Monterey Peninsula Foundation operates with a mission focused on strengthening the web of services, programs, and supports that contribute to healthy vibrant communities across a range of ages and community needs. By funding organizations over the longer term, they aim to minimize dependence on annual support grants, encouraging best practices through policies requiring board giving and external financial oversight, viewing funding as a partnership tailored to the varied strengths and challenges of each community served.
Monterey Peninsula Foundation provides grants to support non-profit organizations and schools in the tri-county area, donating millions of dollars annually across focus areas such as arts & culture, community & environment, education, health & human services, and youth. Grants aim to offer creative responses to pressing, unmet community needs, promising ongoing local support for necessary services. The foundation prioritizes proposals that demonstrate a broad base of funding support, effective management capacity, clear project evaluation plans, outcome measurement, and collaboration. The grant program includes operating support, offering flexibility for quality services; program support, for specific projects with clear goals; and capital support, for infrastructure projects in community focus areas.