BUSINESS & NONPROFITS
In good hands
From people to pets, North Bay nonprofits offer support—and reach for solutions
Inside: Great Tastes · Farley Bar John Ash · Econ 101 · Tech Talk Global Heart · Vine Wise returns
January 2024
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THE NORTH BAY’S LEADING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
Canine Companions matches expertly trained service dogs with adults, children and veterans with disabilities in the North Bay and beyond, completely free of charge. Donate | Apply | Volunteer
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January 2024
NorthBaybiz 3
THE NORTH BAY’S LEADING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
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4 NorthBaybiz
January 2024
49 YEARS OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
January 2024 • Volume 49 • Number 1
LEAD STORY 18 Welcome to the world of nonprofits Judith M. Wilson Here are the nonprofits that support our nonprofits
WORK/LIFE 13 4-H 15 INFLATION 17 CHARITY
18
FEATURE STORIES 34 Keeping your pets paw-sitively protected Jessica Zimmer North Bay animal rescues and vets save lives when they work together 40 Bleeding arts Janet Perry These nonprofits support the ink-credible art in their communities
34
Helping grow your business isn’t just something we do... it’s all we do!
40
January 2024
NorthBaybiz 5
62
64
66
COLUMNS 11
DEPARTMENTS 8 LETTERS 62 DINE WISE Jason Walsh Farley Bar in Sausalito 66 GREAT TASTES Alexandra Russell Alexander Valley Vineyards in Healdsburg 68 WHAT’S HAPPENING Upcoming North Bay events 90 BEYOND THE BOARDROOM Rosie Padilla Sofie Burt, owner of Global Heart fair trade in Sonoma
PUBLISHER’S FORUM Lawrence Amaturo The generosity of the North Bay
29 ECON 101 Robert Eyler
Macroeconomists’ guide to the 2024 economy
33 TECH TALK Michael E. Duffy New year, new tech 45 ONLY IN MARIN Bill Meagher BioMarin’s newest investor 59 NAPA INSIDER Christina Julian Updates in Napa are making a big splash 61 VINE WISE Adam Lee Bring back affordable wine tasting 64 IN THE KITCHEN John Ash
Joe’s Special, an indescribable scramble of a dish
Printed by Publication Printers Corp., an FSC Certified printer. Please recycle this magazine.
NorthBay biz (ISSN No. 1542-3549: USPS 097-770) is owned and published monthly (plus three bonus issues annually) by North Bay Media Group, LLC. Editorial offices are at 3392 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403 USA: (707) 528-4434. Sub- scription price is $35 per year. Periodicals Postage Paid at Santa Rosa, CA 95402 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2022, NorthBay biz. Reproduction of this issue in whole or in part is strictly forbidden without written permission by the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NorthBay biz, 3392 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403 USA.
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January 2024
THE NORTH BAY’S LEADING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
1 in 4 Sonoma
2,980 Crisis Hotline Calls 5,503 Bed Night Stays 76% increase from 2022
Help us keep them safe. Please give today. County families experience domestic violence.
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January 2024
NorthBaybiz 7
Letters
Publisher
Lawrence Amaturo
money • investment • insurance
Editor-in-Chief
Jason Walsh
Letters to the Editor Red Letter Office
Associate Editor
Rosie Padilla
Blessed with a windfall? Here’s how NOT to blow it all in Vegas… Outrageous fortune!
Editor: Great piece [“Your DVD Has Arrived… For the Last Time Ever,” September]! What a story—I mean legacy—Netflix has created from where they came. Unbelievable. — Jenny Kaplan , Sonoma County
Contributing Editor
Bill Meagher
Design Director
Anne Schenk
Administrative Assistant
Jodi Pasquini
Marketing Consultant
Lori Rooney
Inside: Wild harvesting · Tech Talk Netflix · Hans Fahden Vineyards Layla · Microloans · Napa Insider
Here’s to your health Editor: [Regarding NorthBay biz’s
September 2023
$4.95
upcoming February edition dedicated to Health & Wellness], it would be great to hear how health and wellness has evolved post COVID and the importance of customization of wellness programs for your workforce in order for them to be effective and a ROI. —Corporate Cowgirl, Sonoma County Fight for their right [Regarding last fall’s NorthBaybiz.com story, “Surprise! SDC Developer Wants to Increase Housing by 50%]: Of course [they do]. Please turn it into a memorial park, wildlife corridor, and give the indigenous people the right to gather there. Karen Alves , Sonoma Contact Becci Pell to save your table: Bpell@mysonomamedia.com or 707-284-9129 When United Rentals needed to find qualified new employees to join our team, we partnered with Amaturo Sonoma Media Group to have a table at the North Bay Job Fair. Prior to the event we received resumes of people who registered to attend the event. During the job fair, we had a chance to personally meet with applicants who were motivated to work and tell them about our positions. We were impressed by the hundreds of job seekers and are pleased to say, we have a great new employee as a result of attending the North Bay Job Fair. If your business or organization is struggling to fill your job vacancies, then register today to be represented at the next North Bay Job Fair. You’ll be glad you did! — Steven Watts- United Rentals Testimonial from United Rentals, May 2023 Job Fair Come show the North Bay why your business is the one of the best employers to work for, at this fall’s North Bay Job Fairs! You have two opportunities to reach different Job Seekers. HIRING? Sign up for both fairs for discounted pricing. Also, take advantage of special radio advertising rates by adding-on Radio ads, enabling you to send your message to those who can’t make the Job Fairs. All registered businesses will receive the Resumes of Job Seekers in advance of the fair…so you can invite ideal candidates to seek you out during the Fair or set up an Interview ASAP. Wednesday, September 20 th 2:00-4:30 Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa Wednesday October 4 th 3:00-6:00 Elsie Allen High School Roseland
