About Us

Local giving, made easy.

At the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, we're passionate about growing the spirit of generosity in California's capital region.

That’s why we created GivingEdge, this website that makes it easy to discover and support local nonprofits year-round. And each May, we host the region’s annual giving day, Big Day of Giving, to celebrate the incredible work these organizations do in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties  — and the people, like you, who make it possible. 

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Local Giving Starts Here 📍

The pace of change in our community is swift. To ensure that everyone who lives in the Sacramento region has opportunities to flourish, our nonprofit sector must be robust — and robustly supported. That's where GivingEdge and Big Day of Giving come in.

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GivingEdge

Our region's year-round nonprofit knowledgebase

"Give smarter to local nonprofits.” That’s the idea behind GivingEdge — this powerful, year-round giving platform that helps local people discover local nonprofits aligned with their values. It’s also the website behind Big Day of Giving, the Sacramento region’s annual celebration of generosity.

Each nonprofit profile on GivingEdge is updated annually with information about programs, leadership, impact, and more, making local giving easier and more informed.

Beyond connecting donors to causes, GivingEdge supports the Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s efforts to strengthen our region’s nonprofit sector. The data collected helps us understand trends and work toward a sector that’s more equitable, inclusive, and reflective of our community.

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Big Day of Giving

24 Hours to Give Where Your Heart Is

Big Day of Giving is the Sacramento region’s annual celebration of generosity, connecting donors with local causes they care about most.

Since 2013, more than 60,000 donors have helped hundreds of nonprofits in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties raise over $100 million. In 2024 alone, 826 organizations raised $13.2 million — most from gifts under $50 — proving that small donations, when given together, make a big impact.

Though the giving peaks in early May, the impact lasts all year. At the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, we use Big Day of Giving to better understand and strengthen the nonprofit sector. And it’s working: 74% of nonprofits say their visibility has increased, and 76% feel more connected to the sector, thanks in part to the partnerships, donor engagement, and community spirit Big Day of Giving helps spark.

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Your Philanthropy Partner, Year-Round

In addition to coordinating GivingEdge and Big Day of Giving, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation is the region’s primary provider of philanthropic solutions. What does that mean? We help people who want to give back through customized charitable funds that grow their philanthropic power.

Our tax-smart philanthropic services make it easy for you to maximize your charitable impact, help your neighbors, and leave a legacy of good. Support causes you care about easily and effectively, immediately or through your estate. 

Think of it as the better way to open a private foundation: You establish a charitable fund and then make grants from your personalized funds to support the causes you love. Plus, you become a partner in our initiatives — including GivingEdge and Big Day of Giving! 

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Making your philanthropic impact is as simple as:

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1. Give

Choose the type of charitable fund at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation that matches your philanthropic goals and make a gift to open your personalized fund — whether it's a Donor Advised Fund, Scholarship, Legacy Fund, Business Funds, or another!

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2. Grow

Your charitable fund grows through professionally managed investments according to your wishes, enabling you to make a greater immediate and long-term impact — by being able to give even more to causes that matter to you over time.

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3. Grant

Grant from your fund to the causes that matter to you — in the capital region and across the nation. We manage the administrative hassles, while you enjoy connecting with like-minded philanthropists and nonprofit leaders at exclusive events.

Ready to get started?

We’ll work with you and your advisors to create the charitable fund that suits your giving goals. 

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Make Your Impact

When you contribute to the Sacramento Region Community Foundation's profile on GivingEdge, you build a more just and vibrant capital area and foster positive, systems-level change. 

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Our Team

Meet the group of people behind these efforts, including the Board of Directors and staff of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. 

Foundation Board of Directors

  • Garry Maisel, Western Health Advantage, Chair
  • Angela DePaoli, Bargas Environmental Consulting, Vice-Chair
  • Jonathan Lederer, U.S. Bank, Treasurer
  • Matthew Jacobs, CalPERS, Secretary
  • Kwame Anku, Black Star Fund
  • Janine Bera, WellSpace Health
  • Gordon Fowler, 3fold Communications
  • Bret Hewitt, Yolo Community Foundation
  • Kathy McKim, Hawksbill Group, Immediate Past Chair
  • Vince Sales, Everyday Impact Consulting
  • Scott Syphax, Syphax Strategic Solutions
  • Renee Nunes Taylor, Community Leader
  • Kate Stille, Nugget Markets, Inc.
  • Steven Weiss, The Weiss Group
  • Kate Willcox, Boutin Jones, Inc.

Foundation Staff

  • Kerry Wood, Chief Executive Officer
  • Niva Flor, Chief Impact Officer
  • Kelly Siefkin, Chief Philanthropy Officer
  • Naomi Wilson, Chief Financial Officer
  • Amy E. Brown, Community Impact Program Manager
  • Tina Bryce, Director of Grants & Scholarships 
  • Vasey Coman, Director of Communications
  • Alondra Correa, Program Assistant
  • Chelsea Fahr, Senior Director of Philanthropy
  • Yolanda Gaffney, Associate Director of Philanthropy
  • Cynthia Gudeman, Senior Accountant
  • Monica Haulman, Associate Director of Programs
  • Rosita Patterson, Grants Associate
  • Maria Patrick, Senior Accountant
  • Katie Poplawski, Controller
  • Brigid Powers, Philanthropy Coordinator
  • Jasmine Ripoyla, Communications Coordinator
  • Anthony Taula-Lieras, Community Impact Director
  • Regina Van Zant, Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the CEO

Thank you for joining us to support the causes you 💛 in the Sacramento region — on Big Day of Giving and year-round.

If you have questions about our work, please reach out to our team. We are happy to assist!

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Contact Us

Have questions about Big Day of Giving, GivingEdge, opening a personalized charitable fund, or making charitable giving a part of your estate planning? Please connect with your team of local philanthropic experts at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. 

How can we help?