That’s how much funding IN NET-NEW DOLLARS FROM INDIVIDUAL DONORS nonprofits that graduate from the Jumpstart Fundraising Technical Assistance Grant Program are raising, on average, at the end of the 12-month training period!
Some Kern County nonprofits enrolled in Jumpstart since January of this year have already raised more money than they did in all of 2018!
This could be you!
Jumpstart is a fundraising technical assistance program that strengthens Kern County nonprofits by giving them access to hands-on coaching and the use of state-of-the-art fundraising software for one year at a greatly reduced tuition cost, thanks to generous funding from the Kern County Board of Supervisors.
The program helps to ensure participants’ sustainability by teaching them the skills to nurture and cultivate long-term relationships with individual donors, with a view toward diversifying funding streams and expanding unrestricted, general operating dollars that are not program-limited like grant funding.
Jumpstart is administered by fundraising technology and training giant Network for Good. In 2020, Kern Community Foundation will once again make the program available through a competitive grant opportunity open to Kern County Nonprofits that have not participated in Jumpstart in the past.
Join us to learn about whether your Kern County Nonprofit qualifies and how you can apply online through Kern Community Foundation.
RSVP Now to Attend Our Oct. 24 Informational Grant Workshop (A.M. and P.M. Options Available). Space is Limited!
The workshop will be held Thursday, Oct. 24, in the 3rd Floor Multipurpose Room of the Kern County Administrative Building, 1115 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301.
We recommend that you park in the city’s public parking lots south of the railroad tracks on N Street near 14th Street. There is street parking along and north of Truxtun Avenue as well; but please be mindful of time restrictions to avoid ticketing.
It is exactly three months to the day since the first of three large earthquakes and countless aftershocks struck Ridgecrest, China Lake, and surrounding areas, causing damage to local homes, businesses and government installations, and displacing entire families who continue to struggle to this day.
Fortunately, thanks to the generosity of Kern County’s giving community and key philanthropic partners, Kern Community Foundation recently awarded $114,875 to eight nonprofit agencies from donations received through the Foundation’s Kern County Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund, which KCF established within 24 hours of the massive 7.1 quake that reverberated throughout Kern the evening of July 5.
More than 90 percent of donations were large gifts of $10,000 to $50,000 received from Berry Petroleum Company, Mojave Pistachios, W.A. Thompson Distributing Company, and The California Endowment. Smaller gifts were received from a number of generous community members.
Grants were awarded in late September through a competitive application process, and range between $1,500 and $28,000. Moneys will help the following nonprofit agencies with ongoing earthquake relief activities as well as facilities repairs:
High Desert Lighthouse Ministries: $28,000
The Salvation Army Ridgecrest Corps: $28,000
Women’s Center High Desert: $28,000
Desert Area Resources and Training: $11,476
China Lake Museum Foundation: $10,000
Mission Community Services Corp. (MCSC) Kern Women’s Business Center: $6,399
Almost Eden Rescue: $1,500
Socks & Paws Animal Rescue: $1,500
“The needs of the Ridgecrest community were so varied and critical after this horrible event, it was simply mind-boggling,” said KCF Board Member Justin Leland, Director of Business Services for Moneywise Wealth Management, who participated in the grants evaluation and allocation committee. “By being able to take part in the grantmaking process, we had a window into the most pressing needs of the community through the compelling written testimonials of those people and organizations with boots on the ground. Personally,” he said, “I will forever be more mindful of the needs within a community after a natural disaster. It isn’t just buildings and property affected by these disasters but lives, community services and outreach, personal connections, and financial stress.”
Indeed, through their funding requests, grantees described how they found themselves facing such challenges as having to respond to a noticeable increase in domestic violence following the quakes; to scrambling to locate temporary lodging for displaced families; to helping those who were still housed with much-needed home repairs; to taking in runaway dogs that had gotten spooked by the combination of both the quakes and Fourth of July fireworks; to providing Small Business Administration workshops and services to help affected businesses get back on their feet; and many other dire circumstances.
Most grantees had to respond to community needs while taking care of the damages their own facilities had incurred. For that reason, the grant application included a section for applicants to detail lessons learned from the East Kern quakes with a view toward implementing emergency preparedness in the future. I got Priligy prescribed by my doctor since I usually came after 2-3 bumps, and I had hope for at least 3-5 minutes. Unfortunately, at www.papsociety.org/priligy-dapoxetine/ the price at about 10 USD per tablet is quite a high one and you have to wait at least 1 hour until the effect occurs completely.
KCF President and CEO Kristen Beall Watson said, “In addition to providing critical resources to the communities impacted by the earthquakes, this process helps us identify gaps in the response continuum and design more proactive systems for meeting great needs.”
Donations can still be made to the Kern County Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund. Simply follow this link.