Writers Janet Perry Jason Walsh Jessica Zimmer Judith M. Wilson Rosie Padilla Columnists Adam Lee Alexandra Russell Bill Meagher Christina Julian Jason Walsh John Ash Michael E. Duffy Robert Eyler
Work/Life/ Netflix
Your DVD has arrived… for the last time ever
By Jason Walsh E
agerly awaiting squarish red envelops in the postbox… meticulously re-ranking one’s “queue”… desperately searching for the matching white DVD sleeve under the cushions… these well-worn pastimes of the aughts will soon be assigned to the dustbin of
nostalgia—as Netflix this month ceases its DVD-by-mail service. the Los Gatos-based company is one of the most familiar and successful streaming services in the world, but its origins were primitive by today’s viewing standards—employing such antiquated 20th century modus operandi as DVDs, pre-paid envelops and the united States Postal Service. (kidding, uSPS; we love you.) the company was founded in the late 1990s by techie carpool buddies Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings, as they commuted to work brainstorming ways to utilize speedy online order-and-delivery services, a là amazon. When test mailing DVDs to themselves proved cheap and durable in a way VHS tapes were not, the idea for Netflix was born. (Hastings also said getting dinged with a $40 Blockbuster late fee on an Apollo 13 rental served as inspiration.) the service was slow growing its first couple of years, until DVDs finally replaced VHS as the dominate home-entertainment format. Initially, the business model mirrored the per-rental model of video store chains, but once they shifted to a flat monthly fee for unlimited rentals (no more than three at a time) without due dates, late fees or shipping and handling charges—the rest was history. and so were video stores. By 2010, Blockbuster, which misguidedly held steadfast to the chain-store movie rental model, had declared bankruptcy. In 2014, it closed all its corporate-owned stores; today, a single Blockbuster franchise remains in Bend, oregon, surviving largely as a tourist curiosity, a living museum to a typical friday night, circa 2002.
the once mighty video rental company filed for bankruptcy in 2010. today, only one outlet remains.
(the 2022 closings of Bette’s flicks in San anselmo and Joe Video in Santa Rosa marked the end of the line for video rental stores in Marin and Sonoma counties, respectively.) Now, two decades later, DVD-by-mail goes the way of the rewind button. turn, turn, turn.
Netflix (NFLX) stock jumped by nearly 3.5% in August, with Wall Street analysts crediting the streaming service’s crackdown on password sharing—the 2020s version of stealing your neighbor’s cable. And that from the company that once tweeted, “Love is sharing a password.” The company changed its tune in 2022, when the service lost subscribers for the first time in more than a decade. At the time, estimates were that over 100 million people worldwide accessed Netflix through password sharing. Since then, the company has been identifying scofflaws— viewers outside of a household account (i.e. anyone on a different internet connection)—and bugging them to either be added to the existing account (at a higher monthly fee) or subscribe separately. The efforts seem to be paying off—Netflix added about 2.6 million new subscribers in July alone. More subscribers, less ‘love’ at Netflix
September 2023
NorthBaybiz 19
Photographers Duncan Garrett
For more recent NorthBay biz issues, check out northbaybiz.com. Email comments, complaints and witty observations to jwalsh@northbaybiz.com. Please include name, address and phone number. Letters will be edited for length and clarity.
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8 NorthBaybiz
January 2024
THE NORTH BAY’S LEADING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
GET INVOLVED! Contact Julie Hillborn at jhillborn@schsd.org or Katie Condie at kcondie@vomcf.org. 501c (3)68-0343720. Our History The Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation (VMCF) was established in 1995. It is a private, nonprofit organization committed to providing supportive and educational services to positively impact the present and future lives of abused, abandoned, and neglected children and youth. Our Future: As Sonoma County communities face mounting crises ranging from increased domestic violence and addiction to traumatic disasters, the Foundation has expanded the scope of its support for services for traumatized children. The VMCF funds programs for foster children, families, and foster parents, as well as former foster youth attending college or trade schools. Our Core Areas of Development: • Funding supplemental services and activities for the residents at Valley of the Moon Children’s Center. • Support for former foster youth, including health, education, housing, and employment guidance. • Support of community outreach and education for child abuse prevention. Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation
Scholarship Fund: Providing pathways to success since 2006, this fund has awarded 397 scholarships totaling $1,431,750 to current and former foster youth in or from Sonoma County. In addition to receiving funds for tuition, computers, books, emergency medical care, and other essentials, our scholars are supported by ongoing mentoring and guidance to help them achieve their education and career goals. Valley of the Moon Children’s Center Dental Fund: Since its inception in 2011, the dental program has served 1032 individual children with an estimated 4000 treatments. Children receive care in a state-of-the-art pediatric dental operatory. “Dr. Jack” Sherman provides a full range of evaluations, emergency care, treatments, and referrals as well as educates the children on the importance of oral health and self-care.
