MEETING 15 JUNE 2016

Taya Levine,, Board Chair of Healdsburg Forever made a presentation on the status of nonprofit organizations in Healdsburg and Geyserville. She is currently representing Healdsburg Forever, a nonprofit organization that provides funding for over 30 local nonprofit entities. Originally under the auspices of the Community Foundation Sonoma County, the group has subsequently become its own entity and has an active endowment program that has over $1.3 million and which has donated over $630,000 to over 30 nonprofit organizations serving Healdsburg and Geyserville in the past 8-10 years

 

Healdsburg Forever is a resource to support nonprofits both with financial assistance and more importantly with organizational assistance in helping them maximize their ability to write grants and receive funding.

 

They cover primarily six areas of service, including Health, Human services, Education, Environment, Youth programs and Arts. Because of their unique organizational structure, with no restrictions on how their funds are distributed, they are able to respond immediately to needs arising within the nonprofit communities of Healdsburg and Geyserville.

 

Healdsburg Forever is an entirely voluntary organization. There are no salaries paid. Minimal operating expenses are covered by individual donations. It provides an opportunity for community members to contribute to the endowment fund or to make specific donations to specific entities that will help facilitate their operations. Site visits are made to all of the nonprofits that benefit from the financial aid from Healdsburg Forever.

 

Slides, on the website photo album for today's meeting, show the names of the organizations that Healdsburg Forever has supported in the past. They also give a picture of the rising amounts of money that are able to be offered in grants due to ever increasing participation by community members with donations to the endowment fund.

 

More information can be found at Healdsburgforever.org. It is truly remarkable that this organization has been able to focus the charitable inclinations of many residents of Healdsburg and Geyserville into a very significant and meaningful organization. Rotary members are encouraged to participate in this truly worthwhile effort.