A volunteer is partially shown lifting a box from the LA Regional Food Bank at a senior food distribution at the Pasadena Senior Center.

Four male clients of Pasadena Village pose while having lunch.

Human Services

PRIORITIES
Human Services is one of PCF’s six areas of impact for local grantmaking. PCF’s grantmaking in this area of interest supports organizations addressing food insecurity, homelessness, and special populations, including seniors and those with learning differences and developmental or intellectual disabilities. This area of interest is made possible by PCF Endowment Builders who are passionate about uplifting the lives of our neighbors.

GRANT PROGRAMS

Senior Grants — PCF Senior Grant Program is an annual grant program launched in 2007 in support of “frail elderly” who face physical, mental, or economic struggles.

Vista Nova — The Vista Nova Renaissance Endowment funds the Vista Nova Grant Program, which supports organizations in the greater Pasadena area and the eastern LA County that assist visually impaired populations with unique challenges; specifically, those whose eyesight cannot be improved with corrective glasses or medical procedures.

Impact in the area of Human Services

Since its first grant in the Human Services area in 1954, PCF has awarded $4.3 million to 58 unduplicated Human Services organizations.

Senior Grants — Since its launch in 2007, the Senior Grant Program has awarded 82 grants to 21 unduplicated organizations for an impressive total of $700,000. This figure includes the 2022 Senior Grants, which totaled $64,000 and were awarded to six local nonprofit organizations.

2022 Capital Grants — In 2022, PCF awarded $87,000 in Capital Grants to four local organizations in the Human Services area of impact.

In 2022, PCF awarded a total of $439,000 in the area of Human Services.

Five seniors from Pasadena Village pose while out on a hike in the San Gabriel Mountains. — Pasadena Village seniors on a hike

Supporting Funds

PCF works with community members to establish endowments that support local grantmaking, including those in the Human Services 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 the reasons they created a PCF endowment for Human Services:

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

Related News & Features

“Food Insecurity Grows – PCF Steps in with Emergency Funds.” December 2022. Read article.

“Senior Grant Spotlight: Mano a Mano Food Pantry.” August 2022. Read article.

“Senior Grant Spotlight: Pasadena Village.” August 2022. Read article.

“Senior Food Distribution Brings Community Together.” June 2022. Read article.

“2021 Vista Nova Grantees Announced.” July 2021. Read article.

Recent Grantee Organizations

Each year, Pasadena-area organizations in the Human Services area benefit from Pasadena Community Foundation grant awards. The photos here showcase some of our recent grantees. Click on thumbnails to enlarge photos.