Ways to Help: Foundation programs are supported entirely by generous private donors, funds raised by local church and service organizations, and community grants. To donate, please visit our website, vomcf.org.
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January 2024
NorthBaybiz 9
Books Are Portable Magic
Remember being read to as a child? My mother read aloud to me, and one of my favorite books was Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. But what I remember most was the sound of her voice, the rhythm of the words and what it
felt like leaning into her, while she read aloud to me. The pages of those books she read transported us to faraway places—real and imaginary—and taught me about life and opened my mind to all the possibilities. So when I became a mother, I began reading to my kids. And now I’m reading to my grandchildren every chance I get. As for my mom, now a great-grandmother, she still takes great joy in reading to the kids whenever she visits. Remember to take time every chance you get—eat, play, read. Reading helps build language and thinking skills, develops a child’s imagination and empathy for others, achieve better in school, and it’s a great way to spend time together. And best of all, reading aloud to your child makes memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. That’s what my mother was doing years ago when she took the time to read aloud to me.
Put Your Trust In Us
“For more than 40 years, we’ve protected people from the elements. Now it’s time to help our kids in the community.” —Barbie Simpson, Owner and President Read on Sonoma!
707-576-1500 • www.simpsonsheetmetal.com • Santa Rosa, CA Celebrating more than 40 years as a family owned business. Our team is here to meet all of your HVAC needs.
10 NorthBaybiz
January 2024
Publisher’s Forum
The North Bay’s generosity, on a per
capita basis, is among the highest in California and the nation.
A New Year, and a new time for giving By Lawrence Amaturo
I ’m hoping this new year will bring you both personal and professional success as well as a deepening appreciation for all the good things in life. Indeed, there are so many good things here in the North Bay—and a caring spirit toward the plight of the less fortunate is at the very top of this list. Statistics are rather fuzzy, but it’s believed that the North Bay’s generosity, on a per capita basis, is among the highest in California and the nation. And some communities are especially noted for their high percentage of giving. Who could possibly downplay the generous spirit found in the West Marin community of Inverness? In 2022, its population of 1,500 gracious souls donated over 8.6% of their combined income to charitable causes. Put differently, these residents donated an average of over $8,500 each to recognized nonprofits in their community, county and country. And how do you begin to account for the generous “coffee can” donations they’ve likely made on top of all this? Equally impressive as the amount of money we give to others is the breadth of giving here in the North Bay. Just spend a few hours “ringing the bell” for the Salvation Army or facilitating a collection plate at your local house of worship. You’ll be amazed, wonderfully so, how folks you might mistakenly think should be the recipients of this generosity are the actual donors for these causes. It’s a fascinating contrast to the moralizing often demonstrated on social media—where countless people seek recognition and the “moral high ground” by merely pointing out the wrongs in our society. This North Bay population actually attends to these needs; what a joyous point of pride we should share in this contrast. And they do this by investing in the thousands of nonprofits right here in our neighborhoods. This issue is dedicated to these stalwart 501(c)(3)s, which fight to feed the hungry, clothe the unclothed, care for the sick, shelter the homeless, guide and teach the uneducated and provide hope to the hopeless. And let’s not forget our beloved animal population they serve, or the inspiration and training given to feed our children’s souls with art, music and dance! The list of nonprofits seems endless—and that’s a good thing. The needs seem endless, as well. This month’s issue features three distinct angles on nonprofits. (And, below, I’ll mention how one young man can inspire others with his own passion for caring.) First, writer Judith Wilson offers a crash course on nonprofits, by taking a look at what it takes to become a nonprofit and what outside organizations are available for support—including the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership, the Marin Community Foundation and Schools Rule, to name just a few. As the story points out, the ultimate goal for a nonprofit is to solve
a problem and then go right out of business. Yet the number of U.S.-based nonprofits has increased fourfold since 1980. Her reporting presents ideas behind why and how fundraising has softened over the years and how organizations can overcome obstacles to make the biggest positive impact. Writer Janet Perry, meanwhile, dives into three nonprofits that share two commonalities: a mission to grow the arts education that children so deserve, and the difficulty in doing so. Fundraising and community commitment to the arts is a major challenge as their long-term benefits to society are too often overwhelmed by the immediacy that other problems present. And writer Jessica Zimmer demonstrates the North Bay’s “animal magnetism”—as she homes in on rescue nonprofits working behind the scenes (and often in the streets and alleys) to ensure the deserved health and homes for our four-legged friends. And, finally, let me encourage you to find your own inspiration by looking no further than young Cannon Meiers. No, this 16-year-old doesn’t run a nonprofit. With behind-the-scenes help from his sister and parents, Cannon oversees a “cookie and hot cider operation” on the sidewalk of his family’s Santa Rosa home each year. While I’ve known Cannon since he was a toddler, I must admit that his generosity to help others—and ability to ignore whatever his own needs might be—both surprised and inspired me this Christmas. Amaturo Sonoma Media Group’s flagship radio station, KZST, in association with the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership, is Cannon’s springboard for delivering toys, clothing and truly needed things to hundreds of families. What began as a small sidewalk stand raising a few hundred bucks turned into a massive project for Cannon that raised well over $34,000 this past Christmas alone! When I see Cannon zipping around my neighborhood on his “suped up” beach cruiser from time to time, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to know him and that I am better off because of it. What an inspiring individual. May your 2024 be filled with joy, happiness, new friendships and an inspired commitment to help others.