Thanks to generous funding from our valued community partners, this one-time competitive grant opportunity is available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies operating in Kern County that:
1) Are registered with Kern Community Foundation; and
2) Have a Silver or higher Transparency Rating on GuideStar.org; and
3) Are involved in disaster relief efforts following the East Kern Earthquakes of July 4th and 5th, 2019; or
4) Have incurred earthquake damages that have compromised their ability to function and deliver services to the community at normal capacity.
To make emergency relief funding available as quickly as possible, the application period for this grant opportunity is brief: 12 a.m. Friday, August 16, through 5 p.m. Friday, August 30, 2019. The maximum award is $20,000. Visit our Available Grants page to get started: kernfoundation.org/grants.
If you are unsure about any application prerequisites or have questions about this grant opportunity, please contact Director of Community Impact Louis Medina at 661.616.2603 or Louis@kernfoundation.org.
Philanthropy on Tap is a competitive “Visibility Grant” opportunity that Kern Community Foundation offers to Kern County nonprofits in partnership with the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce.
Designed as a “Guided Q & A” in a new format similar to a talk show beginning in 2020, and held in an informal setting with free drinks and hors d’oeuvres for the audience, Philanthropy on Tap showcases charitable organizations’ programs, leadership and needs to local business leaders and other members of the community. It is a great networking opportunity designed to raise the visibility of nonprofits, exposing them to potential donors, volunteers and advocates. It is part of Kern Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Strengthening Initiative and helps to fulfill the Foundation’s Mission: “Growing Community. Growing Philanthropy.”
Also beginning in 2020, we are switching to an every-other-month format for Philanthropy on Tap presentations. There will be a total of six events in Bakersfield, alternating between two popular venues on the first Tuesday of even-numbered months.
For a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Philanthropy on Tap that can help nonprofits prepare for applying during the next application period of August 1 – 30, 2019, in order to be featured in 2020,click here.
Our friends from the Central Valley and Kern County Chapters of the American Red Cross have prepared some useful information about East Kern earthquake relief efforts in FAQ format, plus general earthquake safety information in English and Spanish. Please click on this link to access this life-saving information, including contact phone numbers, e-mail addresses and web resources from a number of community partners.
One of Kern Community Foundation’s newest registered nonprofits, which came on board at full strength last year and was selected to participate in the roll-out cohort of our yearlong Jumpstart Fundraising Technical Assistance Program, is the Indian Wells Valley Economic Development Corporation (IWV EDC).
As IWV EDC is based in Ridgecrest, we made sure to contact Executive Assistant Rebecca McCourt to see how she and others are faring following last week’s devastating earthquakes. Via e-mail, Rebecca provided the following informative and truly moving account of community needs and what IWV EDC and other partners are doing to meet them–especially the needs of the business community.
We think you will agree that the best of many people’s humanity is shining through in response to the disaster our East Kern neighbors are dealing with. Thank you, Rebecca, for the role you and IWV EDC are playing. We are proud to call you our partners.
Testimonial From Rebecca McCourt of
Indian Wells Valley Economic Development Corporation (with hyperlinks, subtitles and formatting by us to highlight important information)
“Thanks again for reaching out. Operations-wise, the IWV EDC is a small organization and we fared well. We had some downed ceiling tiles in our rented office, but building owner already had A&R Construction come in and repair them. Our neighbor, the Kern Regional Center, had more extensive damage, including broken glass and damaged computers, but they are currently operating out in the field where they are needed.
Assistance at the Ready
The IWV EDC has access to a grant database, so other nonprofit organizations looking for relief funds are encouraged to contact us so we can help identify and assist in writing grant applications.
The City of Ridgecrest, with help from Kern County Economic Development Specialist Suzette Caufield, set up a call center for people to request home inspections if they suspect structural damage. They were in need of additional phone support from experienced general contractors and civil engineers. A Local Assistance Center was available to residents during the week following the quakes, and FEMA assistance is available as well.
Inyokern, from what I have heard, was very mildly affected.
Trona (technically in San Bernardino county) has ongoing needs for basic necessities, including water and hygiene items.
Ongoing needs in Ridgecrest are going to be monetary. And time: Recovery is going to take time and we all need to be patient with each other, and especially ourselves, as we allow things to calm down and return to whatever normal now is.
A Cautionary Note
Please be sure to seek out a reputable source if looking to make a donation. Unfortunately, events like these also lead to scams, so please donate wisely.”
Thanks for that advise, Rebecca, and for your great updates!
Give to Earthquake Relief Through Trusted Community Partners
The Desert Valleys Federal Credit Union is sending its mobile branch to Trona daily to serve members who need on-the-spot services after being impacted by recent earthquakes. They are also providing short-term “Quake Relief” loans of up to $1,000 for members of the credit union. The loans will have a 90 day repayment option and low interest rate to allow members the chance to apply for assistance programs or insurance support. Desert Valleys can provide up to 1,000 loans to the community as demand requires. The time window to apply for these loans is July 8 – 12. Click here for information.Desert Valley FCU is also working with the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues to collect funds for those affected. Please click here for more information and a link to a Desert Valleys Employee Foundation PayPal account where donations can be made.
