Working Together to Strengthen Our Communities
Collective Philanthropy for a Stronger Eastern Sierra
Working Together to Strengthen Our Communities
An Initiative to Explore a Community Foundation Model in the Eastern Sierra
We are exploring the possibility of establishing a regional community foundation to serve the Eastern Sierra – Inyo and Mono Counties.
This website supports our collaborative planning process. It is designed to share information, provide updates, and invite community engagement as we evaluate the feasibility of a community foundation model for Eastern Sierra.
This is a community conversation.
We are here to listen, learn, and assess what is possible – together.
Purpose
What is a Community Foundation and Why are We Considering this Model?
Like a carefully woven nest, community foundations provide a nurturing structure that supports community resiliency, responsiveness and success.
Rural communities across the country often receive a smaller share of philanthropic and public funding than urban areas. At the same time, our nonprofit organizations are stretched thin and are striving to meet growing community needs from Tecopa to Topaz.
From early conversations in the Eastern Sierra, we’ve heard that a community foundation could:
- Strengthen coordination and collaboration among nonprofits
- Build a stronger regional voice
- Attract and manage outside funding
- Create permanent local endowments
- Ensure funds are distributed thoughtfully and equitably across the region
- Sustain regional nonprofit capacity
- Be responsive to emerging community needs, including disaster preparedness, response and recovery
What a Community Foundation is Not
A community foundation adds local civic capacity rather than competing for existing resources. It exists to support the good work that is already happening and grow the resources available to support our communities.
Planning Process
What is the Planning Process?
A group of regional leaders, nonprofit partners, and community champions have been exploring whether a community foundation model is needed and additive to the communities in the Eastern Sierra.
As part of the collaborative feasibility planning process and assessment we have been asking:
- In what way could a community foundation be additive to the Eastern Sierra region?
- Does our region have the leadership and philanthropic capacity to support one?
- What model would best serve our communities?
July 2026 Project Update
Input was gathered from nonprofit leaders, tribal representatives, local governments, business owners, local donors and community members spanning the region – each bringing a different vantage point on how a Community Foundation could be additive to the Eastern Sierra.
What We Have Heard
The top roles identified for a regional Community Foundation:
- Nonprofit capacity support
- Disaster relief and emergency response
- Fiscal sponsorship
- Regional grantmaking
- Serving as a trusted “front door” for donors
Interest holders were also clear that a regional foundation should act as a neutral, centralized hub – helping to reduce duplication, attracts new philanthropic dollars from outside the region, and expands the total resources available to the community. The goal is to bring in new resources, not compete for the ones already here.
No final decisions have been made. The goal of this phase is to gather information, engage interest holders, and determine the best path forward to standing up a community foundation model in the Eastern Sierra region.
How We Got Here
For years, community members have talked about the opportunity to strengthen local philanthropy in Eastern Sierra. With over 95% of California communities currently being supported by community foundations, we believe now is our time.
In April 2025, regional leaders gathered for a convening titled “Investing in Our Shared Future: A Community Foundation for the Eastern Sierra.”
Following that conversation, partners secured a Sierra Jobs First Catalyst Grant to explore feasibility.
This planning process began in Fall 2025 and runs through August 2026.
April 2025 Convening
“Investing in Our Shared Future: A Community Foundation for the Eastern Sierra”
33 Participants
Agreement to Pursue Sierra Jobs First Catalyst Grant
Summer 2025
Sierra Jobs First Catalyst Grant Secured
Award to Explore Feasibility of Standing Up a Community Foundation
Fall 2025
Project Team Begins Work
All Board Meeting
Feasibility Meet and Greet Core Team
Initial Discovery
January – April 2026
Feasibility and Readiness Assessment
Monthly Feasibility Steering Committee
Community Conversations
May – August 2026
Decision on Pathway Forward
Community Conversations
2000 – Today
Community Conversations and Champions
Leadership
Core Team
This planning effort is guided by a collaborative team that includes:
- Eastern Sierra Foundation
- Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation
- Inyo County
- Mono County
- Regional nonprofit and community leaders
Agnew::Beck Consulting provides consulting support.
Feasibility Steering Committee
January-May 2026
The Feasibility Steering Committee served as a recommending body and as ambassadors to the broader community.
The committee played an important role in:
- Providing input on readiness assessment activities
- Advising on program development to meet community needs
- Exploring possible organizational models
- Recommending a path forward
Feasibility Steering Committee members represented nonprofits, foundations, local government, donors, and community stakeholders across the region.
- Eastern Sierra Council of Governments
- Eastern Sierra Business Resource Center
- Eastern Sierra Foundation
- Eastern Sierra Land Trust
- Eastside Student Center
- Visit Bishop
- Inyo County
- Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe
- Mono County
- Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce / Mammoth Community Foundation
- Mammoth Lakes Hospital Foundation
- Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation
- Mono Arts Council
Implementation Committee
June 2026 to the present
The Feasibility Steering Committee transitioned to an Implementation Committee in June 2026, and is providing input on the building blocks of a regional Community Foundation, including organizational and governance model, working mission, vision and purpose and funding strategy. Members include:
- Bishop Area Climber’s Coalition
- Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Information Center
- Bishop Paiute Tribe
- Eastern Sierra Business Resource Center
- Eastern Sierra Council of Governments
- Eastern Sierra Land Trust
- Eastern Sierra Foundation
- Eastside Student Center
- Inyo Council for Arts
- Inyo County
- Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe
- Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce / Mammoth Community Foundation
- Mammoth Lakes Foundation
- Mammoth Lakes Hospital Foundation
- Mammoth Lakes Rotary Club
- Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation
- Mono Arts Council
- Mono County
- Northern Inyo Healthcare District
- Northern Inyo Hospital Foundation
- Sierra Business Council
Meetings and Resources
Upcoming Meetings
- March 25, 2026 (info coming soon)
Past Meetings
- Info coming soon