Always good to hear from you…even when you point out my misunderstandings…. So send me a note at Lawrence@Northbaybiz.com.
January 2024
NorthBaybiz 11
THE NORTH BAY’S LEADING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
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January 2024
Work/Life/ 4-H
4-H streamlines itself
By Rosie Padilla
5 facts about 4-H
1. 4-H is a youth development program that aims to develop citizenship, leadership, responsibility as well as life skills for young people through a variety of learning programs. 2. The 4-H motto is, “To Make the Best Better” while its slogan is “Learn by doing.” 3. A.B. Graham first established the youth program in Clark County, Ohio, in 1902, which is widely considered the birthplace of 4-H in the United States. 4. The 4-H clover pin with an H on each leaf was developed in 1910 by Jessie Field Shambaugh—by 1912 the program was known as the 4-H clubs. 5. The national 4-H organization was formed in 1914. health, science, agriculture, STEM, and civic engagement…They will also receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take proactive leadership roles.” Projects are offered throughout the school year and enrollment for certain projects is still open for members. There’s also a special effort to include kids from neighborhoods that traditionally haven’t been exposed to 4-H, including from Spanish-speaking households. Local adult volunteer leaders are needed in four subjects: animal science, civic engagement, healthy living and STEM. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. The Marin 4-H project catalog, compiled by the Marin staff of University of California Cooperative Extension, offers information on the wide array of classes that are available for little ones, including: sewing, cooking, crocheting, jam canning, dog training and raising beef cattle. The catalog also includes an events calendar and information on club meetings. “We’re letting families know about it because it’s a place where a child can find a spark,” said 4-H regional program coordinator Diego Mariscal. For more information visit cemarin.ucanr.edu .
A s part of its effort to streamline operations, the newly consolidated Marin 4-H Club is waiving its annual enrollment fee for the first 300 youth members and the first 75 adult volunteers. Now, instead of local 4-H programs being available through several regional clubs, there will be a one-year pilot for a countywide 4-H program geared toward ages 5 to 18, according to an announcement from the County of Marin. The fee holiday is made possible through a grant from the nonprofit Mirana Luz Foundation. Established in 1924 with its name in reference to “head, heart, hands and health,” 4-H programs aim to guide young people to get more involved 4-H members from San Pedro Elementary School in San Rafael.
with their local communities as well as assist them in skill development.
Today, the nonprofit
organization is largely funded by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture and by state and local governments. According to the county announcement, “Youth 5-18 years old complete hands-on projects in areas such as
While 4-H isn’t only about agriculture and farming, showing livestock at the county fair is still a popular activity among members.
January 2024
NorthBaybiz 13
THE NORTH BAY’S LEADING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
RUTHLESS KINDNESS
“They are my only reason for wanting to live, the animals. I am never going to leave them.” ~ Ruthless Kindness domestic violence survivor client Ruthless Kindness eliminates the preventable su ering of people and animals. We o er free mobile veterinary care and more for the pets of victims of domestic violence and others in crisis. We are a 501c3 nonpro t organiza- tion. Your donation makes it possible for Ruthless Kindness to continue to serve both people and animals during their most challenging days.
