2021 Community Grants

West Marin Fund awarded $209,549 to 29 organizations that are responding to the social, economic, and health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in West Marin.

Funded activities included:

strengthening food security, school garden development, and enhanced nutrition for children and seniors living in poverty;
community center activities to respond to trauma;
digital literacy training for parents;
financial aid training and assistance for students pursuing a college or university education;
strategic planning efforts that advance equity and inclusion; and
supporting the transition to more efficient digital record keeping and data management systems for improved program delivery.

The following gives a sample of grant results, conveying the impact and success of 2021 Community Grants:

Provided digital literacy workshops for 26 low-income parents/caregivers of students attending Tomales Elementary, West Marin Elementary, and Tomales High School to increase parent/school communication and student success
100% of parents/caregivers reported an increase in digital literacy skills and their ability to effectively engage with school technology in support of their students learning
100% of parent/caregiver participants reported that they have a deeper understanding of how to navigate the educational system online, build partnerships with school personnel, and support their students

With the help of a consultant, KWMR developed a strategic framework, which included key performance indicators over a three-year period, six-month board of directors reporting schedule, linking goals to the budgeting process, and building in employee performance evaluations
The result of this framework has enabled KWMR to clearly plan for leadership succession, establish feasible goals for raising revenue, and bring expanded programmatic offerings to reach a wider audience

Halleck Creek applied the funding to directly support the Breaking Barrier Fund, which ensures that no one is turned away from receiving their services due to insufficient finances
Funding enabled the provision of affordable tuition rates for all program participants and provided sliding-fee scholarship support to 21 individuals
Participants in the program range in age from 6 to 65 years old, with 50% living in households with an annual income of less than $60,000, all of whom have at least one diagnosed disability, with one-third of the participants diagnosed with more than one disability

River Otter Ecology Project was able to support and expand environmental educational opportunities offered at Tomales High School, encouraging and engaging students of all grades, heightening their interest, awareness, and understanding of environmental issues
The program engaged and included professionals and community leaders, exposing students to demographically diverse professionals related to the environmental and other STEM professions
Program evaluations show that more than 70% of participating students have an increased understanding of the drivers of climate change, the impacts on habitat and wildlife, are inspired to continue with advanced course offerings, and over 95% indicated a desire to become stewards of local or other watersheds