highlights winter 2006

V E N T U R A C O U N T Y C O M M U N I T Y F O U N D A T I O N

Winter 2006/07

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hig

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in annual scholarships for some 330 out-

standing Ventura County students, two

pledges equaling $4.0 million from the

Martin V. and Martha K. Smith Foundation,

$2.2 million from donor-advised funds,

and $658,625 from designated and agency

endowment funds to support operating

expenses of local nonprofits.

The Foundation’s 37 new funds established

by donors, totaling $15 million in designated

and agency endowments, scholarship and

memorial funds, brings VCCF’s total donor

funds to 449 and combined assets to $99

million. Among the new funds are five

endowments established with one of the

largest bequests ever received by VCCF,

$11 million from Russell Fischer, a 73-year

resident of Ventura County.

VCCF’s certification of National Standards was

recognized by the Council on Foundations.

! engagement ! educat ion ! endowment ! grants ! scholarsh ips

VCCF Awards Unprecedented $8.5 MillionCompleting an Extraordinary Year

Technology Center Opens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Robert Wood Johnson Nursing Grant . . . . . . . . . .6VCCF Achieves National Standards . . . . . .9Destino Latino Health Study . . . . . . . . . .10Century CircleLaunched . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

In one of its most productive years to date,

the Ventura County Community Foundation

awarded an unprecedented $8.5 million in

grants and pledges in fiscal year 2006, ending

September 30, 2006. The Foundation also

received one of its largest bequests, established

over three dozen new funds, launched several

new programs, and was certified in compliance

with National Standards.

“This year’s historic number of grants and

pledges and national certification are among

the myriad of ways we have made a difference

in Ventura County this past year to help our

neighbors and colleagues build community

through philanthropy,” said VCCF President

& CEO Hugh Ralston. “Our achievements

reflect fidelity to our mission of building

capital to sustain long-term philanthropy

throughout the county.”

FY 2006’s $8.5 million in grants more than

doubles last year’s total. It includes $931,450

Designated FundsDesignated Funds

Total Scholarships 414 $ 931,450.00

Total Smith Foundation 19 $ 4,200,141.00

Other VCCF Grants 385 $ 3,365,090.00

Total VCCF 818 $ 8,496,540.00

Smith Foundation

Special & Urgent Needs Fund

Donor-Advised Funds

Agency Endowments & Pass-Throughsand Designated Funds

Community/Nation/World Disasters& Community Needs Response Fund

Field-of-Interest, Destino, and Women’s Legacy

Scholarships

continued on page 7

2

aAt VCCF, we entered this fall with

some new initiatives underway,

exciting new partnerships and the

launching of some of the priorities

under the strategic plan recently

adopted by the board.

Certification of National Standards by the Council on

Foundations is a significant threshold, as peer review

by our colleagues across the country validates the

commitment of the VCCF board to be a leader in

our field and to sustain the best practices deserving of

a community foundation. This multiyear process,

begun in 2002 by the board, was completed with

full compliance certified this summer. For details

on what these National Standards contain,

please visit VCCF’s Web site at www.vccf.org.

The launching of two important community

initiatives this year further underscores the board’s

commitment to our mission of promoting and enabling

philanthropy to improve our community for good for

ever. Thanks to a new two-year grant from the Robert

Wood Johnson Foundation – one of only ten in the

United States and the only in California, VCCF will

be working with our partner, CSUCI, to develop

strategies to address the nursing shortage that is

facing not only Ventura County but also the nation.

The work of the Resource Center for Nonprofit

Management continues to expand and deepen

under the leadership of Dena Jenson. We are very

excited about the tremendous partnership with the

Amgen Foundation, which announced this summer

a $150,000 three-year grant to strengthen the

Center’s capacity to serve the leadership needs

of Ventura County nonprofits.

Other support, from Edison International, the Verizon

Foundation and local donors, among others, helped

us establish a new Technology Center, dedicated with

equipment and software to train nonprofit leaders

and staff on how best to harness the promise of new

technology. Thanks to equipment donations from

Santa Barbara Bank & Trust and the Erickson Fund

at VCCF, this center was ready for our October 11

opening, as we launched a new era, honoring and

thanking our most dedicated annual support donors.

Our ongoing work of translating donor contributions

into grants that focus on community needs and the

particular passions of our donors had a tremendous

boost this past year, with a record-breaking $8.5

million in grants. From extending the legacy of

VCCF Founder Bud Smith through the Smith

Foundation, to sustaining the work of nonprofits

through designated and agency endowment funds,

to expanding our scholarship funds to $930,000

and facilitating over $2.2 million in donor-advised

fund grants, VCCF continues to be an experienced

partner in promoting and enabling philanthropy.

Thirty-seven new funds were established this past

fiscal year, including the five established by the

Russell Fischer $11 million bequest as well as new

scholarship and memorial funds, expanding our

reach to over 449 funds dedicated to strengthening

the charitable capital to invest in Ventura County.

With annual grant programs from the Women’s Legacy

Fund and Destino, an extension of our Mental Health

Initiative and explorations on a new arts initiative,

we are committed to providing our donors and friends

with effective ways to make a difference in Ventura

County. Our newly promoted vice president for

Programs and Grants, Tina Knight, leads a terrific team

! engagement ! educat ion ! endowment ! grants ! scholarships

continued on page 5

President’s Letter

“...we are committed to providing our donors and friends with effective ways

to make a difference in Ventura County.”

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VVCCF’s Resource Center for Nonprofit Management

opened its new Technology Center in October

with a festive ceremony that also honored three

long-term supporters of the Center.

The purpose of the new center, which has ten state-

of-the-art computer work stations, is to help board

and staff of nonprofit organizations throughout

Ventura County learn to use computer technology

for more efficient and effective operations.