Give today at ruthlesskindness.org
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14 NorthBaybiz
January 2024
Work/Life/ Inflation
By Felix Richter
Fed slowing down interest rate hikes, coming in for ‘soft landing’
T wenty-one aggressive monetary tightening cycle in decades, it looks increasingly likely that the optimal outcome under the circumstances— bringing down inflation without inducing a months after the Fed embarked on the most recession and causing a significant increase in unemployment— can be achieved. With Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation down to 3.1% in November, the unemployment rate
adding quickly that the Fed would be prepared to tighten policy further if needed. As it stands, further tightening looks increasingly unlikely though, as rate cuts have come into view as the more likely scenario going into 2024. According to the FOMC’s Summary of Economic Projections, the median projection for the appropriate level of the federal funds rate at the end of 2024 is now 4.6%, meaning that members of the Federal Open Market Committee are currently expecting three 0.25% rate cuts for next year, followed by further cuts throughout 2025 and 2026. Looking at the price index for personal consumption expenditure
still hovering below 4% and U.S. GDP on track to grow 2.5% this year, the often-quoted “soft landing” is in sight, even though Fed Chairman Jerome Powell refuses to declare “mission accomplished” just yet. There was still a new tone of cautious optimism in Powell’s press conference following the latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in December. Having evaded questions about the possible end of rate hikes after the last meeting in early November, he now says that “the policy rate is likely at or near its peak for this tightening cycle,”
(PCE), FOMC members expect inflation to drop from 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 2.4% in Q4 2024, 2.1% in Q4 2025 and return to its target level of 2% by the end of 2026. And while that could come at the cost of a slowdown in GDP growth in 2024 and beyond, meeting participants don’t expect a significant increase in unemployment for the next three years.
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NorthBaybiz 15
THE NORTH BAY’S LEADING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
Your Support Matters As another year begins , Council on Aging remains committed to serving older adults living in Sonoma County by providing life sustaining, physical and mental health-focused programs that enhance the quality of life for our aging population . Council on Aging receives as many as 20 calls per day from individuals struggling with the needs of a loved one with demen Ɵ a. With current sta Ɵ s Ɵ cs indica Ɵ ng 1 in 9 will experience some form of demen Ɵ a in their life Ɵ me, services are challenged to keep up with growing nee ds.
Council on Aging witnesses hunger rst hand. With over 80 new Meals on Wheels clients every month, too o Ō en we nd bare refrigerators and cupboards. No one in our community should ever go hungry — especially the older adults who contributed to our community for most of their lives.
Your response supports Council on Aging ’ s work and helps to make Sonoma County a better place to grow up and to grow old. Your contribution at any level, now and throughout the year , is always appreciated.
Wishing you and your famil y a happy and healthy New Year.
For information visit councilonaging.com or call 707-525-0143
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16 NorthBaybiz
January 2024
Work/Life/ Charity
North Bay town particularly generous, according to IRS
By Jason Walsh
A small bayside village in the North Bay known as much for funky artists and oyster farming as it is for million-dollar real estate is among the most charitable towns in the state, according to federal tax data.
that were a trio of Silicon Valley ZIPs: Palo Alto’s 94301, where residents donated 17.1%; Palo Alto’s 94304, where people gave 12.9%; and Mountain View ZIP code 94041, which donated 8.78% Marin County ranks higher
than average when it comes to generosity, according to federal government data. Other Marin areas ranking on the list include charitable donation figures of 2.74% of adjusted gross income in Greenbrae; 2.64% in Belvedere and Tiburon; 2.59% in Point
Inverness residents in the 94937 ZIP code gave away 8.64% of their adjusted gross income to charity last year— the fifth highest in California. Inverness is an unincorporated town of about 1,400 people on 7 square miles on the west
Reyes Station; 2.51% in the 94901 ZIP code of San Rafael; 2.36% in Sausalito; 2.14% in Mill Valley; and 2.01% in Larkspur. Statewide, Californians gave 1.67% of their adjusted gross income to charity, the IRS reported. To calculate the average donation per tax return, one divides the total amount claimed through charitable donation tax
short of Tomales Bay. The average household income was $103,522 at the time of the 2020 census. Details on more than 1,400 California
ZIP codes reported by the Internal Revenue Service show that the most generous Californians live in Silicon Valley, Marin and other northern California communities. Besting Inverness were a top four beginning with San Francisco’s 94104 neighborhood (17.64%), which encompasses the many corporate donors in the city’s Financial District. Following
A tiny town with big generosity, Inverness is located along the west shore of Tomales Bay.
deductions in each ZIP code by the number of tax returns filed—meaning a small number of very large donations can greatly affect a code’s overall average.
