The Ventura County Community Foundation is collaborating with over 150 community partners for our Highest-Quality Early Childhood Education initiative in Santa Paula, known as the “Isabella Project.” We invite you to learn more about the different committee members and groups dedicated to removing all barriers to accessing highest-quality early childhood education in our community.
As we step into March and the first hints of spring begin to emerge, I find myself reflecting on all the beauty surrounding us, especially you, our community foundation family, who make Ventura County so very special to me.
There is truly so much to love about our community. Yes, the natural beauty is breathtaking. But even more powerful is the way our community shows up for one another. Time and again, we have demonstrated a deep and steady care for our neighbors, a willingness to collaborate, and a shared commitment to strengthening the place we call home. That spirit—resilient, generous, and hopeful—is what makes this region extraordinary, and is something I see reflected every day in my colleagues at your community foundation.
Dear Ventura County Community Foundation Family,
I spent yesterday morning enjoying a delightful coffee and croissant with one of your community foundation board members, Catherine Sepulveda. As always, time with Catherine is just so good for the soul!
For those who have not yet met her, Catherine is a bright light, kind, generous, deeply thoughtful, endlessly curious, creative, optimistic, and rooted in her values. It was only a few moments into our conversation when we found ourselves marveling at the kindness and generosity we have witnessed across Ventura County this past year and sharing our hopes and dreams for our community’s future.
(Sept. 30) marks the last day of our fiscal year. For me, this moment always invites deep reflection, offers a pause for gratitude, and serves as a joyful reminder to celebrate all we’ve accomplished together.
This year, because of you, we contributed nearly $14 million to make our community a better place for all. Together, you mobilized to raise close to $1.5 million for those who lost their homes in the Mountain Fire, ensuring that critical support reached those most affected. Collectively, you awarded nearly $2 million in scholarships to help local students pursue their educational and career aspirations. You stood by families facing financial hardship to ensure their beloved pets were cared for; you provided groceries for thousands of households; and you strengthened local small businesses by supporting education, access to small business loans, and consulting services to navigate complex challenges. These are just a few of the many ways you’ve served our community.
Dear Ventura County Community Foundation Family,
There’s a beautiful word from Southern Africa—Ubuntu—that captures the heart of what we are doing together through the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund. Ubuntu means “I am because we are.” It reminds us that our lives are deeply connected, our humanity bound together. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu said:
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”
Over the past three weeks, that spirit of Ubuntu has come alive in Ventura County. More than 100 households have already contributed over $136,000 (including $20,000 in pledges). Each gift is a powerful reminder that when one family struggles, the whole community feels it—and when one family is lifted up, we all rise.
Summer Greetings from the VCCF Scholarship Program!
We’re thrilled to share that 2025 has been another record-breaking year for the VCCF Scholarship Program. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we awarded 569 scholarships to 412 students, totaling $1,838,986.60 — the highest amount ever granted. More than 30 awardees received the maximum scholarship of $10,000, paving the way for them to fully pursue their dreams.
SANTA PAULA — With the leadership of over 125 partners and input from hundreds of community members, the Isabella Project is excited to announce the location of a new early care hub, adjacent to undeveloped land on the Briggs Elementary School property in Santa Paula.
The mission of the Isabella Project is to ensure all children in Ventura County, starting in Santa Paula, have access to high-quality, full-time early care and education that meets their families’ needs. In Santa Paula, there are more than 2,000 children under age 5, but only 881 formal early learning spaces. The early care hub will create approximately 200 more spaces for early childhood education, serving children ages 0 to 5, and will include a variety of wrap-around services to better serve young children, families and childcare professionals.
Last month, the Isabella Project was delighted to unveil our murals at Glen City Elementary to the Santa Paula community. The art celebrates the importance of highest-quality early childhood education in our community, and we are so grateful to everyone who joined us for such a special occasion. Watch the highlight reel and view the photo gallery below!
… Every once in a while, I forget and begin to feel small in the face of the challenges ahead. But our VCCF family, time and again, shows up and reminds me of the incredible power we have when we act with love and purpose—together.
Bert M. and Mildred O. Dahl Fund – Open Now
Grants from the Bert M. and Mildred O. Dahl Fund are to be used in Ventura County for general charitable purposes to benefit the youth of Oak View, California. Nonprofit organizations must be establishing or assisting programs for the youth of Oak View. This may include the construction and maintenance of facilities for such programs.