The Center has received a

total of over $225,000 in

funding from the Amgen Foundation, Edison

International, Verizon Foundation and Affinity

Bank, among others. Its programs are offered at

reduced rates to nonprofits and range from hardware

operations to the use of basic office software applica-

tions, essential skills sought by

nonprofits at affordable prices.

“We are grateful to Amgen, Verizon and Edison for

their generous donations, which clearly express

their understanding that nonprofits add so much

to the richness of our community,” said Resource

Center Director Dena Jenson.

Resource Center Opens New Technology Center;Extends Gratitude to Three Long-Term Supporters

Three long-term supporters of VCCF and the

Resource Center acknowledged at the Technology

Center opening were the Wood-Claeyssens

Foundation, Affinity Bank, and Sally and Whitten

Yount. Sally Yount is a VCCF board member and

chair of its Resource Center Advisory Committee.

“Software training may not sound as critical or

significant as some of the Foundation’s programs,

but such skills are imperative in today’s world for

the success and progress of any organization,”

said VCCF President & CEO Hugh Ralston. “We

gratefully acknowledge the long-standing generosity

and support of the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation,

Affinity Bank, and Sally and Whitten Yount in

contributing to the advancement of the work of

the Resource Center.”

Cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony were (l-r): LindaBraunschweiger, Affinity Bank; Jack Broome, representing Wood-Claeyssens; and donors Sally and Whitten Yount

Dena Jenson, Resource Center director; Rudy Gonzalez, SouthernCalifornia Edison; and Mary Schwabauer, VCCF Board Chair.

VCCF Mission Statement

To promote and enable philanthropy to improve our community for good for ever.

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Ron Hertel and Denis Dupuis

have left the VCCF board of

directors after distinguished

service of eight and seven

years, respectively.

Ron served as treasurer and chair of the

Investment Committee and participated actively

in the Administration & Finance, Programs &

Grants, Board Governance, Strategic Planning,

and Strategic Funding committees of the board.

Ron’s background in real estate also proved

invaluable in securing the Foundation’s present

lease and reviewing real estate matters relating

to donor funds.

The board saluted Ron’s service with a unanimous

resolution of thanks and appreciation. “The board

salutes Ron for his longstanding and heartfelt

contributions,” said VCCF Board Chair Mary

Board Thanks Ron Hertel andDenis Dupuis for Years of Service

Schwabauer. “We thank

Ron for his steadfast

commitment to our work

and for his willingness to

share his views and hopes

for our mission as well as for his ongoing

generosity and vision as a donor, catalyst and

philanthropic leader in Ventura County.”

Denis resigned from the board, effective October 1,

citing his increasing obligations with his business

and looking after his family’s interests. In a resolution

adopted unanimously by the board, he was thanked

for his seven years of generous and thoughtful

service, with particular attention to his leadership

and efforts to stabilize funding the Resource Center,

expand grantmaking in the county across a wide

array of topics and his leadership in the recent

strategic planning effort. “We are very grateful for

his many contributions,” added Schwabauer.

At the November meeting, VCCF’s board elected vice

chairs Sally Yount, Pierre Tada and Stacy Roscoe. “Given

the breadth of the work underway, broadening our lead-

ership team in areas of nonprofit management, strategic

funding and civic engagement will help VCCF’s efforts in

the coming years,” noted Board Chair Mary L. Schwabauer.

Scott Samsky was also elected to be secretary/treasurer.

“I am delighted to be able to work with these colleagues to implement

our plans for the years ahead,” Schwabauer continued.

The board also thanked Michael Silacci for agreeing to serve as committee

chair for the Marketing & Communications Committee. “This is an

important role, and we appreciate Mike’s willingness to help direct our

efforts,” thanked Schwabauer.

Board Elects New Officers/Silacci to Chair Marketing

Pierre Tada Stacy Roscoe

Scott Samsky Michael Silacci

Sally Yount

Ron Hertel Denis Dupuis

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Dr. Charles Maxey, dean

of the business school

at California Lutheran

University, has been elected

to the VCCF board, effective

November 2006. Dr. Maxey

brings a broad background of research and analysis

in the county as well as extensive experience on

key VCCF initiatives. “We are honored and pleased

to have Dr. Maxey’s expertise and commitment to

our county and its future harnessed to the VCCF

agenda,” noted Board Chair Mary Schwabauer. “His

deep knowledge of the county, his relationships

with the research and academic community along

the central coast, and his commitment to the

future of the region are all assets to our work.

We are delighted to have him join us.”

Dr. Maxey and his wife Shirley live in Thousand

Oaks. In addition to his work with the Ventura

County Profile of Health & Human Services,

Dr. Maxey has been active with the Civic Alliance,

serving on various committees and current

updating of the State of the Region Report first

unveiled (with his assistance) in 2002. His

community service includes the VCEDA

board, Central Coast Venture Forum and the

Ventura County Advisory Boards of the UCSB

Economic Forecast Project and Santa Barbara

Bank & Trust.

5

Dr. Charles Maxey Elected to Board

from the Southern California Association of

Governments – whose application was supported

by eight cities, the Ventura Council of Governments

and the Board of Supervisors – represents an

important validation of the work of the Alliance

and of its 3E approach to civic leadership around

issues of growth and sustainability. We are looking

forward to the release of the new State of the

Region Report in 2007 and to future work from

this unique group of county leaders.

At times that can be frightening and troubling,

building community is one of the best ways to

respond to the challenges around us. My colleagues

and I deeply appreciate the privilege of working

with each of you to make a difference in Ventura

County, for good and for ever.

Hugh J. Ralston, President & CEO

President’s Letter...continued from page 2

that has accomplished wonders; she and her

talented colleagues are profiled elsewhere in

this newsletter.

