fbpx

Engine For Good

We work side-by-side with local donors and nonprofits to tackle the most important challenges our Valley faces.

Learn More

Napa Valley Community Foundation Engine For Good Logo, an illustrated image of a face with a heart representing a brain

Every day, we gather generous hearts and bright minds to solve the problems that lie beneath the surface of this beautiful place we call home.

Recent News & Stories

Our 2023-24 Annual Report

Thirty years ago, a Sony Discman qualified as a technological marvel.

The Lion King was raking it in at the box office – decades before we would think to use the words “stream” and “media” in the same sentence.

Meanwhile, here in Napa, a group of civic leaders had the wisdom and the vision to ask: why doesn’t Napa Valley have a community foundation, and what would it take to start one?

This long-ago question not only led to our formation in 1994, but to nearly $106 million in grant distributions and scholarships over the past three decades.

Read our Annual Repot
Napa Valley Community Foundation Scholarships. Applications open January 6 - March 3, 2025. Includes photos of smiling graduates in cap and gown, a student holding a sign that says 'I'm thankful for...my family, this scholarship,' and another graduate in a red and white honor sash. Contact information at the bottom: website napavalleycf.org/scholarships, email scholarships@napavalleycf.org, phone 707-254-9565.

NVCF 2025 Scholarships OPen January 3-March 6

Napa Valley Community Foundation is proud to announce the launch of our 2025 scholarships! Starting January 6, 2025, students across Napa County will have the opportunity to apply for a wide range of scholarships designed to support their educational journeys. Whether you’re a high school senior preparing for college, a Napa Valley College student continuing your studies, or someone pursuing a trade, nursing, or viticulture program, there’s something for everyone. We’re committed to helping students from all walks of life achieve their dreams through education.

Our scholarships cater to a diverse range of students, including veterans, educators, and those learning trades like welding or automotive technology. We also offer support for veterinary and enology students, as well as budding musicians from Calistoga Jr./Sr. High Schools. By addressing the unique needs of our community, we aim to provide resources that remove financial barriers and open doors to bright futures.

Applications will close on March 3, 2025, don’t forget to review the eligibility criteria for each scholarship. For more details, visit our scholarship page.

Learn More & Apply
Jane was a dedicated poet and teacher, inspiring others to find their voice. She taught at Napa Valley College, Colby College, University of Iowa Writer’s workshop (among other workshops and institutions) and served as poet-in-residence at Wake Forest University. Her generous spirit and dedication to her craft are well-known. Over her career, she published six books, received numerous awards, including a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and was published in publications including The New Yorker, The New York Times and Poetry Magazine. In this photo Jane has long brown hair and glasses and is smiling while wearing a white shirt. She is standing outdoors with green trees in the background.

Jane Mead: A Legacy of Compassion and Community

Jane Mead’s deep connection to Napa continues through her generous legacy gift to NVCF. Her bequest established the Fund for Napa Valley, which will make grants to the community she loved for years to come.

Jane, a poet, teacher, author, and rancher, passed away in 2019. We spoke with her sister, Parry Mead Murray, who shared that their family grew up splitting their time between New England and Napa, spending summers at Mead Ranch which had been in the family for five generations. After Parry’s long tenure managing the ranch, Jane took over for another 15 years, balancing vineyard management with her writing. Her time on the ranch profoundly influenced her poetry.

Read More

What is a Community Foundation?

We know you might not know, and that’s ok.
Click the “learn more” link to tuck into the details.

Learn More