Chico, California (November 2, 2006) – The North Valley Community Foundation (NVCF) announced today a new grant program aimed at encouraging local nonprofit organizations take steps towards long-term financial sustainability.

The Foundation will be awarding $35,000 in mini-grants ranging from $250 - $2,500. The grant program is open to nonprofits throughout Butte, Colusa, Glenn and Tehama counties. The guidelines can be downloaded from the Foundation website at www.nvcf.org. All applications are due by December 31st, 2006 and grants will be awarded no later than February 15th, 2007.

“Education and training is the first step necessary to create changes in the nonprofit sector regarding long-term fundraising strategies. The second step is providing funding to support and promote those new strategies. Our Foundation is excited and prepared to be a resource for both of those steps,” said Alexa Valavanis, Executive Director North Valley Community Foundation.

The grant program is announced immediately following a training workshop the Foundation presented to local professional advisors and nonprofits called, “North Valley Planned Giving Summit”; an event where more than 200 people gathered to discuss ways to bridge the public and private sector through effective charitable giving.

This is the second grant program which was initiated by a local anonymous donor and facilitated through the Community Foundation. Last November, the Foundation and the anonymous donor granted $100,000 to local nonprofits.

The Foundation is a non-profit, philanthropic organization that builds financial resources to meet community needs through grants and programs primarily for residents in the Butte, Colusa, Glenn and Tehama counties. NVCF provides financial and administrative services to donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations.

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