We are also looking at how to ensure that our

efforts are cost effective and efficient, despite the

growth in size and scope, and that VCCF finance/

program staff provides our donors with accurate

reports and attentive service. The board has also

approved new options for donors to work together

in addressing community priorities, from a newly

established memorial fund (for annual pass-through

gifts in memory of a loved one), to new options

for scholarship funds and donor-advised funds

that preserve donor recognition and effective

grantmaking.

And we are pleased at the momentum of the Civic

Alliance as a new executive director and new lead-

ership team establish financial stability through

local contributions and expand their strategies

tied to strengthening the county. A recent grant

tThe Ventura County Community Foundation wasselected in September as one of ten foundationsnationwide – and the only one in California – toparticipate in a new national initiative to developand test solutions to America’s critical nursingshortage. The Foundation will partner with CSUChannel Islands to develop strategies, with a focuson community stakeholders’ participation.

Led by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation andthe Northwest Health Foundation, the PartnersInvesting in Nursing’s Future (PIN) programencourages local foundations to act as catalysts in developing grass roots strategies to establish a stable, adequate nursing workforce. “We intendto work with other leaders across the country to identify best practices aimed at increasing the supply and training of nurses,” said VCCF

President & CEO Hugh Ralston. “By bringingtogether stakeholders in the medical and academiccommunity, the workforce training community, andthe philanthropic and public sector, our goal is todesign and develop strategies that can succeed inVentura County and become models for othersacross the country as well.” To help develop solutions and lead efforts within the region, VCCF has been awarded a two-year $231,000grant, which will be matched by $163,000, for a total project budget of $394,000.

Working in partnership with CSU Channel Islands,VCCF’s PIN effort (the Ventura Nursing LegacyProject) will focus on determining priorities,engaging stakeholders, developing funding strategies, and creating models that link funders to community nursing priorities.

America is currently facing a severe nursing shortagethat is affecting patient care and safety, healthcarecosts, and patient outcomes. Experts say the causesof this shortage range from rapid population growthin several states to an aging nurse workforce topoor working conditions in some communities.

“As nursing shortages vary across communities, somust the solutions – that’s why a range of programsis being explored so we can find solutions thatwork close to home,” said Judith Woodruff, J.D.,the Northwest Health Foundation’s director ofstrategic initiatives and PIN program director.“The Ventura County Community Foundation


VCCF Chosen to Participate in $10 Million National Program Tackling Nursing Shortage

6

“...our goal is to design and develop strategies that can succeed in

Ventura County and become models for others across the country...”

continued on page 12


An Extraordinary Year...continued from page 1

VCCF was one of 23 California Community

Foundations to be certified. “This important

milestone, which concluded a rigorous process

of evaluation by our peers, signifies leadership

in the Foundation’s adherence to policies and

practices appropriate for a community foundation,”

Ralston said.

Other ways VCCF expanded its capacity in FY 2006

to build philanthropy in Ventura County include:

! The awarding of a $231,000 grant from the

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop

community strategies to support nursing.

(See story on page 6.)

! The release of “Culture, Collaboration, and

Capacity: A Call to a Healthier Community,” a

major study prepared by Destino: The Hispanic

Legacy Fund calling for enhanced collaboration

and community partnerships to meet the

healthcare needs of Latinos in Ventura County.


! The opening of the Resource Center’s new

Technology Center. (See story on page 3.)

! Creation of the Century Circle, a group of 100

leaders from throughout the county who will

partner with VCCF to strengthen its ability to

promote and enable philanthropy.


! Launching of the Board Leadership Initiative at

the Resource Center to expand VCCF programs

providing leadership support to board members

of Ventura County nonprofits.

! Another successful year of solid long-term

investment returns, within risk guidelines,

to provide long-term results outperforming

designated benchmarks and providing capital

growth after distribution, fees and inflation.

VCCF’s ten-year record is 9.3 percent vs. a

policy index of 7.9 percent.

! Awarding of the first Destino reading literacy

awards totaling $21,000 to families in South

Oxnard and Port Hueneme and $100,000 in

Destino health-related grants.

! Awarding of $100,000 in grants from the

Women’s Legacy Fund to sustain programs

for girls and women. (See story on page 8.)

! Launch of a donor-driven Social Justice Giving

Circle, with donors providing $50,000 in

grants to organizations addressing systemic

social inequities.

! Expansion of VCCF’s nonprofit/civic dialogs

with city-specific discussions about partner-

ships between nonprofits and municipalities.

! Approval of the Compass Blueprint

Demonstration project in Ventura County,

a proposal submitted by the Ventura County

Civic Alliance in partnership with the Ventura

Council of Governments to the Southern

California Association of Governments.


! Disaster training for nonprofits with

vulnerable populations.

! Establishment of the Mental Health Initiative

to enhance paraprofessional training for adults

and teens with $50,000 in grants distributed.

! Continued distributions from the Special

and Urgent Needs (SUN) Fund to provide

assistance to local nonprofits dealing with

emergency needs.

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On September 14, the

Women’s Legacy Fund

(WLF) awarded a record

$103,000 in grants to nine

organizations whose work

improves the lives of women

and girls in Ventura County.

The grants, presented dur-

ing a reception at Heritage

Square in Oxnard, focused

this year on domestic

violence prevention and services as well as education

and training for women and girls.

“This year we were able to make our largest grant

allotment ever, thanks to the continuing support

of concerned individuals who want to make a

difference,” said WLF committee member Nancy

Dillon. “Each organization does tremendous work

in the community and has a profound impact on

the lives of women and girls. We applaud them

and are thrilled to be able to support their efforts.”

