A group of students and teachers gather on a craftsman-style porch while doing their lessons at Western Justice Center in Pasadena CA.

An anglo man reaches out to serve coffee to two women at Rosebud Cafe in Pasadena CA.

Community & Economic Development

PRIORITIES
Community & Economic Development is one of PCF’s six areas of interest for local grantmaking. PCF’s grantmaking in this area of interest supports job training, disaster relief, and the organizations and infrastructure that create an inclusive society. This area of interest is made possible by PCF Endowment Builders who are passionate about sustaining a thriving Pasadena-area community.

GRANT PROGRAMS
Affordable Housing Initiative – Launched in 2019, the Initiative awards high-impact grants for projects that add much-needed shelter and beds, permanent supportive housing, and affordable home ownership in the Pasadena area. Learn more.

Library Grants – PCF has long supported Pasadena’s public libraries as gathering spaces for the public and for historic preservation and infrastructure improvement projects.

COVID-19 Relief Fund – Small business and nonprofit support
PCF helped strengthen our community’s pandemic response through supporting the essential role nonprofit organizations played in recovery efforts. PCF’s sported telehealth services, building capacity for online learning, food distribution, and in later phases, vaccination rollout and relief grants for small businesses and arts organizations.

Impact in the area of Community & Economic Development

In 2023, PCF awarded $158,000 grant funding in the area of Community & Economic Development. This total includes a $100,000 Affordable Housing Initiative grant to Door of Hope, which the organization will use to help acquire and refurbish its fifth shelter for families.

In 2022, through its Affordable Housing Initiative, PCF awarded $200,000 to Heritage Housing Partners for the purchase and refurbishment of a Pasadena property. Once complete in 2023, it will house six Pasadena City College students who have experienced homelessness.

Since its launch in 2019, the Affordable Housing Initiative has awarded $950,000 toward projects that have created 100 residential units/beds.

The Pasadena Public Library Foundation, a component fund of PCF, awarded $150,000 in June 2022 to ensure sustainable support for the city’s branch libraries while the Central Branch undergoes seismic work.

PCF partnered with the City of Pasadena in 2020 and 2021 to administer two rounds of the Small Business Covid-19 Relief Grant Program, ultimately awarding nearly $1 million to help 98 Pasadena businesses remain open during the pandemic.

A large group gathers in front of a faded pink, slightly run-down home that will be rehabilitated by Heritage Housing Partners for 6 unhoused students at Pasadena City College. — 2022 Heritage Housing Partners project

Supporting Funds

PCF works with community members to establish endowments that support local grantmaking, including those in the Community & Economic Development area of interest. As a community foundation, PCF always honors donor intent. Our grants reflect any donor restrictions regarding their designated causes.

Visit these links to learn more about our donors and why they created a PCF endowment for Community & Economic Development.

Become a PCF Endowment Builder for the areas you care about – learn more.

Related News & Features

“A Grant for Mount Wilson Institute’s Second Century.” November 2023. Read article.

“Harambee Ministries Makes Space to Build Community.” November 2022. Read article.

“PCF Extends a Lifeline to Two Small Businesses. January 2022. Read article.

“Microgrant Program Supports Small Business Owners.” March 2021. Read article.

Recent Grantee Organizations

Each year, Pasadena-area organizations in the Community & Economic Development area benefit from PCF grant awards. The photos here showcase some of our recent grantees. Click thumbnails to enlarge photos.