January 2024
NorthBaybiz 17
Nonprofit margins
18 NorthBaybiz
January 2024
There’s no one path to being a successful charitable organization
T he spirit of giving is abundant in North Bay counties. Residents north of the Golden Gate are among the most generous in California, according to recently reported data from the Internal Revenue Service. And particularly outstanding are the residents of Inverness, who donated 8.64% of their income to charity— making the West Marin community’s philanthropy the fifth highest in the state. The report focuses on charitable donations, but the altruism goes beyond giving money. It extends to the people who operate the nonprofit organizations that collect the funds and use them to deliver services to fulfill their mission. And with thousands of nonprofit businesses actively operating in Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties, the work they do is significant. By: Judith M. Wilson
January 2024
NorthBaybiz 19
THE NORTH BAY’S LEADING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
By Bonnie Durrance
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20 NorthBaybiz
January 2024
Trisha Garlock brings her experience leading a community foundation for Mill Valley schools with her as director of SchoolsRule-Marin. [Photo by Duncan Garrett Photography]
The path to starting a nonprofit organization begins when someone identifies a need and decides to do something about it. The area of interest might be literacy, an environmental issue, the plight of the unhoused or the search for a cure for a particular disease. The causes are diverse, but what they all have in common is people who care deeply about making some aspect of life better for others. For Trisha Garlock, a founding director of Kiddo! Mill Valley Schools Community Foundation and now
organizations are tax exempt, which allows more funding to go to the cause, and eligible donors can claim tax deductions. “It’s about making the donations tax deductible. To give a tax deduction, you have to be a nonprofit. To apply for grants, you have to be a nonprofit,” she says, adding that the designation also gives an organization credibility. Kiddo started in 1981 and got official nonprofit status in 1982—and that first year, it raised $27,000. Since then, the increase in fundraising for schools has been substantial. In 2022, according to executive director Jessica Newman, Kiddo’s revenues totaled $2.9 million.
executive director of SchoolsRule-Marin, providing support for local schools has been a passion for more than 40 years. She explains that the school fundraising movement began in the early 1980s, after the passage of Proposition 13 caused a decrease in state revenue from property taxes and led California to reduce funding for schools. “We were going to have to cut art and music,” she says about the ripple effect from Prop. 13, and so the PTA ran a bake sale at the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival to raise funds to supplement the
The National Center for Charitable Statistics reports that the number of nonprofits in the United States has quadrupled over the past 40 years. Linda Jacobs, CEO of the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership in San Rafael, believes that a rise in the demand for services over time accounts
for the growth, a situation that she attributes to a government that isn’t providing as much assistance as required and a substantial increase in inequity. She used to think that having too many nonprofits
budget for the Mill Valley School District’s K-8 schools, allowing them to retain classes in the arts. People recognized that good schools with well-rounded programs are a benefit to the community, and so the next step was starting a foundation to create an ongoing way to pay for the programs at risk. “We patterned ourselves on the San Francisco Education Fund,” she says, and the schools in nearby Kentfield had already established a foundation, and their leaders provided advice and guidance. Following those examples, the grassroots Mill Valley group decided to establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, because such
was a concern—but her opinion changed about 10 years ago, and now she believes the market dictates the numbers. “The question should be: ‘Is everybody being served?’” she explains. “We tend to step up to fill the gaps,” she observes, and so the number of nonprofits should be based on needs and filling them. An awareness of the needs has also grown, thanks to social media, technology, marketing and education. And donations and donor-advised funds have increased along with the number of nonprofits. She attributes much of the
January 2024
NorthBaybiz 21
Volunteers are at the heart of nonprofit work. Linda Jacobs of the Center for Nonprofit and Volunteer Leadership reports that 4.8 million California residents are volunteers, and the average active volunteer gives nearly 40 hours a year—the equivalent of a work week. Their efforts equal more than $16 billion in unpaid labor annually, helping with core programs and services, supporting fundraising activities, carrying out technical tasks and becoming advocates for their organizations.—JW Volunteering: Another way to give
Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary
Rotary has helped provide over 10,000 meals to those in our community
Once a month, Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary gathers at the Redwood Empire Food Bank to aid in the fight against hunger Rotary has contributed over 500 hours yearly to help feed our community
growth in nonprofit activities to individuals who want to make a difference. “That has a pretty big impact,” she says. “The problem is there’s so much need,” says Garlock. “I’m glad there are so many [nonprofits]. I think everybody who has started a nonprofit is so passionate… it gives people a way to help in a way to feel like they’re making a difference. Everybody who has compassion wants to make a difference anyway they can.” She adds that obstacles are a constant challenge, but says, “You have to be courageous and keep going.” Leading the way The Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) was established in 1964 as the Volunteer Bureau of Marin County, and it became the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership in 2003 after merging with the Marin Council of Agencies. It expanded to Napa County in 2015, to Solano County in 2016 and then to Sonoma in 2019, when the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County was searching for an executive director, and the two organizations recognized that they were doing similar work and decided to merge. “All of them kind of happened by circumstances,” she says, adding that Sonoma County is the largest branch and runs big programs such as paratransit and legal assistance. CVNL provides services for all kinds of nonprofits in the North Bay, and most are a type of 501, an IRS classification that includes 29 different categories of nonprofit organizations, which are exempt from paying taxes and governed by federal law. Among them are 501(c)(1) for federal credit unions, 501(c)(6) for Chambers of Commerce and 501(c)
Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary has worked to change the lives of those across the globe by providing eye and dental care to those who would otherwise never receive it. Over 35,000 eye glasses have been given out, along with cataract surgeries, providing the gift of vision to those in Nicaragua, Samoa, Vietnam, Haiti and Mexico. Sunrise Rotary has funded the construction and equipping of a Surgical Center in Nicaragua to provide medical care to the 40,000 residents of this remote region of the San Juan River.
