New Community Foundation Launches in Tri-Valley

Three Valleys Community Foundation will provide specialized, place-based philanthropic services

November 1, 2021 (Tri-Valley, California) – A new geographically based community foundation, Three Valleys Community Foundation (3VCF), has launched, with a vision to enhance the quality of life in the Tri-Valley and greater East Bay area. The name, Three Valleys, is a nod to the Amador, Livermore, and San Ramon Valleys, an area that encompasses the communities of Alamo, Danville, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Sunol.

“Our goal is to broaden local philanthropic support, benefitting not only our local nonprofits as they build capacity and serve with strength, but also local donors by connecting them with the most immediate and pressing community needs,” said John Sensiba, chair of the 3VCF board of directors. “Three Valleys will do this via donor advised funds (DAF’s), direct gifts and endowment opportunities. We will also work to support local nonprofits via agency funds and grantmaking.”

A volunteer committee of local community and business leaders has been working for more than a year to establish Three Valleys Community Foundation. The organization received expedited approval by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501c3 tax exempt nonprofit.

“Over the past year we’ve sought the advice of more than 50 local, state and national community foundation experts,” said fellow 3VCF founder and board member Susan Houghton. “We are committed to incorporating their best practices, as well as the accreditation requirements outlined by The Council on Foundations, a leadership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations.”

In the spirit of collaboration, a number of other local grantmaking and philanthropic organizations will be partnering with Three Valleys Community Foundation during its operational launch phase, including The Community Foundation of San Joaquin, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Community Initiatives, Northern California Grantmakers and the East Bay Community Foundation. Fremont Bank will provide banking services.

The launch of Three Valleys Community Foundation is also being supported by a number of Founding Champions, including Alameda County Supervisors David Haubert and Nate Miley and several local corporations. “I am honored to support the Three Valleys Community Foundation. This foundation is crucial to the Tri-Valley as it strengthens the cities through civic engagement and sustainable philanthropy,” said David Haubert, Alameda County District 1 Supervisor.

Nate Miley, Vice President, Alameda County Board of Supervisors (District 4) said, “Having had the honor of representing the City of Pleasanton on the Board of Supervisors for over a decade, I’m proud to support the Three Valleys Community Foundation. This foundation will help small grassroots organizations connect with funding and opportunities to better serve some of our most vulnerable residents.”  Other Founding Champions include Bishop Ranch, Wente Family Estates, Sensiba, The Livermore Independent and Lynn and Joan Seppala.

Hacienda Helping Hands will open a field of interest community fund with 3VCF and the Pleasanton Weekly 2021 Holiday Fund will be the organization’s first public campaign. This annual community campaign, now in its 20th year, provides grants to local nonprofits – chosen by the Pleasanton Weekly.  In addition, Three Valleys Community Foundation is also working closely with the Tri-Valley Nonprofit Alliance and Las Positas College to offer free nonprofit training. Those programs, offered once a month, will launch in December 2021.

The Tri-Valley region is rich in innovation, scientific and technical achievements, agriculture, natural beauty, and the arts, and fosters a strong commitment to inclusion and community. Yet, as cited in Innovation Tri-Valley’s 2040 vision report, there is opportunity to improve quality of life in the region even more through private philanthropy. “The annual GDP of our area is more than $42 billion,” said Sensiba. “Yet less than half of a percent comes back to support the more than 350 local nonprofits serving our communities. Three Valleys Community Foundation desires to increase this proportion of local giving to create a region where every single person has the opportunity to live a full and rewarding life.”

The founding board of directors of Three Valleys Community Foundation includes John Sensiba of Sensiba (chair), Susan Houghton, founder of Sunflower Hill (secretary/interim treasurer) and board members Kenneth Cooper of Las Positas College, Margaret Liang of APAPA, Tim Sbranti of Innovation Tri-Valley and Christine Wente of Wente Family Estates.

Advisory Council members include Catharine Baker, Hoge Fenton; Chris Carter, Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center; James Paxson, Hacienda Business Park; John Freeman, California Water Service; Scott Roberts, Mass Mutual; Wendy Fukamaki, PG&E; Joe Cristiano, Bank of San Francisco and Reena Gupta, Mom Relaunch. Steve McCoy-Thompson is serving as the interim executive director. The operating values of 3VCF are integrity and transparency; equity and inclusiveness; and collaboration and innovation.

Local residents, donors and corporations are invited to support Three Valleys Community Foundation as part of the organization’s Founding Champions program. “There is great strength in our region,” noted Houghton. “We want to build upon the efforts already underway in our three valleys – Amador, Livermore and San Ramon – and we invite all residents to join us in doing that.”

For more information, visit the Three Valleys Community Foundation website at 3vcf.org or email info@3vcf.org.

# # #

Contact:

5960 Inglewood Drive, Suite 201
Pleasanton, CA 94588-8611
info@3vcf.org 
501c3 Tax ID # 87-1782380