The Heritage Square reception provided an

opportunity for each organization to share some

of its stories, particularly as they related to the

impact of their programs. A featured presentation

about the establishment of her named fund, by

Elaine Williams, was warmly received, as she recited

the reasons why she named it the Sisters Fund. She

shared a verse she has long treasured about the

many ways that women help each other throughout

their lives in multiple roles that change with

maturity and age through life’s cycles.

WLF is the only permanent endowment fund

specifically designed to address the needs of

women and girls in Ventura County. Founded in

1995, the Fund has granted more than $500,000

to local organizations. The Fund has been and is

being built by hundreds of Ventura County

residents. Donors who have made gifts and/or

pledges in excess of $10,000 may create a named

fund, further strengthening programs assisting

women and girls in Ventura County.

For more information about the WLF or to

become involved, please contact Tina Knight at

805-988-0196, ext. 120.

Women’s Legacy Fund Awards Record $103,000 in Grants to Local Organizations

Elaine Williams explains the Sisters Fund, a WLF named fund.

! Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley: You Go Girl Program

! Future Leaders of America: Latina Superwoman/Education & Leadership in the 2lst Century Program

! Interface Children’s Family Services: Safe Journey Transitional Shelter Program

! Many Mansions: Stoll House, assisting homeless women and their families with permanent housing

! Many Motors: Vehicle Rehabilitation & Vehicle Support Services Program, transportationfor women escaping domestic violence

! Rescue Mission Alliance: Lighthouse Women & Children’s Mission-Emergency Shelter Program

! Ventura College Foundation: Phoenix Program at the Women’s Re-Entry Center

! Westminster Free Clinic: Teen Healthcare Training Program

! Women’s Economic Ventures: 14-week Self-EmploymentTraining Program

2006 WLF Grantees

Lisa Saffinelli and Vivian Linares accept an award for the Westminster Free Clinic.


vVCCF has been certified in compliance with

organizational and financial practices established

as National Standards for U.S. Community

Foundations. The Foundation was one of 23

California community foundations to be certified.

The Council on Foundations and leaders of the

community foundation field created the National

Standards in 2000 to aid community foundations

in establishing legal, ethical and effective opera-

tional practices that would show the foundations’

transparency and financial responsibility in light

of the increased public scrutiny of foundation

practices. In addition, National Standards were

developed to distinguish community foundations

from other philanthropic vehicles, build the capacity

of community foundations to carry out their

missions, and assist the field with self-regulation

in a manner viewed positively by the Internal

Revenue Service.

The National Standards seal was developed for

community foundations to signify that they have

been confirmed in compliance with National

Standards. Professional advisors and prospective

donors will recognize the seal as an indication of

the integrity and demonstrated excellence of the

compliant foundation.

“Adopting and adhering to high standards is

the best way we can demonstrate our ongoing

commitment to maintaining the trust of our donors

and the entire community,” said Mary Leavens

Schwabauer, board chair of VCCF. “It is particularly

important in an era when all nonprofits are subject

to increasing scrutiny by the public, by state and

federal regulators, and by donors everywhere. We

are pleased that our board’s commitment to the

best practices in our field has been confirmed by

this rigorous process of evaluation by our peers.

We look forward to continuing to build on these

standards for many years ahead.”

VCCF’s board signaled its intention to abide by

the National Standards in December 2004, and

participated in a review process that involved

months of gathering and reviewing documents to

ensure that the Foundation’s policies and practices

matched up with those established by the Council

on Foundations, of which it is a member, and the

Community Foundation’s national leadership team.

Intended both as a blueprint for internal

organizational development and as a tangible

set of benchmarks for external assessment of

performance, the 43 National Standards address

six key areas of community foundation operations:

! Mission, Structure and Governance

! Resource Development

! Stewardship and Accountability

! Grantmaking and Community Leadership

! Donor Relations

! Communications

For more information about National Standards visit

www.vccf.org.

Council on Foundations Certifies VCCF in Compliancewith National Accountability Standards

9

tThe Ventura County Community Foundation has

released a major study calling for enhanced col-

laboration and community partnerships to meet

the healthcare needs of Latinos in Ventura County.

The study, “Culture, Collaboration, and Capacity:

A Call to a Healthier Community,” outlines strategies

to strengthen the healthcare delivery system with

a particular focus on strengthening organizational

capacity building needs of Ventura County health-

care providers who serve Latino clients. Funded

through a partnership between the Foundation’s

Destino Fund and The California Endowment’s Focus

Funders Program, the report reflects the findings

from surveys and interviews with 98 nonprofit,

governmental and private healthcare providers.

“The purpose of this study is to heighten the

visibility of healthcare issues impacting Latinos

in Ventura County; engage a wider community

dialogue about potential solutions; and determine

how tailored programming, provided by the VCCF’s

Resource Center for Nonprofit Management, can

build the operational capacity of organizations

providing healthcare services,” noted VCCF Board

Member and Destino Vision Committee Chair

Hank Lacayo.

“The Latino Community’s challenges in navigating

the healthcare system to provide for their families

was the inspiration for this research,” continued

Lacayo, a longstanding leader in the county and a

founder of the Destino Fund at VCCF. Diabetes,

obesity, alcohol and drug abuse, oral health, unsafe

working and living conditions, teen pregnancy,

depression, and stress are major health problems

identified in the report. Barriers to proper health-

care include Latinos’ lack of transportation and

insurance, cultural attitudes that may prevent

Latinos from seeking care, often until the condition

calls for emergency treatment, as well as insufficient

capacity to serve the growing Mixteco community

in Ventura County.

Key recommendations in the study, which build

upon the 2003 Destino-commissioned study that

focused on the health needs of underserved

Latinos in Ventura County, include:

! Enhanced opportunities for community

partnership and collaboration.