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January 2024
Linda Jacobs is CEO of the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership, which offers services to ensure local nonprofits are on a pathway to success. [Photo by Duncan Garrett Photography]
(16) for cooperative organizations to finance crop operations. Jacobs estimates that 80% of local nonprofits are 501(c) (3) organizations, which operate for religious, charitable, literary, educational and other specified purposes. Human services are the largest category, with education following, along with arts, culture and the humanities. “The tax write- off is probably the number-one advantage,” she says. She adds that the main distinction between a business and a nonprofit, regardless of type, is that an individual isn’t the owner. “It’s about living the mission and making a difference in the focus area,” she explains. At the
to run a business. “In many ways, it’s just like running any business,” she explains. Generating funds involves soliciting donations, but “Individual giving isn’t number one,” she says. Rather, the most common source of revenue is fee for service, and so nonprofits such as hospitals charge for services, and museums and concert halls charge for admission. (Museum stores are a revenue source, but as retail operations they are businesses and are taxable.) In addition, CVNL offers a four-part Board Governance Boot Camp, which Jacobs, who is a consultant in board governance, leads in partnership with Chief Capacity Building Officer Tom Hayashi. “Board
same time, an organization has to follow its bylaws, stay within its mission and do annual financial reporting, such as filing 990 forms with the IRS to show that it’s in compliance with federal regulations. Running a nonprofit comes with certain responsibilities, which can be daunting for the inexperienced—and “for 60 years now, CVNL has been a leader in providing support to nonprofits,” says Jacobs. “We know that nonprofits are the backbone of our communities,” Jacobs says. Thus, CVNL offers training to help organizations succeed, with strengthening leadership, encouraging innovation and
governance is my nerdy spot. I just love that area,” she says, and the goal is to
give nonprofit executive directors and board members the skills they need to run an effective, sustainable organization and a clear understanding of their duties.
For people who are new to the nonprofit world, Jacobs has some
advice. “Surround yourself with people who know what you don’t,” she says. “Don’t reinvent the wheel. Read, talk to people, research. Be a student.” The goals should be to fill a need that’s not already being addressed and to create an organization
empowering individuals as its primary goals. All training and leadership programs are related to specific focus areas and include leadership, oversight, generating funds and planning and management. Oversight looks at risk management, while planning involves strategic planning and setting goals. Leadership looks at organizational development, and management includes all the things one needs to know
that’s distinct from others. She points out that times have changed, and nonprofit leaders must look at new ways of doing things and strive to be relevant. “Know what’s going on around you,” she says, and be aware of social and political issues that could affect an organization.
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Nonprofit Margins
Giving circles
Giving circles are a new model for giving that brings together small groups of individuals with shared values to pool resources and collaborate to give annual gifts to worthy local charities. 100Marin is a program of the Center for Nonprofit and Volunteer Leadership that began in January 2015 and now has more than 200 members. Each member gives the same amount of money and can claim a tax deduction, and members meet at an annual event to vote on the nominees. CVNL covers the cost of the event and administration with the help of sponsors, and 100% of the donations go the selected nonprofits. Find out more about giving circles at philanthropytogether.org .
purposes, partners with more than 555 individuals and their families and manages more than 881 different funds for philanthropists who don’t want to operate their own nonprofits. “They can come to us for donor-advised funds,” says Andrea Henderson, senior director of philanthropic planning. To create a DAF, an individual, family or corporation makes
Another path Marin Community Foundation is Marin County’s largest nonprofit, overseeing $2.9 billion in philanthropic assets and distributing $76 million in grants in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024. As a public foundation, MCF is a 501(c)(3) and, in addition to its own charitable giving, which goes to a variety of educational, medical, social and environmental
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January 2024
When forming a nonprofit, says Jacobs, the goals should be to fill a need that’s not being addressed and to create an organization that’s distinct from others.
an irrevocable donation of cash, stock or perhaps real estate to MCF and receives an immediate tax deduction. MCF then manages the funds in the account, makes donations to 501(c) (3) charities on the account holder’s behalf and is responsible for tax filings, audits and administration. “MCF takes on the burden,” she says, explaining that the donor gives up ownership of the funds, and the account is under MCF stewardship, frequently
the services are investment options, grantmaking support and private-label branding designed by MCF’s marketing, team as well as IRS compliance. Private foundations require public disclosure, so one of the advantages is that a donor who is concerned about privacy can remain anonymous. “Some families feel that discretion is important,” Henderson says. “They don’t want the spotlight to be on them. They want to be humble.” MCF also
“The ultimate goal is to solve a huge problem and go out of business.” —Linda Jacobs, on the greatest measure of success for a nonprofit
with the account holder as an advisor. The first step is a meeting to
partners with organizations such as Rotary clubs that are 501(c)(4)s and want an easy
discuss what the donor wants to accomplish. “We’re part of an advisory team. We do the planning, and you sit down with us to figure out the philanthropy,” says Henderson. Next they craft a fund agreement, with donors outlining where they want their dollars to go. A fund might be unrestricted, in which case, “They can say you guys are the experts,” and leave the decisions to MCF, Henderson explains. Or a donor might identify causes that are personally meaningful and designate funds to specific nonprofits every year. “The amount of involvement is up to the donor, and the details are outlined in the agreement.” MCF also offers Virtuoso, an alternative to a private foundation for funds of $5 million and higher. MCF describes it as custom-made philanthropy for people with substantial resources and a firm commitment to charitable giving. Among
way to make charitable donations. If a club receives a large gift and wants to be able to manage the money effectively without establishing its own foundation, it can open a fund and instruct MCF to make grants to support Rotary’s mission. Meanwhile, MCF’s investment team makes thoughtful investment decisions to grow the funds so the club doesn’t have to worry about where to invest. “I am often asked why someone should engage with MCF for their philanthropy, as opposed to all the other options that exist,” says President and CEO Rhea Suh. “My simple answer is community. If you want to have the opportunity to deeply understand your community, connect with those in it, collaborate to develop new approaches and generally feel really engaged with your giving, come join us. For us, community is everything.”