We had an eye-opening conversation with Carol Beecroft, Executive Director of Women’s Center High Desert (WCHD), the only domestic violence and sexual assault shelter in East Kern with a large service area of 2,600 square miles stretching from the desert communities (Ridgecrest, Mojave, Rosamond, California City, Iyokern) to the Kern River Valley area (Lake Isabella, Kernville, Wofford Heights), to Tehachapi. WCHD also serves Trona because, while it’s in San Bernardino, WCHD is a better alternative to the other closest shelter in Barstow, which is almost two hours away. WCHD also provides some homeless services like rapid-rehousing. WCHD is a Kern Community Foundation-registered partner.
Carol identified the needs below that have arisen as a result of the earthquakes (which, by the way, haven’t stopped and continue to be a source of PTSD to locals):
WCHD’s Own Needs
Shelter – The women’s shelter operated by WCHD is open, but they are holding off on taking more clients because they are still in wait-and-see mode, as the ground hasn’t stopped shaking. They don’t want to take on more clients pending another possible big jolt.
Damage to Administrative Offices – WCHD Administrative Offices are located at 134 S. China Lake Blvd., in a small office complex. The building has been inspected and Carol was told by the inspector that the entire building has shifted and certain offices are unsafe. They are providing limited services out of a service window because they don’t want clients going into the building. Carol is certain that the city is going to eventually red-tag it.
Relocation – Carol believes WCHD will need to relocate its administrative offices, but the agency can’t afford that expense.
Rise in Domestic Violence – Families at risk for domestic violence are experiencing more stress due to the quakes, the fact that it’s summer, it’s hot, and children are home from school, etc. WCHD has given out six (6) restraining order packets since Monday, which is double what they might give out on an average week, and these are all NEW families that have never sought services from WCHD before.
Community Needs
Stores Closed – Ridgecrest, which doesn’t have a lot of shopping options to begin with, is experiencing the temporary closure of a number of stores since the quakes: clothing stores, shoe stores, supermarkets, etc.
Restaurants Closed – Electricity was off for a whole day following the first quake, so food went bad in a number of restaurants that are still closed.
Family-Owned Businesses Closing – Carol knows of some family-owned businesses that are going to close down altogether because the owners don’t have money for rebuilding/repairs.
China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station “Not Mission Capable” – The base continues to be largely closed, as it has incurred much damage.
Loss of Income – The above closures represent hundreds of individuals who are temporarily or permanently out of work.
Biggest Needs in Carol’s Opinion
Money to help people/families move or relocate out of area altogether. Some people are too afraid to stay in East Kern.
Money to help families who have earthquake insurance with high deductibles be able to afford their deductible so their home can be repaired or rebuilt.
Money to help social service agencies like WCHD relocate so that essential services can continue to be provided to the community.
Kern Community Foundation has shared this information with Governor Gavin Newsom’s Office to help with a coordinated response to these great earthquake disaster relief needs.
We will continue to work with the Governor’s Office, other Community Foundations, and partners like WCHD to identify and respond to community needs in East Kern in the best way possible.
Thinking about starting a nonprofit? California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits) is offering a jam-packed, fast paced webinar that includes:
– Step-by-step legal instructions
– FAQ on bylaws and articles of incorporation
– Common ways of finding your first money
– Types of nonprofits (making sure you choose the right one)
– Getting started before your tax-exemption is approved
The Thursday, July 11, Webinar starts at 11 a.m. and will be led by Jan Masaoka, CEO of CalNonprofits. She has worked with dozens of new efforts as they have formalized their organizations as California nonprofits. She is also a published author and an eight-time designee as one of the 50 most influential people in the nonprofit sector nationwide.
All registrants will get the slides and recording after the webinar.
The webinar is FREE for CalNonprofit Members / $10 for Non-Members
The flyer at left has the dates of the 2019-20 Training Workshops to be offered by the Kern Alliance of Nonprofits (KAN). Please note that you cannot register for these FREE workshops yet on eventbrite. Separate announcements will be made closer to each workshop date, with information on how to register. In the meantime, please continue to monitor the KAN Facebook page (@kernallianceofnonprofits), the Kern Community Foundation Facebook page (@kernfoundation), and the KAN Events calendar for the latest information. For now, just mark your calendars.
$19,300!
amilies who continue to struggle to this day.
Thanks to generous funding from our valued community partners, this one-time competitive grant opportunity is available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies operating in Kern County that:
Philanthropy on Tap is a competitive “Visibility Grant” opportunity that Kern Community Foundation offers to Kern County nonprofits in partnership with the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce.
Our friends from the Central Valley and Kern County Chapters of the American Red Cross have prepared some useful information about East Kern earthquake relief efforts in FAQ format, plus general earthquake safety information in English and Spanish. 
Testimonial From Rebecca McCourt of
Thinking about starting a nonprofit? California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits) is offering a jam-packed, fast paced webinar that includes:
Save These Dates!
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