Orange County Grantmakers

History

Over the last almost 20 years, OCG has evolved from a small, peer-networking group to a thriving regional leadership association for funders and philanthropists.

VISION

Orange County Grantmakers (OCG) envisions an Orange County where philanthropists and nonprofits work together as partners to achieve equity for our most impacted communities.

MISSION

Orange County Grantmakers advances equity by creating strategic alignment and cultivating transformational relationships and leadership among OC philanthropists and nonprofits.

Orange County Grantmakers

Timeline Events

2022
5-Year Strategic Planning Process
In 2021, OCG underwent its first formal strategic planning process, working with an outside consultant to develop a 5-year equity focused roadmap for the future
2022
2019
Beginning our Equity Journey
Kicking off the on-going equity journey, OCG released the OC Equity Profile, a comprehensive report identifying 10+ equity indicators to support a more equitable Orange County
2019
2018
A New Name and Structure
In 2018, OCFR brought on their executive administrator to serve as their first full-time executive director. Later that year the group officially rebranded, becoming Orange County Grantmakers
2018
2017
A Change in Support
In 2017 OCFR moved to Charitable Ventures for fiscal sponsorship.
2017
2012
First Opportunity for Pooled Funding
The Workforce Development Committee of OCFR was convened to collaboratively support a pilot program focused on workforce development issues in OC.
2012
2010
The first summit is held!
In response to overwhelming need from the nonprofit community, the OC Funders Roundtable hosted their first ever summit for nonprofit leaders. Conference content focused on how to manage and maintain nonprofits in hard times.
2010
2009
Initial Structures are Created
After three successful years of meetings, the members underwent a strategic planning process, determining a mission and vision for the organization and hiring a part-time Executive Administrator to support the group.
2009
2008
Formation of Initial OC Funders Roundtable
As the collaboration grew, members were ready to move beyond a peer networking group to become a formalized membership assocation. With the support of OneOC as our fiscal sponsor, the OC Funders Roundtable was born
2008
2006
Meeting of the Minds
A small group of Grantmakers met to discuss the idea of forming a local, peer-based funding collaborative to strengthen philanthropy as a whole in Orange County and leverage common resources.
2006
2022

5-Year Strategic Planning Process

In 2021, OCG underwent its first formal strategic planning process, working with an outside consultant to develop a 5-year equity focused roadmap for the future
2019

Beginning our Equity Journey

Kicking off the on-going equity journey, OCG released the OC Equity Profile, a comprehensive report identifying 10+ equity indicators to support a more equitable Orange County
2018

A New Name and Structure

In 2018, OCFR brought on their Executive Administrator to serve as their first full-time Executive Director. Later that year the group officially rebranded, becoming Orange County Grantmakers
2017

A Change in Support

In 2017 OCFR moved to Charitable Ventures for fiscal sponsorship.
2012

First Opportunity for Pooled Funding

The Workforce Development Committee of OCFR was convened to collaboratively support a pilot program focused on workforce development issues in OC.
2010

The first summit is held!

In response to overwhelming need from the nonprofit community, the OC Funders Roundtable hosted their first ever summit for nonprofit leaders. Conference content focused on how to manage and maintain nonprofits in hard times.
2009

Initial Structures are Created

After three successful years of meetings, the members underwent a strategic planning process, determining a mission and vision for the organization and hiring a part-time Executive Administrator to support the group.
2008

Formation of Initial OC Funders Roundtable

As the collaboration grew, members were ready to move beyond a peer networking group to become a formalized membership assocation. With the support of OneOC as our fiscal sponsor, the OC Funders Roundtable was born
2006

Meeting of the Minds

A small group of Grantmakers met to discuss the idea of forming a local, peer-based funding collaborative to strengthen philanthropy as a whole in Orange County and leverage common resources.

2006-2007

In 2006 a small group of Grantmakers including the Pacific Life Foundation, Orange County Children and Families Commission, Orange County Community Foundation, Irvine Health Foundation and Change a Life Foundation met to discuss the idea of forming a local, peer-based funding collaborative. In response to a study funded by the Weingart Foundation and conducted by the UCLA Center for Civil Society, which highlighted the difficulty the regional sector had in accessing philanthropic support, foundations came together looking for ways to strengthen philanthropy as a whole in Orange County and leverage common resources. Initial funding was provided by the Weingart Foundation. Orange County Community Foundation and Children and Families Commission.