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THE NORTH BAY’S LEADING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
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January 2024
The strength of community By 2010, most school districts in Marin County had foundations working on their behalf. The money they raised stayed in their school districts, and while that worked well in affluent school districts, other districts such as San Rafael, Novato and West Marin didn’t have the same advantage. “They have a harder time raising funds because of demographics,” Garlock reports. That year, the Marin Independent Journal , as part of the newspaper’s 150th anniversary, was looking for ways to support public education. Representatives of the paper met with then-Marin County schools superintendent Mary Jane Burke and offered free advertising space to let readers know that the schools needed money. Not all districts had the resources to provide camera-ready ad copy, however, and the solution was to get all the foundations to collaborate. The result was SchoolsRule-Marin. “I’d been around the longest,” says Garlock about how she became the executive director. The Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) was the fiscal sponsor, so it provided office space and handled donations. MCOE is a tax-exempt nonprofit, but while the foundations are 501(c)(3)s, as a government- funded educational organization, MCOE is tax-exempt under the terms of IRS Code 170(c)1. The money was divided equally on a per-student basis so that every child in every public school benefited, and those with foundations knew how to use the funds most effectively. “It might hire a music teacher or a place for a drama program,” Garlock explains. But whatever its use, 100% goes directly into school programs to benefit the kids. At the outset, Redwood Credit Union, a 501(c)(1) nonprofit, stepped up to become a major donor, and then in November 2023, SchoolRules-Sonoma County launched, and RCU hosted the kick-off party and made a three-year commitment to donate $50,000 annually to help the new nonprofit start out on firm financial footing. RCU President and CEO Brett Martinez spoke about the credit union’s long-standing support of SchoolsRule-Marin and his belief in a countywide approach, which began when Burke first approached him to solicit RCU’s support. “Providing well-rounded education opportunities for all students is vital to the future of our communities,” he says. “When I learned what SchoolsRule-Marin was doing, I saw it for the amazing idea that it was, and so we made the commitment right then. It’s a gift for us to be able to replicate Marin’s success in Sonoma County.” He added that beginning in January, RCU will make a donation to SchoolsRule-Sonoma County every time a Sonoma County resident makes a purchase using their RCU credit card, beginning in January, in a program similar to one in Marin County. Local support is essential for nonprofits to be successful. “It’s an investment in our communities,” says Jacobs. She points out, however, that the greatest measure of success is eliminating the need a nonprofit seeks to address. “The ultimate goal is to solve a huge problem and go out of business. That means you’ve been successful,” she explains. Meanwhile, the needs are great, and the work goes on thanks to caring individuals dedicated to helping others. “People who work in nonprofits all have such big hearts,” she says. “That has never changed. That is something that will be around forever.” Check out a Board Governance Boot Camp video at cvnl.org/ board-governance-boot-camp . g
Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator is an independent 501(c) (3) organization that objectively rates nonprofits using information from the IRS, partners and the charities themselves and gives advice on making charitable donations easily and wisely. Its evaluations focus on cost-effectiveness and the way a nonprofit uses the funds it receives, as well as the overall health of its programs. Charity Navigator’s highest rating is 100% and four stars, and in 20 years of operation, it has rated more than 200,000 nonprofits. Redwood Empire Food Bank has earned the top rating for 15 consecutive years. “At the Redwood Empire Food Bank, we’re dedicated to effective nonprofit practices,” says Hunger Relief Worker and CEO David Goodman. “We prioritize transparency, fiscal responsibility and impact, ensuring that every effort contributes to our mission of ending hunger in our community. Our commitment to rigorous financial stewardship and accountability is not just about earning trust with our donors, it’s the cornerstone of our work. We take pride in our dedication to excellence and hope it serves as an inspiration for other nonprofits striving to make a meaningful difference.” To learn more, go to charitynavigator.org.
Please email comments to jwalsh@NorthBaybiz.com
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