! Expanded use of promotores, or lay healthcare

workers, to help connect Latinos with health-

care resources.

! Enhanced efforts to cultivate a larger healthcare

workforce from within the local Latino

population.

! Improving cultural competency within

organizations providing healthcare services.


10

Destino Releases Major Study on Latino HealthNeeds and Calls for Greater Collaboration inAddressing Significant Impediments


! Strengthening effective nonprofit board leadership through

enhanced board diversity and inclusion.

! Enhanced marketing and outreach to the Latino community to

increase knowledge about healthier behaviors and access to care.

! Tailored capacity building training in a range of

areas affecting nonprofit management.

“We are grateful to The California Endowment’s support of Destino’s

work in healthcare to allow us to identify barriers that exist and

also to provide some of the resources to enhance capacity and

make a difference in healthcare in this county,” thanked Lacayo.

The health study, conducted by the independent K&M Enterprises

research firm, also recommends that VCCF facilitate the creation

of a Latino Health Care Coalition. This alliance could engage in

countywide strategic planning and collaboration with the goal to

improve healthcare access and services for Latinos.

11

For a copy of the study, go to www.vccf.org.

tThe VCCF board of directors established a new

Fund Development Committee in September to

support the board and volunteer members actively

engaged in soliciting contributions to the following:

! Annual support (Century Circle & Associates)

! New administrative endowment

! Expansion to VCCF funds

! Contributions to VCCF field-of-interest funds

! Planned and deferred gifts

The committee’s responsibilities shall include:

! Developing programs to meet board-

approved goals for new operating and

administrative support.

! Working with the Strategic Funding

Committee to ensure that strategies

and goals are in alignment with VCCF

mission goals.

New VCCF Board Committee Established

! Working with board members to identify,

nurture, solicit and engage current and

prospective donors.

! Working with the Marketing & Communications

Committee to develop appropriate materials.

The committee shall also regularly report to the

board its progress in relation to its goals.

If you would like to become involved withthe Ventura County Community Foundation,please call us to see how you can participatein our good work. All VCCF funds are listed

on our Web site at www.vccf.org, and detailsabout our competitive grant programs andour field-of-interest funds are also available

through the Resource Center or on our Web site.

Come join us!

t


Century Circle – Catalyst for Community

The Ventura County Community Foundation is

inviting 100 leaders from throughout the county

to join in partnership to strengthen the Foundation’s

ability to promote and enable philanthropy. This

Century Circle of our closest friends is a vitally

important endeavor, as it will provide the annual

resources for the Community Foundation not

only to fulfill its mission but to be a catalyst for

building community throughout the county.

“In a society where the public and private sectors

are engaged in a great debate about roles and

responsibilities to our communities and societies,

philanthropy is often the bridge between the

expectations of the public purse and the demands

of a decent society,” noted Mary Schwabauer,

VCCF board chair, at an October 25 reception at

VCCF’s offices officially launching the new effort.

By joining the Century Circle, you can help the

Foundation fulfill its mission in two ways. Half

of the annual contribution will support VCCF’s

operating budget, while the other half is invested

in VCCF endowments to support operations in

future years and/or provide unrestricted grantmaking

dollars to address community priorities. With a

contribution you can strengthen our work, today

and tomorrow.

The minimum annual contribution to become a

member of the Century Circle is $1,000. For more

details, please contact Pierre Tada, chair of the

2006/07 Century Circle campaign, or Hugh Ralston,

VCCF president & CEO (805-988-0196, ext. 116),

on how you can help VCCF reach its 2006/07

Century Circle goal of $200,000.and its initiative partner CSU Channel Islandsare well qualified to explore solutions for thepeople of Ventura County.”

With the development of a four-year nursingprogram at CSU Channel Islands and the extensive efforts already underway at VCCF,both partners have demonstrated a commit-ment to addressing this important priority in the county’s healthcare needs. VCCF programs in this area include dedicated scholarships and forgivable loans for nurses, an expansion of technical educationscholarship monies, strategies developed bythe Civic Alliance on workforce education,and pioneering work on health access andcapacity needs by VCCF’s Destino: The HispanicLegacy Fund. CSUCI is on track to open a BSNprogram in the fall of 2007.

Nursing Shortage...continued from page 6

Due to the volume of individual donations

and contributions to VCCF funds and

programs since our last newsletter, we are

unable to list all of our donors in this

newsletter. Please look for a listing in our

upcoming annual report and on VCCF’s Web

site at www.vccf.org. We thank you for your

generous support of the good work of the

Community Foundation, expanding the

impact of philanthropy in Ventura County.

A Thank You to Donors

12

w


Consider VCCF in Your Year-End Gift Giving

13

! Your donor-advised fund, taking advantage

of flexibilities in charitable giving to support

local nonprofits.

! Strengthening a nonprofit's endowment at

VCCF, securing future operating support for

its work in years ahead.

! Adding to a designated or field-of-interest

fund at VCCF, working with others to make

a difference in a way that matters to you –

arts, health, or other causes.

! Supporting VCCF's outreach to students at

every high school in the county through the

Scholarship Fund for Ventura County.

! Supporting those entering directly into the

workforce with grants from the Career and Technical Education Scholarship Fund,

supporting vocational training.

! Expanding the work of the Mental Health Initiative by sustaining important training

and programs that help organizations address

this challenge.

! Investing in the future of Destino with a

contribution to the Destino Business Council.

! VCCF's new Memorial Fund, providing a

chance to honor a friend, colleague and/or

family member by investing with others to

strengthen the county.

Join with VCCF to strengthen our work and

initiatives by contributing to next year's grants

budget for the following VCCF funds:

! Women's Legacy Fund focusing on the needs

of women and girls.

