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Ten Nonprofits Selected for Inaugural Capacity-Building Initiative

Published on May 27, 2026
County Governance, Operations, Policy

Sacramento County and the Sacramento Region Community Foundation are announcing the ten nonprofit organizations selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of the Sacramento Countywide Nonprofit Partnership Initiative (SCNPI), a 20-month capacity-building program designed to strengthen the sustainability of mid-sized nonprofits serving Sacramento County residents.

Selected organizations work across Sacramento County to address homelessness, housing instability and food insecurity — some of the region's most pressing challenges. Through SCNPI, each organization will receive practical training and workshops, one-on-one technical assistance, peer learning opportunities, mentorship from experienced nonprofit leaders, and flexible grant funding to support organizational improvements.

“Nonprofits are on the front lines of our region's most difficult challenges every day, and the strength of their internal systems is just as important as the services they provide. This initiative is about investing in organizations to build the leadership, infrastructure and sustainability they need to grow their impact over time. We're proud to partner with the County of Sacramento to support these ten organizations and the communities they serve,” said Kerry Wood, the Foundation’s chief executive.

“Our nonprofit partners are essential to delivering critical SafetyNet services across the County. Through this initiative, we are investing in the capacity, tools and resources nonprofits need to sustain and strengthen their impact,” said Chevon Kothari, Sacramento County Health and Human Services Agency Deputy County Executive.

The ten organizations selected for the SCNPI cohort, their primary service area and major programs are:

  • AcademySTAY (Sacramento): Transitional housing and wraparound support for foster youth ages 18-24 pursuing college or vocational training.
  • Alchemist CDC (Sacramento): Connected programs spanning food access, workforce development, entrepreneurship and community space, helping residents move from immediate crisis toward long-term stability.
  • Elk Grove Food Bank Services (Elk Grove): Comprehensive food access and homeless services through a client-choice warehouse, senior mobile distributions, home delivery and school-based programs.
  • Orangevale-Fair Oaks Community Foundation (Orangevale): Operator of the Orangevale-Fair Oaks Food Bank and HART (Homeless Assistance Resource Team), serving residents across Orangevale, Fair Oaks, Citrus Heights and Folsom.
  • Rancho Cordova Food Locker (Rancho Cordova): A dignity-centered food access program currently transitioning to a community food hub model to expand services and reduce stigma around food assistance.
  • Rebuilding Together Sacramento (Sacramento): Homelessness prevention through critical home repairs, safety modifications and accessibility improvements for low-income homeowners, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities.
  • Refugee Enrichment and Development Association (REDA) Inc. (Sacramento): Culturally responsive housing, food, education and mental health services for refugee and immigrant communities across the greater Sacramento Valley.
  • Sacramento Cottage Housing, Inc. (Sacramento): Permanent supportive housing and wraparound services for individuals and families, with deep, relationship-based coaching designed to break cycles of homelessness over the long term.
  • South County Services (Galt): Providing food distribution and homeless services for rural communities across South Sacramento County, including the isolated Delta region towns where few other services reach.
  • Three Sisters Gardens (Sacramento): Urban agriculture, food distribution and youth workforce development, paying young people to learn agriculture, food systems and green career pathways.

The initiative builds on the Sacramento Region Community Foundation's more than 40 years of investing in the nonprofits that serve the capital area — including through capacity-building programs like Big Day of Giving and smaller cohort-based efforts that have helped organizations strengthen their leadership and operations over time. It reflects Sacramento County’s broader commitment to building a more resilient nonprofit ecosystem across the region.

For more information about the Sacramento Countywide Nonprofit Partnership Initiative, visit the Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s website

Contact Information

Macy Obernuefemann

Sacramento County Public Information Department