Nonprofit Partnership Program - Vallejo

 SCF Nonprofit Partnership Program - 2009 - First Grant!

The Youth4Youth Mentoring Program, a component of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay (BBBS), received a $5,000 grant from SCF’s Nonprofit Partnership Program (NPP) to help continue its peer mentoring services at Wardlaw Elementary (also named as a California Distinguished School for 2010). This mentoring program serves students who come from a variety of backgrounds, some of whom may include having academic challenges, struggling with peer relationships, being in the foster care system, or coming from single-parent and economically disadvantaged households.

“The Youth4Youth program in Solano not only benefits young children in need of mentoring services, it also provides teens with the opportunity to take on meaningful roles and make positive contributions in their community,” said Cyndi Weingard, Director of Development for BBBS.

The program, implemented at Wardlaw in 2007, provides teen mentors from both Jesse Bethel High School and MIT Academy. These students make a one-year commitment to spend two hours a week with Wardlaw students. As a result, the younger students build self-confidence and are secure in knowing that they have a dependable friend and advocate.

The Nonprofit Partnership Program, established in April 2009, issued this first grant of $5,000 as part of its mission to provide support to local nonprofits. NPP acts as a convener of forums to gather and disperse input from the community, improves capacity-building, and helps meet the needs of Solano County residents.

HISTORY of NPP

On April 1, 2009, Solano Community Foundation set forth the Nonprofit Partnership Program (NPP), designed to help local nonprofits in their mission of offering important services to Solano County residents. This assistance is done through competitive grants offered by NPP each year after the Community Conversation is held to one designated city in Solano County, generated through membership fees and donations. 

NPP was also created to promote partnerships among community leaders, decision makers, donors, the business sector, and local nonprofits. These alliances help broaden the vision for community well-being, promote philanthropy, and engage the public, policymakers, and nonprofits in dialogue about the future in Solano County. 

For 2009, the Nonprofit Partnership Program began its focus in Vallejo.

A simple survey was distributed in August 2009 to the public with questions targeting the highest identified community needs. Responses were collected and sorted in ranks of the most important issues concerning the residents of Vallejo.

Community Conversation - Vallejo

 To view the full report of the Community Conversation - Vallejo 2009, click here.

In October 2009, Solano Community Foundation convened a forum of 35 NPP members at the John F. Kennedy Library in Vallejo, comprised of local nonprofits, community leaders, businesses, and donors, who were presented with the top issues concerning Vallejo, based on the survey.