! Destino, with an emphasis on family strength-

ening and expanding access to healthcare.

! Help Destino meet a match for health-related

grants or expand its Latino Literacy grants to

help families teach reading to young children.

! Community Response Fund, supporting VCCF

community initiatives.

! SUN (Special & Urgent Needs) Fund, providing

emergency grants to nonprofits to respond to

unexpected needs or opportunities.

! Civic Alliance Partners, furthering their work

of civic leadership in areas of growth and

sustainable development and workforce

education strategies.

! Resource Center support, expanding our

capacity to serve Ventura County nonprofit

staff and leaders through workshops and

targeted programs.

! VCCF Associates and Century Circle,

expanding both our operating budget for

With the new and historic IRA Charitable Rollover provision (see related story on

page 13) and the persistent appeals for support, this time of year is important

for many nonprofits, particularly those who rely on contributions from

annual donors. As you look at your year-end charitable giving, there are

many ways to address community needs through the Ventura County

Community Foundation. Each is a way to strengthen the bands that

reinforce community and make a difference here in Ventura County.

Your options include contributions to an endowment, or to annual grantmaking

– sustaining work into the future, or making a difference in 2007. Your gifts can

be directed to:

continued on page 17

e


14

Effective in October 2006,

Tina Knight was promoted

from VCCF director of

Grants and Scholarships to

vice president for Program and Grants.

“We’re delighted to recognize Tina’s leadership over

the past four years in guiding VCCF grant programs

to ever-increasing levels of size and depth,” said

VCCF President and CEO Hugh Ralston.

“Tina has built a terrific team to help our donors

invest in the work of nonprofits and to sustain

their commitment to causes and organizations

throughout Ventura County,” Ralston continued.

“And we look forward to her continued leadership

as VCCF pursues its mission of promoting and

enabling philanthropy throughout Ventura County.”

“The greatest challenges facing nonprofits today

involve helping people who have fallen through

the cracks in traditional funding systems and in

filling the social service gaps caused by shortfalls

in governmental funding,” Knight said. “My role

is to help our donors direct their philanthropy to

strengthen the work of local nonprofits, sustain

initiatives and programs launched by our board

of directors, and follow through to evaluate and

report on the result of our grants. I am proud of

the work of our team, particularly given the

volume of our grants and scholarships in the

past several years.”

Tina Knight Promoted to Vice President, Programs & Grants

Staff Leadership Awards Announced

oOnce again, VCCF recognizes the outstanding

work of its exceptional staff with its quarterly

Staff Leadership Awards (SLA). This is our

opportunity to say an extra “thank you” to those

who work so hard in furthering our mission.

Talon Klipp received our second quarter SLA;

and Talon, along with Susan Seale, was recognized

with the third quarter SLA. Talon is to be

lauded for his exemplary efforts in managing

our supply and computer costs and in his

expanded responsibilities as office manager.

Talon and Susan both deserve special recognition

for their recent work in setting up VCCF’s new

Technology Center, for moving our library to

its new location and for helping complete a

transition in our technology capacity.

“While our grantmaking and programs are often

more visible, the success of the Foundation often

rests equally on our ability to communicate and

process information and in our capacity to deliver

programs through the Resource Center to an ever-

growing audience,” said VCCF President & CEO

Hugh Ralston. “Talon and Susan have made our

ambitions a reality, and we’re happy to acknowledge

their hard work and dedication in making that

happen in a way that seems effortless but which

we know involved a lot of hard work in making

the transition happen on time, and on budget.”

Talon Klipp Susan Seale

l

15


Virginia Weber

Virginia is the program officer, VCCF Scholarships.

She also coordinates VCCF’s Swift Memorial Health

Care Foundation. Virginia has lived in Ventura since

her youth and has begun working with VCCF since

2004. Prior to that, she was a program manager for

the Ventura County AIDS Partnership. You may

reach Virginia at 805-988-0196, ext. 119.

Hoa Tran

Hoa is program officer, Program and Grants. Before

joining VCCF, she worked with The William and

Flora Hewlett Foundation as program assistant

for the U.S. – Latin American Relations Program.

She lives in Oxnard. Her areas of responsibility

include the annual grants program for Destino, the

Fund for Farmworker Housing, the Mental Health

Initiative and supporting other grants programs.

You may reach Hoa at 805-988-0196, ext. 121.

Meet the Staff – Programs and GrantsIn addition to Vice President Tina Knight, VCCF’s

Program and Grants department includes three

other outstanding staff members. Please feel free to

contact any one of them with questions or for more

information about the programs they coordinate.

Gina Gomez

Gina is program assistant. Gina keeps the files and

grants systems organized and in order as well as

providing additional support for VCCF Programs

and Services. You may reach Gina at 805-988-0196,

ext. 126.

Clockwise beginning top left: Tina Knight, Hoa Tran, Virginia Weber& Gina Gomez.

BBPR, Inc., On Board

vVCCF has engaged BBPR, Inc., to help with the production of marketing

and communication materials. The agency will be working with Westlake

Village-based Kevin/Ross Public Relations, VCCF’s marketing consultant

for the past several years. Founder Barbara Bishop and her colleagues are

helping VCCF with news releases, newsletter articles and other materials

to communicate our work in sustaining philanthropy in Ventura County.

Santa Monica-based BBPR, Inc., founded in 1996, specializes in creating

award-winning marketing communications programs for the nonprofit,

medical, and consumer product industries. We welcome Barbara and her

team to the VCCF family.

r

16


Rebecca Evans was

named executive

director of the

Civic Alliance in

September. The

Thousand Oaks

resident, who replaced Karen Schmidt, previously

held the same position at the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn

Foundation and brings a strong background in

civic and community engagement, policy planning

and nonprofit leadership to the new post.

