Introduction
Spring is a time of renewal, of opening our doors and windows and welcoming the world back in. This spring feels like a reconnection to community and our commitment to one another after years of precaution. We’re refreshed to see so many events resume and be well attended. Excitement is certainly in the air. What better time to recommit to engaging in civil discourse as a community with the Speak Your Peace Campaign below?
Civil discourse is essential to how we live, play, and serve our region together. This theme of intentional collaboration is a throughline in this Report. The challenges that our region faces can feel insurmountable for a small, rural community with limited resources. Large funders and government agencies often focus their efforts in populated areas where each dollar can drive a higher metric. So we must work together to move towards a shared vision of a healthy, thriving environment and community.
Ever forward with gratitude!
Stacy Caldwell, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer
Speak Your Peace
9
Simple Principles
40
Organizations
2008
Year Established
Speak Your Peace
You love this place; so do we. You might notice we say that a lot. That is because there are so many of us who have our own unique history, experience, and vision for what Tahoe Truckee was, is, and should be. To expect for all of us to think alike would not be reasonable or honor who we are. In 2008, TTCF launched the Speak Your Peace (SYP) campaign to encourage civil discourse in civic engagement. More than 1,000 individuals and 40 regional institutions, including the hospital, Town and Counties adopted this framework. Upon community request, TTCF has revived and adapted SYP. We are pleased to begin sharing it with our community. It’s time to recommit to the pledge!
Check out the webpage, print the poster, and pass a resolution to commit to Speak Your Peace by clicking below.
The purpose of Speak Your Peace is to encourage a higher level of civility in our public conversations. Without civility we risk losing people willing to run for elected office. We risk people not participating in important conversations. We risk the very basics of democracy. We are not seeking to end disagreements or stymie debate. In fact, real civility challenges us to listen and identify the differences that separate us.
TTCF’s 2009 Board of Directors
Community Impact
75+
Regional Nonprofits
$358,241
Median Annual Budget
$46 Million
Total Annual Nonprofit Operations Driving Local Economy
Our Nonprofit Partners Struggle with Attracting and Retaining Staff
Through a trust-based philanthropy approach, TTCF has developed relationships with our nonprofits based on transparency and mutual learning. While we encourage dialogue throughout the year, our annual grant cycle provides an opportunity for nonprofits to share their greatest needs and challenges.
The 2023 grant cycle made something very clear: it is increasingly difficult to attract and retain nonprofit staff members due to the local housing crisis and high cost of living. This can be seen when an executive director is pulled from strategy into day-to-day operations, and when we stand to lose essential programs that require specific training and expertise, for example a domestic abuse survivor counselor.
This is not unique to the nonprofit sector, but emblematic of the rippling impact of increasing costs of living.
Why can’t all philanthropy be trust based? Too many funding sources align with a one-size fits all approach. Trust based philanthropy trusts organizations to provide the best services possible while being fluid and adaptive to the emerging needs of their community. When we are faced with critical funding cuts whether at the federal or state level, funders rooted in trust based philanthropy allow us to fill those gaps to ensure vital services are not impacted. It goes a long way knowing our funder trusts us to do what is best.
Paul Bancroft, MA
Executive Director, Sierra Community House
Donate to TTCF’s grantmaking funds and your dollars will be leveraged with those of other donors to address our region’s greatest needs through our annual grant cycle.
collective Giving
10
Years of Co-Funding
$1M+
Nature Funds Matched
80+
Housing Units
The Martis Fund and Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation: A Decade 0f Collaborative Action
For a decade, The Martis Fund (TMF) and TTCF have collaborated on projects and initiatives in workforce housing, environmental conservation and protection, and community needs. This collective and aligned action has significantly enhanced our mutual efforts. During this time, TMF has matched TTCF’s Nature Fund grants by close to a million dollars, lent Board Member expertise to our Mountain Housing Council, and joined us to make impact investments for both Community House in Kings Beach and 82 workforce housing units in Truckee. Through a shared vision of protecting and serving our region’s people and places, TMF and TTCF have moved the needle farther together. Celebrate our decade of collaboration in our recently published article.
TTCF deserves immense credit for bringing this collective impact model to our community, pulling partners together to leverage funds and elevate projects. And that aligns with the Martis Fund’s grantmaking strategies. In my experience The Martis Fund values collaboration and appreciates when projects have multiple funding partners invested in their projects.
Amy Kelley
Program Coordinator, Martis Fund
Funders & Local Leaders Rally to Support Northstar Community Services District Wood Energy Facility
To protect our communities from wildfire, we need to intentionally remove excess trees, shrubs, and underbrush. The next step is determining where that woody biomass goes after removal. One local solution is garnering widespread support: The Northstar Community Service Districts (NCSD) Wood Energy Facility. This facility stands to provide a roadmap for other biomass facilities, and local corporate and community funders have rallied to drive public support and philanthropy behind it and its $8 million price tag.
