Last year, with Zach and Barbara, JJ and Laurel, and many others by our side, we awarded $3.5M (roughly half of all NVCF grants) in the areas below.
Invest in Youth
We believe that all young people have the potential to become confident, contributing adults. Talent and potential are evenly distributed, but access to opportunity is not. Our grants and scholarships help students of all ages succeed in school and pursue college and career opportunities, while also investing in those who teach them.
Last year, the Edward W. Solomon Scholarship Fund helped local teacher Caitlin Cooper pursue her master’s degree in Music Education at San José State University. Caitlin has wanted to teach ever since she was a little girl “playing school” in her mom’s classroom.
Today she teaches junior high band, orchestra, and choir in Napa Valley Unified School District. Her graduate research focuses on student-centered learning and building “a community of learners” — knowledge and skills she can bring back to the Valley’s students.
Champion Community
We believe that our community and our democracy are stronger when everyone has a voice in shaping our future.
Many of our neighbors face barriers to civic engagement. Through our grants and partnerships, we work to break down those barriers and connect residents to the information, resources, and support they need to participate more fully in community life.
Last year, we were proud to support Napa Valley Together, a collaborative of five trusted nonprofits — Puertas Abiertas, Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, On The Move, Community Leaders Coalition, and UpValley Family Centers.
Together, they help immigrant families navigate the complex immigration system, access legal services ranging from citizenship to DACA, understand their rights, and build more secure and stable futures.
Fight Poverty
We believe that our Valley is only as strong as its most vulnerable residents.
Significant hardships — like the high cost of housing and healthcare — stand in the way of local families’ ability to thrive. We support nonprofits that help residents meet their basic needs and improve their quality of life.
Last year, we funded Operation Access, which connects uninsured Napa County residents with free surgeries and diagnostic procedures donated by volunteer medical teams, including care in specialties like ophthalmology, gastroenterology, and urology.
Since 2014, Operation Access has provided nearly 1,500 critical medical procedures to Napa County workers — many of whom earn too much to qualify for Medi-Cal but cannot afford to pay out of pocket.
Meet the Moment
We believe that disasters don’t discriminate, but recovery does.
For more than a dozen years, our Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund has helped residents affected by disasters, from immediate relief to long-term recovery. We also invest in prevention, preparedness, and resilience efforts to help our community weather whatever comes next.
Last year, we continued funding Napa Valley Community Organizations Active in Disaster (Napa Valley COAD) and its “Meet Your Neighbors” workshops.
From Angwin to American Canyon, these bilingual sessions bring neighbors together to map their neighborhood’s strengths, resources, and needs — and make plans to help one another during wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and extreme heat. Because, when disaster strikes, knowing your neighbors and having a plan can make all the difference.