“We are delighted to have Rebecca join the Civic

Alliance where her passion and dedication to

the future of Ventura County will serve us well,”

said Civic Alliance Chairman David Maron. “The

search committee went through a detailed process

of interviewing candidates, and Rebecca was the

unanimous choice to help the Alliance address

its strategies in the coming years.”

Evans served as director of the Youth Vote Coalition,

a national coalition of 100 diverse organizations

dedicated to increasing civic engagement and

voter turnout among youth, based in Washington,

D.C., and worked for nine years with San Diego

Youth and Community Services, a nationally

recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to

providing quality social services that has helped

to stabilize the lives of more than a half-million

young people and their families since 1970.

Rebecca Evans Joins Civic Alliance asExecutive Director

tThe Civic Alliance held a reception in October to

thank major supporters of its annual operating

budget, including the Irvine Foundation, Haas

Automation, Sage Publishing and VCCF.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to each of these

visionary organizations for their consistent support

and generosity,” said VCCA Chair David Maron.

“Their leadership by example is precisely what we

need to continue to meet the challenges facing

Ventura County and to build a strong, sustainable

community today and for the future.”

At the reception, newly appointed VCCF

Executive Director Rebecca Evans reviewed the

Civic Alliance’s five-year history and the many

milestones it has achieved. Maron outlined plans

for the year ahead, and VCCF President Hugh

Ralston noted the reasons that VCCF continued

to support the mission of the Alliance, adding

his thanks to the key funders of the Alliance’s

recent work.

“I look forward to helping the Alliance make even

greater progress toward its ambitious goals,” Evans

said. “The work ahead for all who care deeply

about Ventura County is made lighter by the

critical support of those we honor today.”

VCCA Donor Reception Thanks Local Supporters

For more information,

please visit www.vccf/civicalliance.org.

o


On July 13, the Ventura Council of Governments(VCOG) voted unanimously to partner with theCivic Alliance on a proposal to the Southern CaliforniaAssociation of Governments (SCAG) that will launchthe first phase of a multi-year program to advanceregional planning in Ventura County. The grant wasapproved in October.

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors and eightout of ten cities in the county endorsed the proposal.Called “Compact for a Sustainable Ventura County,”the project will develop a set of possible scenariosfor the future of the county based on alternativeland use, housing, transportation, and economicdevelopment patterns and policies.

Subsequent phases will engage communities acrossthe county in workshops to evaluate the scenariosand identify a “preferred regional future,” a sharedvision of what Ventura County residents want theregion to look like over the next several decades.

“The ultimate goal,” says Alliance member andCompact Working Group Chair Ron Bottorff, “is to identify and implement a package of strategiccommitments and an action agenda for achievingthat vision” through the collaborative efforts of local

governments, businesses, civic organizations andcounty residents.

“We are enormously encouraged by the unanimoussupport we are getting from city councils, the Boardof Supervisors, and of course VCOG itself,” saysBottorff. “Active involvement of elected officials andlocal governments will be critical to the success ofthis effort.”

This effort supports one of three key strategiesundertaken by the Civic Alliance to address keyissues of growth and sustainability. For more information, please visit www.vccf/civicalliance.org.

VCOG, Local Governments Endorse VCCA Compact Project

17

program priorities and long-term endowments

for unrestricted grantmaking and/or

administrative support.

! Medical Education Fund, providing forgivable

loans for VC nurses.

! Farmworker Housing Fund, to sustain new

sources of housing for local farmworkers.

Endowment gifts to each of these funds will not only

nourish and sustain important work, but also will

provide for the future of these community priorities

and needs. Annual gifts extend the impact of grant-

making in that year, or expand the operations

necessary to carry out mission and program. Your

contributions are valued because they do make a

difference, both today and tomorrow. Thank you for

joining us in the good work. For further details,

contact www.vccf.org or call us at 805-988-0196.

Year-End Gift Giving...continued from page 13

l

a


A key provision of the

new Pension Protection

Act of 2006, signed into

law in August, allows

donors to distribute

$100,000 from their IRAs

to charitable organizations

without penalty.

“Congress has provided donors with an opportunity

in 2006 and 2007 to make distributions from their

IRAs to promote charitable ends,” explained VCCF

president & CEO Hugh Ralston. “For some

donors, particularly those over 70-1/2 years of age

who are required to take distributions from their

IRAs, or donors whose IRAs already provide enough

annual support, this is an opportunity to make a

charitable gift without incurring a penalty.”

Contact your tax advisor or VCCF if you plan to

make such a distribution, or visit www.vccf.org for

more details. Please note that these distributions

must come from the IRA trustee, whom you will

need to contact directly.

All such distributions may not be used to make a

contribution to a donor-advised fund, a support

organization or a private foundation. Gifts may,

however, be made directly to charities, to support

field-of-interest funds at VCCF, to agency endow-

ments held at VCCF, or as contributions to directly

support VCCF’s work through the Associates, the

Century Circle, or the Cornerstone Administrative or

Unrestricted endowments.

Congress has also tightened rules governing

donor-advised funds and payments from funds

that reimburse donors for expenses. Please visit

www.vccf.org for more details.

“The lifeblood of charitable giving is to ensure

that each donor’s charitable purpose is respected

and preserved,” said VCCF Board Chair Mary L.

Schwabauer. “We look forward to continuing our

strong adherence to carrying out donor intent and

ensuring that VCCF’s programs fulfill not only the

letter but the spirit of the law.”

