Sierra Business Council

Fundraise

$8,600 raised by 26 donors

57% complete

$15,000 Goal

Dear Friends, 

The Sierra Nevada is one of California’s most vital yet undervalued regions—and Sierra Business Council is the organization ensuring its communities aren’t left behind. 

We bring together local voices, businesses, and public agencies to drive policy change, unlock state and federal investment, strengthen small businesses, expand economic opportunity, and accelerate climate resilience. When the Sierra needs a champion at the Capitol, a strategic partner on big regional initiatives, or hands-on support for local communities, we’re the ones who show up. With donor support, we turn momentum into measurable impact that protects the Sierra and the people who call it home.

Rooted in partnership and driven by impact, we are committed to ensuring the Sierra Nevada thrives—economically, environmentally, and socially—for generations to come.

Your support makes the difference.

Our organization has grown to meet the urgency of this moment—but our contracts and grants only partially cover the full scope of services we provide. Each major win—whether securing wildfire funding, expanding clean energy access, or advancing housing advocacy—requires months or years of preliminary work, coalition building, and staff capacity.

This unfunded work is essential. Your contribution powers it.

With your end-of-year gift, you ensure our region continues to have the leadership, advocacy, and innovation it deserves.

With deep gratitude and hope for the year ahead,



Steve Frisch, President

Allan Pietrasanta, Board Chair

P.S. Every donation counts. Every gift fuels the work that makes a real difference in the Sierra Nevada. Gifts of any size help us advance wildfire resilience, climate action, housing solutions, and local economic growth. Make your gift today and be a champion for the Sierra.


View our 2025 Impacts Here







Giving Activity

Mission

Sierra Business Council demonstrates innovative approaches and proactive solutions to increase community vitality, environmental quality, economic prosperity, and social fairness in the Sierra Nevada.

Needs

Sierra Business Council is largely funded through program-restricted grants, which limits our ability to increase staff and program capacity. By donating to our general fund, you are increasing our ability to scale our economic empowerment operations, offer financial and direct support of small businesses and entrepreneurs, support climate resilience and forest management projects, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, bridge the digital divide and bring reliable broadband access to the region, solve regional housing solutions, and create a thriving Sierra.

Here's what we will use your donation for:

Small Business Support/Community Resilience: Provide critical economic emergency support and resources to businesses in the Sierra, some of which are still recovering from the COVID-19 crisis. Provide access to capital for Sierra small businesses by providing information about the federal and state resources available to them. Foster a renewed entrepreneurial ecosystem through no-cost one-on-one consulting to small business owners, helping their businesses start, grow, and thrive.

Forest Health and Wildfire Mitigation: Reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire while improving forest health and fostering rural economic development through ecologically based forest thinning, biomass utilization, stewardship education, habitat protection, and emissions reductions.

Regional Advocacy: Improve awareness of the Sierra Nevada's integral value to the state, including our water supply, recreation opportunities, and ecosystem services. Increase funding available to the region's communities and environment by engaging in the legislative process.

Climate Change: Engage with local champions of climate resilience throughout the Sierra to increase the pace of climate action in their communities, develop a climate vulnerability assessment for the region, and empower communities to take ownership of their climate action plans.

Equity Statement

SBC works to increase economic, community, and environmental resilience for all the region's residents and visitors. We prioritize investments that generate sustainable high-road jobs and opportunity for historically marginalized groups in disinvested communities whenever possible. We work with local organizations and community stakeholders, and strive to be inclusive, equitable, transparent, multi-lingual, and data-informed in our work.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Sierra Business Council

other names

SBC, Sierra SBDC

Year Established

1994

Tax id (EIN)

68-0397204

Guidestar

Mission Category

Community Improvement, Capacity Building

Operating Budget

$1,000,001-$5 million

Organization Need

Funding: Unrestricted, Funding: Program

Demographics Served

Low-income individuals/families, General population

Local Counties Served

El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento

Equity Statement

Equity Statement

Address

PO BOX 2428
TRUCKEE, CA 96160

Service areas

Sierra County, CA, US

El Dorado County, CA, US

Placer County, CA, US

Nevada County, CA, US

Amador County, CA, US

Phone

(530) 582-4800

Email

jsanford@sierrabusiness.org

Website

http://www.sierrabusiness.org

Social Media