Tustin Community Foundation

The Tustin Community Foundation (TCF) is a tax-exempt public charity with a goal to increase philanthropy and improve the quality of life in greater Tustin. The Foundation is not funded by the City of Tustin and does not receive taxpayer funds. An umbrella organization, the Foundation supports nonprofit organizations and schools in the community by raising funds from a wide range of donors and though Foundation events and pooling them together to help them meet a wide range of community needs.

The major goal of the Foundation is to increase the number of TCF grants awarded to deserving organizations, schools and programs. More than 100 local organizations, schools or school organizations have received Foundation Grants since 2008, including support for programs to feed the hungry in our community, financial support to assist after-school homework programs, funds for youth sports equipment, senior activities, as well as grants for art and music programs to enrich the community. In addition, the Foundation increased direct donations to nonprofit organizations affected by the COVID pandemic, independently and in partnership with the City of Tustin.

Aiming to strengthen the Tustin area through philanthropy, the goal of the Foundation's Volunteer in Tustin interactive website is to connect volunteers to causes they care about and the purpose of the Community Calendar is to help nonprofits and schools publicize their events, programs and activities to a wider audience. The Foundation sponsors free Disaster Preparedness Training seminars in conjunction with the local police department, low cost CPR Trainings and annual Teen/Parent Safe Driving Seminars with a goal to increase these programs and add more in the next few years.

The Foundation's LIVEgreen program aims to raise environmental awareness and increase motivation for conservation and recycling in the greater Tustin area. The Tustin Community Foundation's purpose is to affect positive change, create opportunities and enrich lives to help secure a strong and healthy future for greater Tustin and its residents.

The Foundation is truly "one foundation helping others" and as income grows, so will the Foundation's ability to touch more lives.

Donors want to support worthwhile causes in their community and since the Tustin Community Foundation (TCF) works to identify community issues and opportunities, donors can be assured that their donations will be used locally where they will have the most impact. The Foundation's strategy for accomplishing their long-term goals is to make more people aware of the Foundation and what they do. Specifically, TCF will:
1. Promote TCF programs in the "Community Ties" newsletter, on the TCF website, through social media, at all City of Tustin events and through personal visits with local service clubs, schools and organizations.
2. Spread the word about TCF at small, neighborhood gatherings to build a donor pool and increase awareness of the Volunteer in Tustin program, Tustin Emergency Recoverty Fund and a new Endowment program, Forever Tustin.
3. Continue to build the TCF volunteer base. TCF is agressively looking for "40 under 40" volunteers to form an active auxiliary.
4. Foster continued relations with all recipients of TCF Grants and the City of Tustin.
5. Continue to conduct an annual Community Needs Assessment to better understand the actual needs of the community.
6. TCF will continue to keep overhead low while retaining efficiency.

These building blocks will lead to future success because community awareness leads to more volunteers, donors and grant funding opportunities.

The people involved are the Tustin Community Foundation's greatest resource. The Board of Directors is a diverse group of recognized leaders from the greater Tustin area who serve without compensation and provide overall direction and policy for the Foundation. Members of the Advisory Council are selected for their knowledge of community issues and their desire to serve the common good. The Advisory Council members chair the various Foundation committees, activities and events. The Executive Director is experienced and competent and uniquely qualified to bring community leaders together to coordinate efforts. The Foundation has an excellent relationship with the City of Tustin and Orange County leaders.

Since TCF's restructure in 2006, everyone involved has actively worked to lay a strong foundation to secure future success in supporting the area's most pressing needs. Events, programs and activities are in place and continue to grow in both attendance and profit. Nonprofit organizations and schools throughout the community now view the Foundation as an innovative and valuable resource and, along with community residents and businesses, look to the Foundation to provide a variety of services and guidance. Donors will be attracted to the Foundation because the Foundation is able to take the initiative to meet emerging issues and positioned to be a problem solver. As the Foundation grows, so will its ability to further serve the community.

In early 2008, a survey conducted by the City of Tustin in found that only 21% of those surveyed were familiar with the Tustin Community Foundation. Since then, TCF has greatly increased their general visibility by:

*The Foundation's "Community Ties" newsletter is sent to 3500 email addresses monthly.
*Information on the Foundation's H2O-Help 2 Others voluntary water bill donation program is mailed to over 45,000 customers and is always listed on the Tustin city website. The number of enrollees increases quarterly.
*Hits on TCF's website and social media pages continues to increase. The website has been updated on a consistent basis since 2008 and is now viewed as the "go to" site for information on community activities and nonprofit organizations.
*TCF hosts a Pancake Breakfast at the City Easter Egg Hunt and participates in most City sponsored community activities including the weekly summer Concerts in the Park, Chili Cook-Off & Street Fair and the Holiday Tree Lighting.
*The number of annual donors and participants to the Foundation continues to increase each year.
*Guests and sponsors continue to increase at the Tustin Thanksgiving Breakfast and Tustin Mayor's Inaugural Dinner, major TCF fundraising events.
*More than 60 local nonprofit organizations, booster and service clubs, schools and programs apply for Foundation Grants annually.
*Unfortunately, the Foundation has been unable to start an endowment fund. All fundraising is done through event tickets, sponsorships and individual donations.

The Tustin Community Foundation continues to guide collaborative efforts to provide effective solutions to community problems. TCF believes that through partnerships with donors and nonprofits, a better place to live, work and play can be created... not just for today, but for generations to come. The Foundation is only limited by funds received.