New Federal Legislation Affects Charitable Giving$100,000 IRA Rollover Option in 2006 and 2007 Only

VCCF Charitable Gift Annuity RatesLooking to get a higher monthly return on your

investments at a guaranteed rate? To help a local

charity? To expand Ventura County’s philanthropic

resources? Perhaps you wish to leave a legacy for

good for ever? Open a charitable gift with VCCF

and benefit a local charity, the Community

Foundation and the community.

For more information about eligibility requirements

and program details, contact Hugh Ralston at

[email protected] or call 805-988-0196, ext. 116.

Age Rate

60 5.7%

65 6.0%

70 6.5%

75 7.1%

80 8.0%

85 9.5%

90+ 11.3%

Age Rate

60/65 5.5%

65/70 5.7%

70/75 6.1%

75/80 6.6%

80/85 7.3%

85/90 8.4%

90/95 10.1%

For One Life(yourself)

For Two Lifes(yourself and another)

18

v

19


Last 2006 2005 Last 5 Last 10 Quarter Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Years Years

VCCF 2.3 8.2 16.0 10.3 9.3

Policy Index 4.3 9.3 12.0 8.1 7.9

VCCF’s board of directors approved at its September

meeting the recommendation of its Investment

Committee to revise the Foundation’s long-term

investment asset allocation guidelines. The new

guidelines are designed to increase diversification

of the Foundation’s portfolio and reduce risk,

even if markets become more volatile, in pursuit of

the goal of long-term capital growth.

“We have approved a series of incremental asset

allocation targets over the next three to five years

in order to increase the diversity of our portfolio

and reduce our exposure to any single asset class,”

said Robert J. Katch, chair of VCCF’s Investment

Committee and a member of VCCF’s Board.

Examples of the new guidelines include:

! Reducing the domestic large cap equities target

from 25 to 10 percent.

! Reducing the fixed income target from 30 to

15 percent.

! Increasing the international equity target from

15 to 20 percent.

! Increasing the target for alternatives, which

include hedged equities, private equity debt

and absolute return strategies from 10 to

20 percent.

The new guidelines also increase the number of

VCCF portfolio managers, each of whom will

focus on a particular specialty, from nine to 15.

“VCCF has always been a long-term investor; and

our goal is to continue to generate returns through

market cycles that exceed our annual distribution

rate, our fees, and inflation,” Katch said. “Our

adjustment in investment policy reflects our desire

to reduce risk in volatile markets by diversifying

our portfolio among high-quality managers and to

sustain our record of long-term performance of

our benchmarks.”

The board also approved “unbundling” its

fees, continuing VCCF’s commitment that all

funds will share equally in the cost and benefits

of the diversified investment portfolio. For

more information, contact Clare Brown at

805-988-0196, ext. 129.

Board Approves New Portfolio Asset Allocation Guidelines

Performance Summary as of September 30, 2006

Fixed IncomeAlternative AssetsAlternative AssetsLarge Cap ValueLarge Cap GrowthLarge Cap Growth

Mid Cap GrowthMid Cap ValueSmall Cap CoreInternational Large CoreAlternative Asests

PIMCO Total Return30.5%

Archstone3.7%

Siguler Guff0.3%

Montauk0.3%

Aetos3.6%

Eubel Brady5.0%

Westcliff8.3%

Roxbury5.9%

Intech6.2%

Lateef6.3%

EuroPacific Growth15.6%

Bernstein14.4%

Manager Allocation Summary as of September 30, 2006

* Portfolio returns reflect the VCCF endowment funds. Fiscal year ends September 30; prior FY performance returns are as of September 30. The Policy Index is 50% Russell 3000/15% MSCI EAFE After Taxes/35% Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond and is based on the target allocation percentages in the VCCF Investment Policy. Money market returns for the most recent quarter were 5.19%.

t

NonprofitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDOxnard, CA

Permit No. 210

Board of DirectorsMary L. Schwabauer, ChairStacy A. Roscoe, Vice ChairPierre Y. Tada, Vice ChairSally S. Yount, Vice ChairScott B. Samsky, Secretary/Treasurer

Robert J. KatchHenry L. "Hank" LacayoTerri E. LisagorCharles Maxey, Ph.D.Timothy J. McCallionAlfredo Plascencia M. Carmen Ramirez Michael L. SilacciRobin C. Woodworth

President & CEOHugh J. Ralston

V E N T U R A C O U N T Y C O M M U N I T Y F O U N D A T I O N

1317 Del Norte Road, Suite 150, Camarillo, CA 93010-8504P: 805-988-0196 F: 805-485-5537 E: [email protected] W: www.vccf.org

Investing in Ventura County. For Good. For Ever.

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The Women’s Legacy Fund Vision Committee

elected new members in August and installed

Roz McGrath as chair, Dr. Joan Blacher as vice

chair, and Carmen Ramirez as VCCF board liaison

for 2006/07. The new leadership also outlined an

ambitious agenda for the next five years with a

focus on increasing the endowment to $2 million

by 2010, enhancing future grantmaking.

Concluding an extensive strategic planning

process that addressed grantmaking, fundraising,

marketing and communications, and the formation

of a steering Committee, Chairwoman McGrath

outlined some of the committee’s new objectives

beyond raising new funds: highlighting issues of

importance to women

in the workforce,

expanding the number

of supporters of the

WLF’s unique and

important work, and raising the visibility of

the Fund’s work in the community. The Fund

will also be focusing on expanding the number

of named funds where donors contribute or

pledge at least $10,000 to the WLF endowment.

For more details, please contact Roz McGrath

or Susan Walker, VCCF donor relations

director, at 805-988-0196, ext. 115.

New Women’s Legacy Fund Leadership Charts Bright Future

Vision Committee Chair Roz McGrath

highlights winter 2006

Documents

total vccf

vccf grants

vccf board

national certification

aat vccf

dozen new funds

total smith foundation

years total