Barbara Barnard Smith Fund for World Musics – Open Now
Grants from the Barbara Barnard Smith Fund for World Musics are to support live performances or programs representing non-Western musics.
The Ventura County Community Foundation, your community foundation, has been in awe of this county’s love and generosity since we first opened our doors in 1987, and when we come together and bring our passions and talents to support our neighbors, anything is possible. From community leadership to philanthropic consulting, we work hand-in-hand with our neighbors to envision an engaged and thriving community inspired by growing generosity.
We invite you to visit our brand-new website and get to know your community foundation below. You may learn something new about the good work happening in your community! Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey into the future of philanthropy in Ventura County.
As we face one of the most devastating fire seasons in our region’s history, our hearts are with all those impacted by the fires across Los Angeles County and here in Ventura County. Please know you are not alone, and if you or a loved one need support, please reach out to 2-1-1 or complete this needs assessment if you are in Ventura County. A team of local nonprofits is working collaboratively together and are standing by to help.
Your community foundation is committed to raising funds to address the immediate and long-term needs of those most impacted by the recent Mountain Fire, while remaining prepared to respond to other disaster-related challenges across Ventura County. 100% of all contributions go directly to those most affected and local nonprofits supporting those most in need.
CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) (on Nov. 18) announced the launch of a groundbreaking scholarship program that aims to develop a more diverse behavioral health workforce to ensure Ventura County residents have access to culturally responsive care. The $1.5 million initiative is funded through the state Department of Health Care Services’ Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP), which aims to expand access to behavioral health services for children and adolescents enrolled in Medi-Cal.
Tonight, county and city officials are hosting a community meeting to inform residents affected by the Mountain Fire about the opening of the Local Assistance Center in Camarillo. Thanks to your generous support, we are honored to share that to-date $93,500 has been granted to help individuals and families most affected by the wildfire, along with an additional $10,000 dedicated to covering costs associated with emergency animal evacuations.
We are deeply grateful for the incredible outpouring of support as we rally together to help those most impacted by the Mountain Fire. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us reach those most affected and offering both awareness and critical financial aid in this time of need.
On Saturday, the VCCF Board of Directors authorized the immediate distribution of $20,000 in direct financial assistance to support eight families who lost their housing in the wildfire and were left with no place to go. Because of your generosity, these families now have emergency financial support to secure temporary housing and other essentials.
One week ago, we came together for the Isabella Project’s first children’s festival: Todos Juntos por Los Niños – Everyone Together for Our Children. What an unforgettable day! Designed especially for children ages 0-5, the event exceeded all expectations, creating a joyful space for hundreds of families to connect, play, and learn about the vast array of support services available to them.
The grants support 36 Ventura County-based nonprofit arts and culture organizations and 62 independent artists who were selected through a highly competitive grant application process. Nearly 300 applications across the two groups were received during the application window. Grant awards range from $5,000 to $150,000 for the nonprofit organizations, and $1,000 – $4,000 for artists.
CAMARILLO — Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Bechtel and retired CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) counselor Angela Timmons will each receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during CSUCI’s 2024 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 18.
Timmons’ support for the University includes developing a community for CSUCI’s Black students, and supporting countless of CSUCI students during their most challenging moments when she was a counselor with CAPS.
SANTA PAULA — The Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) has been granted first-year funding by the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) to advance the Isabella Project. With the impending implementation of Universal Pre-K (UPK) in California, the funding will be instrumental in addressing potential disruptions faced by early childhood education (ECE) providers and fostering resilience during this transition.
California’s implementation of UPK over the next several years with full implementation by 2025-26 will ensure all children who turn four years old by September 1 of a given school year are provided free access to a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program from their local school district.
The Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) awarded $192,556 to the Ventura College Foundation to help support the Ventura College’s Veterinary Technology Program. The two-year vet program is a partnership between the Ohana Pet Hospital and the college that began in 2021 and takes place adjacent to Ventura College’s East Campus in Santa Paula.
The VCCF conducted an Animal Welfare Needs Assessment for Ventura County. This assessment showed, among other things, the need for more veterinarian professionals including qualified vet technicians in Ventura County.
Grassroots partnership provides aid for those who don’t qualify for other programs CAMARILLO — With the full effects of the Thomas Fire’s devastation still emerging, the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) has awarded a $500,000 grant to a community-based partnership…
