64 Monterey County GIVES! 2025 mcgives.com COMMUNITY & SOCIAL SERVICES DONATE ONLINE MCGIVES.COM FUND FOR HOMELESS WOMEN Year Founded: 2012 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 27 paid, 65 volunteers Budget: $5,566,706 (831) 375-9712 fundforhomelesswomen.org BIG IDEA: The Fund for Homeless Women directs donations to local women facing homelessness, funding essential services and scholarships for unaccompanied and unsheltered women. The Big Idea is to help women move from crisis to stability with dignity, opportunity and hope. Last year’s MCGives! donors helped local women secure shelter, food, transportation, access to health care and more. “What moves me most is the extraordinary resilience I see in women facing homelessness. Despite unimaginable hardship, many still carry hope—and the determination to change their lives. They reach out for connection, for support, for a path forward. And that’s where the Fund for Homeless Women steps in. We’ve provided more than $2.5 million to support services that directly impact homeless women across the Monterey Peninsula. These resources are not just a handout—they’re a hand up.” -Donna Ferraro FUND FOR INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM IN MONTEREY COUNTY Year Founded: 2002 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 1 paid, 14 volunteers Budget: $300,000 (831) 394-5656 journalism.montereycountyweekly.com BIG IDEA: Salinas’ population of 160,000 means it is the largest city between San Jose and Bakersfield. The Salinas Valley’s $4.6 billion agriculture industry is literally the subject of folklore. And yet, this community, our county seat, has recently seen its media landscape gutted, affecting both print and broadcast. The Fund for Independent Journalism in Monterey County’s Big Idea will launch Salinas Valley Now, a free Salinas and Salinas Valley-centric digital daily e-newsletter, with an option for subscribers to read in Spanish. The Fund will pay for reporters, editors and a digital producer to deliver this new newsletter, an expansion of Monterey County Now. “With the demise of responsible reporting in this country, your very existence is imperative. You’re the watchdogs with a balance—and you do an amazing job.” -Jeannette F. GATEWAY CENTER OF MONTEREY COUNTY Year Founded: 1963 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 105 paid, 30 volunteers Budget: $9,400,000 (831) 372-8002 gatewaycenter.org BIG IDEA: Gateway Center of Monterey County’s Big Idea revolves around a core belief that every person deserves the opportunity to participate fully in their community. This organization offers a wide array of services for adults with developmental disabilities, from supported residential living to employment readiness, health and wellness activities and personalized programs to guide each individual’s development. Demand for Gateway Center’s services is growing and donations help facilities evolve to meet modern needs, retain expert staff who sustain daily care and expand programming. “Every time I walk through Gateway Center, I’m reminded why this work matters so deeply. I see individuals who are living full and independent lives with dignity. Gateway is a lifeline for families and a pathway to inclusion for people who deserve nothing less than respect and possibility. Supporting Gateway means strengthening the fabric of our entire community. ” -Brad Barbeau GATHERING FOR WOMEN - MONTEREY Year Founded: 2014 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 12 paid, 70 volunteers Budget: $1,774,278 (831) 241-6154 gatheringforwomen.org BIG IDEA: Gathering for Women’s Day Center provides the only place on the Monterey Peninsula where homeless and housing-insecure women can receive a hot, nutritious meal, a shower, clean clothes and case management to help them get back on their feet. In previous years, this nonprofit served an average of 400 women and children. By July of this year, it had served more than 300. This Big Idea is facing soaring demand, but Gathering for Women considers personal, ongoing contact with guests as the core to its long-term success. “It really opened my eyes to see there are still loving, kind and caring people in the world. You all made a big difference in my life. Words are not enough to show my appreciation and gratitude.” -Anonymous guest THE HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER Year Founded: 1984 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 15 paid, 11 volunteers Budget: $3,564,845 (831) 424-9186 hrcmontereycounty.org BIG IDEA: The Housing Resource Center (HRC) partners with local landlords to develop greater access to housing for their homeless clients. HRC’s Landlord Gold Standard program provides a $1,000 new landlord incentive, up to $2,000 for unit repairs and up to $2,000 for any past due rent. This Big Idea builds a bridge between landlords and tenants experiencing the greatest need, showcasing a creative and mutually beneficial commitment to improving our community’s housing crisis. “When the Housing Resource Center introduced us to Sandra, she and her 7‑year‑old son were living in their car. Opening our doors to them turned out to be one of the most meaningful decisions we’ve ever made—four years later, she’s not only one of our best tenants but truly a part of our extended family. The Landlord Gold Standard program didn’t just provide housing, it gave us the joy of seeing a family rebuild their lives.” -David Polk SPOTLIGHT
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