including $40,000 in 2022.

Learn more about our grantmaking from the Diversity Partnership Fund.

Current Grantees

Diversity Center
Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County
Safe Schools Project Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz Pride
Birds of a Feather
In 2022, a total of $7,300 was awarded to the following school Gender Sexuality Alliance, Pride, Rainbow clubs:
Alianza Middle School
Cypress High School
Delta High School
E.A. Hall Middle School
Kirby High School
Lakeview Middle School
Mission Hill Middle School
New Brighton Middle School
Aptos Junior High School
Rolling Hills Middle School
Pacific Collegiate School
Santa Cruz High School
Scotts Valley Middle School
Shoreline Middle School
Watsonville Charter School of the Arts
Watsonville High School

"Know that your grant support (for our GSA) will serve a wonderful group of students and their efforts in creating a school community that is inclusive and that celebrates diversity. We are thankful to the Community Foundation and its board of directors for offering us this opportunity and supporting students in our community."

- Dr. Rosa G. Hernández, Principal, Lakeview Middle School

Contribute to the Diversity Partnership Fund

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