TTCF is proud to help align local collective philanthropy alongside the Martis Camp Foundation, Martis Fund, and Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation. Read more about the collective efforts supporting this landmark project.
Scholarships
200
High School Applicants
69
First Generation College Students
100+
Community Scholarships
Help A Local Student Achieve Their Dreams
Do you know the cost of college these days? To attend a University of California, in-state students pay $40,000 to $44,000 annually; to attend a private university, students pay $82,000 annually. To meet rising costs, students turn to scholarships. TTCF and our community partners make the process less arduous and more equitable by streamlining 100+ applications onto a single common application via an online portal, provided by TTCF. This year, we received a record number of applicants with a 15% increase from last year. Unfortunately, scholarship requests far outweigh our current available scholarship funds. We currently have around $1,000,000 to award.
If you’re passionate about helping more young people attain their dreams, donate to the TTCF Community Scholarship Fund.
This year my wife Gina and I created the Joan Rayfield vocational scholarships through the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation. My mother was a teacher and strong supporter of public education and Gina and I believe the vocational skills are being left behind. The Tahoe area needs skilled craftspeople and we hope to help fill that pipeline with young enthusiastic locals.
Mike Rayfield
for the 2024 Joan Rayfield Vocational Scholarship
Investing in Tahoe Truckee through Workforce Scholarships
TTCF is excited to open up the third round of scholarships supporting young adults pursuing career paths needed in our community. These scholarships were first offered thanks to a generous donation from the Crocker Family in 2022 to help high school scholarship recipients complete their graduate school education. Since then, TTCF and community partners have recognized the opportunity to provide scholarships to individuals who want to pursue and advance careers in fields for which our region needs more workforce. Existing categories and their donors include: Truckee Tahoe Airport District for Aviation and STEM Pathways; The S.H.E. Foundation’s Education Pathways; and the Steve Shippy Vocational Scholarship. Please join us to both help young adults and benefit our regional workforce with these needed trade and professional careers.
Accepting Applications May 15-June 30, notification by August 1. Applicants must enroll for Fall 2024 or Winter/Spring 2025 semesters.
Families
27%
of residents report needing Mental Health Services
29%
of residents report they could not access necessary Mental Health Services in the past year
66%
of residents are personally impacted by substance abuse
Katz Amsterdam Foundation Continues Vital Partnership with Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, Investing $250,000 to Help Transform Local Mental Health Support
TTCF has partnered with the Katz Amsterdam Foundation (KAF) once again. The Katz Amsterdam Foundation strives to be a catalyst for eliminating inequities, increasing access to opportunity, and improving outcomes for all. TTCF has worked with KAF to help them achieve these objectives in mountain communities since 2018. To align our efforts, KAF provided a planning grant to TTCF’s family strengthening program, the Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee (CCTT), to develop The Behavioral Health Landscape and Roadmap. The Roadmap guides the work of regional shared priorities, and includes the following strategies:
Policy and funding, Programs and service, Equitable access, and Addressing the root causes of behavioral health challenges and substance abuse.
Learn more about our collaborative relationship in our press release.
Katz Amsterdam supported TTUSD in launching our K-12 Mental Health Specialist Program. Katz helped us pilot school-based therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic which has evolved into a comprehensive mental health system of support in our schools. We have been able to increase mental health equity and reduce barriers so students and families can easily access mental health services and community supports.
Kim Bradley
TTUSD Wellness Coordinator
Promoting mental health awareness is essential for fostering resilience, reducing stigma, and ensuring that residents have access to the resources and support they need to thrive. As we move into Mental Health Awareness Month, we’ve compiled resources for you to share with your friends, neighbors, and beyond. Find them on our Tahoe Truckee Crisis And Mental Health Resources page. We also know social connection is vital for good mental health; visit Let’s Talk Nevada County for tips and resources to take care of yourself and others. If you want to be prepared to help your loved ones and neighbors, participate in the Mental Health First Aid Trainings by the Tahoe Truckee Suicide Prevention Coalition May 22, 2024.
Forests
82
Land Owners Served
4
Forest Management Plans Completed
183
Acres Treated
Minimizing Wildfire Risk through Landowner Grants
Years of drought, forest overcrowding, and bark beetle infestation have made our region vulnerable to wildfire. To create wildfire resilience and public safety, TTCF has been working in partnership with Cal Fire to disperse grants via the Truckee North Tahoe Forest Management Program (TNTMP). This pilot project helps private forested-land owners plan forest management projects, seek environmental compliance, and establish readiness for implementation. These grants have been awarded to HOAs, COAs, and groups and individual landowners in key geographic locations including Alpine Meadows, Tahoe Donner, Kingvale, Glenshire, and Martis Peak. By gathering an advisory of forest management experts to guide our work, we’re confident that these partnerships expedite wildfire mitigation in essential forested lands.
