Funders building healthy, equitable, and sustainable communities across California.
Who Gets to Stay: When Housing Collapses in Rural Places
In rural places like West Marin, where vast landscapes and small populations shape daily life, communities depend on informal networks. And when disruption ripples through — as it is now amid a mounting housing crisis — there is little to catch people when things go wrong. Here, that disruption reflects… Read More »
Announcing the Inaugural LA Funders’ Collaborative Leadership Awards
We’re excited to announce the inaugural Los Angeles Funders’ Collaborative Leadership Awards, an initiative recognizing and supporting collaborative leadership advancing green infrastructure and climate equity across Los Angeles County. This work is nearly always taken up under challenging and uncertain conditions, and this was especially the case in 2025. Fifteen community-based organizations will receive $5,000 each in… Read More »
Mar
16
Smart Growth California's 2026 Funder Summit
March 16 - March 18, 2026Smart Growth California Event
Apr
23
What People Are Saying
“SGC was instrumental in helping us establish the Climate Funders’ Collaborative in the Baja/Imperial/San Diego Region. Their team brings content expertise, network connections and effective engagement practices to our collaborative effort.”
Christiana DeBenedict, San Diego Foundation
“Smart Growth California provides so much value – from policy updates and exposure to innovative projects and organizations to providing a space for philanthropic relationship building and developing co-funding opportunities.”
Lisa Craypo, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
“Smart Growth California is one of the few spaces where funders are working across issue areas to address the needs of our most disadvantaged communities.”
Craig Martinez, The California Endowment
“Smart Growth California is an incredibly efficient way for me to connect with and learn from other funders and nonprofit partners so I can stay on top of what’s happening with affordable housing, transportation justice, and equitable development in regions throughout the state.”
Vu-Bang Nguyen, Silicon Valley Community Foundation
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