About Us

The mission of the Foundation is to enhance the quality of life in the North Coast by directing philanthropic efforts toward community needs.

The Foundation...

• Helps donors fulfill their charitable goals
• Connects people who care with issues that matter
• Helps professional advisors help their clients
• Supports nonprofit programs and services
• Provides prudent stewardship of donor funds

The Foundation builds philanthropy in North Coast communities by offering donors a wide variety of options for giving - establishing permanent endowments, donating to existing funds or creating new funds to meet community needs.

We connect donors who care with causes that matter.

Since 1987, the Foundation has been serving the North Coastal communities of Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas and La Costa, Carlsbad and Oceanside. The Foundation was established by North Coastal residents to provide a local base from which philanthropy can grow and provide for community needs for generations to come.

Coastal Community Foundation is lead by a Board of Directors with distinct professional, community and leadership experience. The Foundation's committees include many individuals from the communities we serve.

History

It started in 1987, around a small table wedged into a tiny office at the Community Resource Center in Encinitas. A handful of civic activists had an idea: they wanted to create a way to support social service, education and environmental issues in an area undergoing extraordinary change. Those who crowded together in those early days are still some of the Foundation's strongest supporters.

"We started meeting even before the cities of Encinitas and Solana Beach incorporated," says Margaret Schlesinger, who later became the first mayor of Solana Beach. "We knew there were people out there who loved these communities and were willing to support them, but there wasn't any structure to accept money." Schlesinger became an early donor to the Foundation because of her long-time friendship with CCF cofounder Anne Omsted. "We started with so little, but I never doubted it would do well," says Omsted.

The real key, said another founder, is that small amounts of money can make a major difference in the lives of North County residents.

"My friend, the Rev. Thelma Olson, ministered to the poor and homeless, so when she died and left me $1,500, I created the 'Thelma Olson Feed the Hungry Fund' and that was my first contribution," said Liz Ferguson. A long-time North County businesswoman, Ferguson said the foundation continues to grow after two decades because the combined donations allow organizations and individuals to address the area's needs, the process of apply for a grant is simple and straightforward, and echoing other founders' desires to keep local donations serving the local community, she adds, "Up in North County, we're joyfully independent!"

Bill Dean, another founder, said his original goal was to help create an organization that would be fiscally sound and survive the test of time. "Over the years, I believe we've helped make things better in this region."

Omsted agrees. "People like that idea of staying local. The world is such a big place; it's nice to know that you're doing something to help your friends and your community."