Are you passionate about protecting our forests? Donate to TTCF’s Forest Futures Fund.
Building off early momentum, regional partners are working diligently to build wildfire resilience and protect our communities’ natural beauty. TTCF’s investments and efforts are vital to accelerating a new era of data-driven planning and action, like the 2024 Truckee Fire Community Wildfire Protection Plan and TNTFMP landowner assistance. The local synergy and engagement is truly inspiring; and necessary to create a wildfire Resilient Truckee-Tahoe!
Eric Horntvedt
Wildfire Prevention Manager – Truckee Fire Protection District
Housing
1,169
of unmet need for households earning under 30% AMI
55
Unique individuals sheltered in 2024 Emergency Warming Shelter Season
107
Guests Accessed Case Management through NTTHS in Q3
The Immediate Past and Future of Housing Solutions
We have been reflecting on the last 6+ years of the Mountain Housing Council, a program of TTCF, and how we will continue to drive housing solutions moving forward. Before we started this journey, our 29+ partners rarely sat down in a single room to tackle regional issues. But through quarterly meetings and a shared commitment to this place and our people, we have coordinated our efforts, reached alignment, and leveraged our resources. The results are new programs, streamlined processes, impact investments, and more. Our partners have identified where they fit into the matrix of solutions, and we are grateful to have been part of driving that action forward.
One new program is the Tahoe Housing Hub which launches this month to address the critical shortage of workforce housing. TTCF has helped guide the formation of the Hub and provided significant funding for the first year of operations. As we look forward, we intend to continue engaging the media and community around vital housing conversations and decisions that shape our region’s future.
Built for Zero: A vision for a region with zero homelessness.
What if more of our neighbors had a roof over their heads? What if families were immediately connected with our local safety net? That is the goal of the Tahoe Truckee Homeless Advisory Committee (TTHAC). TTCF has provided crucial resources to help guide TTHAC’s collaborative action plan as it embraces the Built for Zero Framework. This framework focuses on short-term objectives, such as providing a safe emergency shelter, and long-term strategies that rely on data-informed efforts and leveraging community resources.
To learn from our neighbors, TTHAC recently visited South Lake Tahoe’s Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless. Since 2020, the coalition has offered a variety of supportive services to those facing or at risk of homelessness in South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County.
I would rather deal with the cold weather and snow than leave my community. This is my home. I feel safe here. To leave would break my heart.
Tahoe Truckee homeless services consumer
Our Team
Stacy Caldwell, CEO, Recognized Alongside Local High-Powered Leaders
This April, the Truckee Chamber of Commerce recognized nine women for their exceptional leadership in the region. Stacy Caldwell, TTCF CEO, was amongst this extraordinary cohort that spans every sector. In the article, Stacy shares what inspired her to lead (it relates to quilting), what she’s proud of in her career (it has everything to do with TTCF’s strategic initiatives), and advice for young women (not surprisingly, having a clear vision and strategy). Get to know Stacy and the eight other featured leaders in the article Women at the Top: High-Power Leaders in Our High-Altitude Town.
Phyllis McConn, Community Impact Officer, Honored for Her Work with Women and Girls
This March, Soroptimist International of Truckee Donner honored Phyllis McConn, TTCF Community Impact Officer, as its Woman of Distinction (WOD). Phyllis was recognized for her community work with women and girls. “She selflessly gives to all who need her help and has done so for many years,” the press release shared. TTCF applauds this recognition and we are honored to have her as a leader on our team.
Funding Opportunities
College Scholarships
Every year, college costs rise. Help local high school students achieve their dreams through scholarships.
Workforce Scholarships
Workforce scholarships support young adults who are pursuing vital career paths that our region needs. Scholarships in fields such as aviation and STEM, education, and vocational professions help individuals and our community.
Forest Futures
Our Forest Futures campaign ensures healthy forests today, tomorrow, and forever— to unlock the innovation and resources that hold the potential to solve our communities’ underlying forest restoration and management issues.
Housing Solutions Fund
Housing costs are skyrocketing in the Tahoe Truckee region, impacting every level of income earner. Support ongoing grants and impact investments that advance the goals of TTCF’s housing initiative.
Mental Health
Our community faces unique challenges in addressing the mental health needs. Help reduce stigma, align resources and ensure regional collaboration, and support innovative approaches to wellness.
TTCF’S GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS
If you’re inspired by our portfolio of work and the stories you’ve read today, please consider contributing to our general operating funds. These dollars are imperative to helping us power our operations and team.
To learn more about our community impact and how you can partner with us to make a difference, contact Stacy Caldwell at stacy@ttcf.net.