Coming Together on California’s Most Urgent Issues
Smart Growth California is an action-oriented network with over 40 core funders and 500 funders in the broader network dedicated to creating healthy, equitable, and sustainable communities throughout California. Smart Growth California helps to coordinate and connect funders’ efforts at the state, regional and local levels.
Smart Growth California’s working groups are where funders come together to address critical statewide issues, develop joint strategies and take action. Working groups are funder-initiated and supported by the Smart Growth California team. Smart Growth California’s current working groups include:
- The Statewide Steering Committee sets the overall strategic direction for Smart Growth California and works together on statewide strategic priorities.
- The Los Angeles Funders’ Collaborative brings funders together across LA County to work on equitable implementation of public funding measures.
- The San Joaquin Valley Funders’ Collaborative joins funders from the 8-county region who are aligning their work on various issues such as water, housing and the digital divide.
- The Rural Urban Interface Learning Group established in 2023 to convene funders supporting efforts to build healthy, equitable, and sustainable communities with a population under 100,000 in California.
- The Community Foundation Water Initiative is a cohort of five community foundations from across the state working to integrate water and land use into local priorities. CFWI completed their work together in 2020.
In addition, Smart Growth California facilitates ad hoc committees to work on timely issues, and collaborates with partner networks such as ClimatePlan and the Great Communities Collaborative in the Bay Area. If there isn’t a SGC workgroup in your region, and you’re interested in organizing one, contact Ron Milam at ron@fundersnetwork.org.
SGC also hosts virtual funder convenings and learning opportunities for our broader network. Check out our events page for upcoming opportunities to engage.
