SCCF
Sacramento Cooperative
Community Fund
The Sacramento Cooperative Community Fund (SCCF) is an endowment fund founded by the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op in conjunction with the Twin Pines Cooperative in 2001. Each Spring the SCCF awards micro-grants to local non-profit or cooperative organizations for qualifying projects promoting nutrition or health, supporting a healthy environment, meeting basic human needs, particularly nutrition, and/or promoting the cooperative movement.
2023 Grant Recipients
American River Parkway Foundation
The mission of the American River Parkway Foundation is to lead and inspire the community to conserve and nurture the American River Parkway as a unique, accessible resource for everyone to enjoy. Each year the Parkway Foundation galvanizes thousands of volunteers to gather together and participate in the stewardship of the Parkway.
Project: Parkway Cleanup
The proposed project will take place over three days during the months of June, July, and August and clear trash and debris, from the American River, including the islands, starting at Nimbus Dam, and continuing to Discovery Park. Each day will focus on a different section of the river.
The Parkway Foundation will provide mesh bags in order to collect trash from the water, and trash bags for collection along the shoreline and on the islands in the middle of the river. We will also provide heavy duty magnets to be used in collecting larger metal debris from the river.
Grant Awarded: $647
Alchemist CDC
Alchemist CDC is a Sacramento-based nonprofit that connects communities to land, food and opportunity. We operate 3 main program areas in an effort to fulfill our mission: our CalFresh at Farmers' Markets program provides CalFresh/EBT (formerly known as food stamps) recipients access to local farmers' markets and provides a nutrition incentive known as Market Match. When CalFresh customers shop at any of our 9 farmers' markets they can earn up to $10 free for fresh fruits and vegetables which increases their buying power, provides additional income for small and mid-sized farmers, and allows farmers' markets to be an truly accessible food source for low-income households.
Project: Increasing Staff Visibility for Outdoor Projects
We currently use nametag lanyards to identify our staff and volunteers, but we see the need for more gear that increases recognition and decreases stigma at the Farmers' Markets. We promote CalFresh in an inclusive and accessible way that encourages participation and having this clearly acknowledged on clothing and hats assists us in that work beyond individual customer interactions. In our community gardens and green spaces it is important to have staff, college interns and volunteers clearly identified so that residents and visitors can instantly recognize who is there to answer questions, assist them and hear their feedback.
Grant Awarded: $612.50
James Marshall Parent Nursery School
JMPNS is an early education experience that is rooted in play, developmentally appropriate practices, and relevant early childhood research. We have served our community since 1954 and are the oldest co-operative, parent-run preschool in West Sacramento. Created by a group of parents nearly 70 years ago, we have maintained the core model of parent participation and education. Our program is unique to our community because part of our mission is to educate parents in how to both work with children in the classroom and how to become better caretakers at home.
Project: "Growth through Growing" Composting Project
JMPNS has found that children and parents learn and grow through hands-on learning. Our school model naturally encourages healthy families. As part of being a healthy family, we promote healthy eating and environmental awareness. As such, we have been keeping a school garden where we grow edible fruits and vegetables for the children and parents to cultivate, grow, and eat when ready. We would like to implement a composting program to show our students and parents how composting can benefit their families, their food, and the environment.
Grant Awarded: $500
Every year the SCCF invites applications for micro-grants from eligible not-for-profit and cooperative organizations operating in the greater Sacramento area.
Each year, the application process opens on March 1 and closes on April 1. Applications may be dropped off at the store by the deadline or emailed to the SCCF Committee Chair by the date. The Committee reviews each application and scores them based on the individual projects, potential number of people that will be served by the project, budget for the project and overall potential for success. Criteria for application are below and the application may be downloaded by clicking the link under “how to apply.”
Eligibility criteria for receiving a micro-grant from SCCF are:
- Applicants must, at the time of application, be a tax exempt, not-for-profit (i.e., IRS reg. 501c3) or a legally-chartered cooperative organization that is operating in the Sacramento area.
- The applicant’s proposal for funding must be for a specific project, activity, or purchase (not for general program operations, ongoing costs, or the purchase of food or gift certificates for food).
- The proposed project must fit one of the categories below as listed in the Co-op’s Community Sharing Policy:
- Promoting nutrition or health
- Supporting a healthy environment
- Meeting basic human needs, particularly nutrition
- Promoting the cooperative movement
SCCF Grantees are required to:
- Abide by the Co-op’s nondiscrimination policy that requires grantees to: conduct business and serve customers/clients without regard to race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability, political opinion, or national origin; not knowingly conduct business with or support any organization, business, group or individual who discriminates against others as listed above; and prohibit discrimination and harassment (including sexual harassment) of customers/ clients and employees and anyone doing business with the organization.
- Agree not to use any of the funds for lobbying or political activities.
- Publicize the award within your organization (e.g., your own social media and/or newsletter) and by submitting press releases to the local media as well as providing the SCCF with copies of all of those articles.
- Upon project completion, submit a brief report to the SCCF about results achieved with the micro-grant funds.
2021 Grant Recipients
Alchemist CDC,
Community Cooling Stations
The sweltering Sacramento summer puts vulnerable communities at risk – whether unhoused individuals or those needing to commute via sidewalk. Alchemist helps to provide for this urgent need by sponsoring individuals and businesses willing to host a cooling station on their property. This microgrant will help to enable Alchemist to provide the necessary equipment like pip up tents and ice chests for several more cooling stations this summer.
Carmichael HART, Transitional
Housing Food Storage Upgrade
Carmichael HART is a volunteer run organization dedicated to assisting the homeless in their immediate region. Their transitional housing program helps to prepare homeless residents for life afer the streets. The microgrant will be used to provide food storage cabinets at their transitional housing residences which will enable the residents to store food allowing them the ability to focus on home made meal preparation.
Additional Information
- SCCF micro-grants typically range from $200 to $500 but can be from $50 to $750 (maximum).
- The Co-op may use the information you provide in the application to publicize your organization’s project in its own publications including its website, and/or in any press release.
- Preference will be given to organizations that have not received over $200 of funds, product, or in-kind donations from the Co-op and/or the SCCF during the prior 12 months.
- Awards are decided by the SCCF Committee. Each application is scored based on Category, Benefit, Budget and Capacity of project.