Women’s Legacy Fund
San Luis Obispo County
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Our mission is to be a catalyst for philanthropy that improves the lives of women & girls in
San Luis Obispo County
Established by the Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County Board of Directors in 2003, this fund is the only endowment in the County which targets the needs of women and girls. Based on compelling data both nationwide and in California, the need for a fund in San Luis Obispo County focusing on the needs of women is greater than ever.
Grants from the fund support organizations that assist women and girls to strengthen their physical, emotional, intellectual, and financial well-being. Each year the Women’s Legacy Fund Advisory Committee identifies a focus for grant-making in the areas of economic independence, basic needs, safety, reproductive health, education, and mental health.
$756,145
lifetime of grants awarded
$83,800
total granted this year
38
grant recipients
521
legacy leaders
Who We Help
For many people, San Luis Obispo County offers an idyllic quality of life. However, even in this idyllic place, some women and girls do not have their basic needs met. Although the needs of local women and girls will change, the importance of addressing those needs remains constant.
Our goal is see to it that every woman and girl in San Luis Obispo County has the opportunity to thrive. Based on the “What Women Need Report” produced, we increase public awareness and make informed decisions about annual grants to meet the needs of women and girls.
This Year’s Women’s Legacy Fund Grants
In 2024 we awarded $83,800 to programs that support Girls’ Self-Esteem & Empowerment and Women’s Financial Stability in SLO County.
El Camino Homeless Organization - $28,800 [Welcome Home Program]
ECHO's Welcome Home Program focuses on the needs of female head-of-household clients who are experiencing homelessness. The Welcome Home Program will provide security deposits and move-in baskets of essential items for women moving from one of ECHO's shelters into a new home either on their own or with their children.
Lumina Alliance - $25,000 [Childcare Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence]
Lumina Alliance will provide a drop-inchildcare option for SA and IPV survivorswho seek services in person and havechildren in their care. The project will offerthe opportunity for survivors to privatelyand confidentially access Lumina Alliance services without the additional stress of finding childcare.
Race Matters SLO - $30,000 [Black Girl Wellness & Embracing Texture]
R.A.C.E. Matters SLO is providing a workshop series centered around identity, self-care including hair care, self-esteem, and community making for Black identified girls ages 12-17. Black Girl Wellness is a Black-led program based out of Texture salon and multi-use space in San Luis Obispo.
Surely, in the light of history, it is more intelligent to hope rather than to fear, to try rather than not to try. For one thing we know beyond all doubt:
Nothing has ever been achieved by the person who says, ‘It can’t be done.’
// Eleanor Roosevelt
Become a Legacy Leader
In 2003 we began the legacy of the endowment fund with 100 women donating $1,000 each to revolutionize giving in San Luis Obispo County. The founders originally believed it would take over a year to find the 100 donors, but the goal was accomplished in just three months. This is a fund started by women, organized by women, and benefits women.
Over the years, hundreds of donors have made contributions of $1,000 or more. Many make annual gifts of $250 to sustain the fund. We call these generous donors our Legacy Leaders. Through the efforts of our Legacy Leaders, the fund Advisory Committee and our annual events, the endowment has grown to $1.5 million with grant awards totaling more than $600,000.
Becoming a Legacy Leader is also accessible by investing monthly payments of $28.
Attend an Event
Each year we host two major events. The first is an educational speaker series, Women & Wealth: Leave Your Legacy, workshopping the theme of building wealth in a community, so that we continue a legacy of philanthropy. Hosted in the Spring, this event is a chance for reflection, conversation, and inspired action. The second event, held in the Fall, is our main fundraising event of the year Picnic with Purpose. This annual luncheon hosts over 350 attendees. We gather to celebrate what Women’s Legacy Fund has accomplished, acknowledge our grantees and the successes of their programs, and invest in the future of Women’s Legacy Fund.
Get Involved
An endowed fund is a permanent philanthropic resource. A percentage of the fund’s value is available to grant each year, while the principal is invested to grow over time. This enables the fund to award grants in perpetuity. Your gift to the Women’s Legacy Fund is leveraged for greater impact. With your support, we will make a difference today and continue to make a lasting impact for generations.
Interested in going above and beyond a monetary contribution? Learn more about ways to get involved including joining our Advisory Committee, volunteering at events, and donating your time or skill.
Together, we can change our community for the better.
When we invest in women and girls, we are investing in the people who invest in everyone else.
// Melinda Gates
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Email
wlf@cfsloco.org
Phone
(805)543-2323