2008

As the strength of the collaboration grew the members were ready to move beyond a simple peer networking group to a formalized membership association.  It was determined that fiscal sponsorship was preferable to actual incorporation as a 501(c)3, and OneOC became the fiscal sponsor of the new organization – the Orange County Funders Roundtable. 

Capacity Building pilot program

With the 2008 recession hitting many Orange County non-profits hard, OCFR members adopted an initiative focusing on building capacity for several nonprofits identified as critical to the health of the regional social sector. This targeted effort for nine critical nonprofits in Orange County allowed seven participating funders to support identified nonprofits with strategic planning, staff expansion, and long-term operations planning. Executed over a three year period the funding program provided a clear assessment of each participating agency as well as recommendations for implementation of the resultant project.

Homeless Committee

In May 2008 the OC Funders Roundtable established a homeless committee to explore ways in which funders could work together to address the increase in homeless families with children in Orange County. The group began meeting regularly, focusing on data trends to understand the scope of the problem. Informing their work was the Orange County Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness.

Through available data and research the OCFR Homeless Committee recommended the OC Funders Roundtable focus on four main issues: Adequate emergency shelter resources, effective leadership on homeless issues, coordinated homeless prevention efforts and a robust homeless information system.

Recognizing the issue of homelessness must have broad ranging leadership, the Homeless Committee recommended the Roundtable be represented on the County’s Ten-Year Plan Governing Board, supporting the County’s efforts and insights and providing leadership.

2009

After three successful years the OC Funders Roundtable had grown substantially in size and agenda. A strategic planning process was launched in June of 2009 to support strategic direction. A mission for the group was established, as well as membership criteria, meeting structures, working groups, and a steering committee to make organization wide decisions.  A formal position of Executive Administrator was created to support the growing membership.

2010

Launch of Annual Summit

In response to the continued impact of the recession on the non-profit industry the OC Funders Roundtable hosted its first ever Summit for nonprofit leaders on January 27, 2010. Hosted in one day, and planned for in the previous year by the members themselves, conference content for the non-profit attendees focused on how to manage and sustain their organizations in hard times. To learn more, visit the Summit Page. 

2012

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY BUILDING

In 2012 the Workforce Development Committee of the OCFR convened to collaboratively support a pilot program that focused on workforce development issues in Orange County, with specific attention to a lack of services and barriers to job placement for low-income residents. The committee sought programs whose objectives include job placements in the growing industries of healthcare and information technology. Funded projects were executed over the course of a year. To learn more, visit our OC Collaborations Page.

2013

ORANGE COUNTY VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES COLLABORATIVE

In collaboration with individual service providers, OCFR members joined with other philanthropists around Orange County to identify how existing providers can work together to support armed forces and veterans in Orange County. Through surveys, dialogue and needs assessments the OC Veterans and Military Families Collaborative looked at how to fill current gaps in services for veterans where additional capacity building is needed.

To learn more about the continued work of the OC Veterans and Military Families Collaborative, visit http://ocvmfc.info/

2014-2016

The OC Funders Roundtable continued to expand and grow, increasing its membership to over 30 funders and supporting a wide variety of projects and impact areas. Through partners, the OCFR maintained a seat on the Orange County Commission to End Homelessness and hosted quarterly meetings throughout the year to learn about developing issues in the philanthropic space in Orange County. In addition to hosting regular training opportunities for members the Annual Summit continued every 18 months with an ever expanding audience.

2017-2018

The OC Funders Roundtable moved fiscal sponsorship to Charitable Ventures of Orange County.

In 2018 the Orange County Funders Roundtable brought their Executive Administrator on full time as their first official full-time Executive Director and sole staff member. In line with this greater formalization and expansion of the organization, the Steering Committee moved to a Board of Directors. 

In August 2018, the OC Funders Roundtable officially rebranded, becoming Orange County Grantmakers in line with the other regional philanthropic supporting organizations in California and across the country. 

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