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Published on 12/22/1999 All articles from this issue

LA foundation reports doubling of gifts in 1999

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By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

Back in 1991, a group of volunteers formed the Los Altos Community Foundation (LACF). Its mission is to provide funds and working space for community-building activities, and to help improve the local quality of life.

Charter members proposed to build civic pride, community spirit and encourage broad citizen involvement in the community.

Today, the foundation numbers 140 "founders," individuals and families who support the foundation with a one-time $1,000 donation ($500 for those under age 35).

During 1999, due to the increase in the number of founders, donations to the foundation's Local Organizations Fund grew from $13,000 to more than $28,000. Donations to the donor-advised funds grew from about $28,000 to more than $108,000. At the end of November, total net assets were $962,873.

The foundation manages 16 donor-advised funds. Each of these funds function as a separate foundation, carrying out the charitable and community goals of the specific donor. Anyone can leave a community legacy by creating a donor-advised fund.

Chairman Roy Lave is looking for more residents in the community to become founders. Currently less than 1 percent of the community are founders. Lave would like to add another 17,000 donors to the founders circle.

At the Nov. 17 LACF board meeting, Bill Sommerville, an organizer with the Peninsula Foundation, said he was impressed with the Los Altos foundation.

"Because LACF is small, it has fluidity and can move quickly. Larger foundations in the area are like a limousine," Sommerville said. "LACF is a scooter. They are bigger and can carry more, but LACF can take corners quicker. That means LACF has immediate responsive capabilities.

"There are indications of good committee structure and excellent committee reporting," Sommerville said. "You have quality literature available to make good grants and a darling Community House to share with others."

The Community House is among the community projects supported by the LACF. Non-profit organizations use the house at 183 Hillview Ave. daily for meetings, phone messages and office space. Sommerville particularly liked the Community House availability.

Other areas of the foundation network include a mediation program and leadership training programs.

For example, the Los Altos Mediation Program, started in 1995, handles cases referred for mediation by city and civic entities. The cases involve issues such as neighbor/neighbor, merchant/consumer, landlord/tenant and city/resident disputes.

The Leadership Education Advancement (LEAD) program offers prospective volunteer leaders a comprehensive look at community organizations. The eight-session course introduces participants to local government, education, business, health and social service agencies. The course is free and receives continuing education credit through Foothill College.

When the old Los Altos Conservatory Theatre closed, LACF founded The Bus Barn Stage Company in 1995, and continues to be a major supporter with funding.

The LACF community volunteers meet at 7:30 a.m. the third Wednesday of each month at Hillview Community Center in the Hal Brady Room. At each meeting, the different standing committees and project committees report on activities of the preceding month.

For more information on the Los Altos Community Foundation, call 949-5908.