In addition, the Foundation now only accepts online applications. You can find our online application by clicking on the Apply tab at the top of this page. Once you are on the Apply page, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and you will find a link to our online application. If you have any trouble applying online or navigating our online system, please email us at  or call .

• $50,000: Because of the number of compelling projects, the Board decided to award three $50,000 grants. These three $50,000 winners are:

- Art, Science & Technology Educational Corporation of Tehachapi for their Joint STEAM Center and 4-H Facility.

- Bakersfield ARC for their Innovative Education Program for the Developmentally Disabled.

- Mercy Foundation-Bakersfield dba Friends of Mercy Foundation for their Community Wellness Center Kitchen Classroom.

• $100,000: The winner of the $100,000 grant award was the Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault. The award will fund a portion of their Shelter Rehabilitation project.

In addition, the Board offered the opportunity for matching grants to both the Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Tejon Ranch Conservancy.

Thanks to all the Kern County nonprofits who participated in this two-part grant cycle. 

On May 10, 2013, the Foundation awarded $225,413 to Kern County nonprofits involved in community enrichment projects throughout Kern County, including beautification efforts, small scope historical preservation projects and general community improvement.

Individual Grant Recipients and the monetary awards they received:

• The Bakersfield Museum of Art/Bakersfield Art Foundation: $5,000 for the Museum's "Altares de Familia" celebration.

• The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra: $5,000 for a new educational outreach program, Inspire the Desire for Music.

• Buena Vista Museum of Natural History: $12,000 for improving the exterior of the museum's building.

• The Community Action Partnership of Kern: $10,000 to help fund the Friendship House Community Center Quad Project.

• Community Empowerment Organization DBA The Cross Family Center: $17,615 for The 180 Degrees Program Summer Camp.

 • Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Kern & Tulare Counties: $20,000 for the Financial Education for Victims of Domestic Violence program.

• Covenant Community Services Inc.: $14,450 for beautification of the organization's headquarters.

• Dolores Huerta Foundation: $6,500 for the Arvin Youth Leadership public mural.

• Fox Theater Foundation: $14,800 for The Fox Tower Refinishing Project.

• Gay & Lesbian Center of Bakersfield: $7,440 to fund the 2013 LGBTQ Youth/Young Adult Needs Assessment Project.

• Golden Empire Gleaners: $10,000 for Food for Thought: Bakersfield City School District.

• Imagine Ballet Company: $2,468 to help fund the Dance with Us event.

• Kern Athletic Fencing Foundation: $10,000 for the Smart Fencing for Kern County program.

• Kern County Museum Foundation: $34,140 to paint the exterior of the Howell House.

• Kern River Parkway Foundation: $10,000  to restore and retrofit the historic Peacock House at Hart Park. 

• Kern Valley Tutoring Company: $6,000 for the 2013 Summer Math and Reading Workshop program.

• Mercy Foundation-Bakersfield dba Friends of Mercy Foundation: $10,000 for landscaping and exterior improvement of the Dignity Health Community Wellness Center.

• Rebuilding Together Kern County: $10,000 to fund improvements of the VFW Post 97 on Union Avenue.

• Saint Vincent de Paul Center: $5,000 to provide footwear for diabetic homeless individuals.

• Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation: $15,000 for the 2013-2014 FAFSA Completion Program.

 

Fall 2012 Grant Cycle

On November 19, 2012, the Foundation awarded $144,954.45 to Kern County nonprofits focused on promoting mental health and environmental education, as well as those involved in improving animal welfare and educational opportunities.

Individual Grant Recipients and the monetary awards they received:

• American Lung Association: $15,000

• BARC ‑ Bakersfield ARC: $10,000

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County: $7,500

• California Living Museum – CALM: $16,800

• Community Action Partnership of Kern: $8,276

• DART – Desert Area Resources & Training: $3,000

• Flood Bakersfield Ministries: $5,000

• Greater Bakersfield Green Expo: $2,500

• Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic: $10,676.45

• Independent Living Center of Kern County: $3,702

• Keep Bakersfield Beautiful: $4,000

• Kern Economic Development Foundation: $25,000

• Laze Memorial Soaring Foundation: $3,500

• Legacy Behavioral Services, Inc.: $10,000

• Whiskers Paws Hooves and Claws Animal Advocacy: $20,000

Spring 2012 Grants

As of May 18, 2012, the Foundation has awarded $124,477 to a variety of Kern County nonprofits. These awards include: 

• $20,000 to The Kern County Museum Foundation, for their June 2013 Nut Festival.

• $17,252 to the Kern County Historical Society, for plaques to be affixed to downtown historical buildings.

• $15,000 to Lightwave Education.

• $15,000 to Ready to Start.

• $9,800 to MARE, for a summer literacy project with Bakersfield City School District's Migrant Student Outreach program.

• $9,025 to the Boys & Girls Club for their summer reading program.

• $6,500 to BARC.

• $5,000 to AngelDogs.

• $5,000 to the Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic Stable Skills program.

• $4,000 for First Book Bakersfield.

• $3,200 to the College Dream Fund.

• $2,500 to Bags4Kids.

• $2,500 to Marley's Mutts.

• $2,500 to Bakersfield Pet Food Pantry.

• $2,000 to CALM.

• $2,000 to Community Action Partnership of Kern's Friendship House.

• $1,700 to the Friends of the Kern County Library, Inc.

• $1,000 to help sponsor the Buena Vista Museum's Spectacular World of Science event.

• $500 to The Cat People.

 

Fall 2011 Grant Awards 

On November 18, 2011, the Foundation awarded $111,748.32 to Kern County nonprofits focused on improving downtown Bakersfield. This included groups devoted to beautification, the environment, historical preservation, public art and public safety.

Individual Grant Recipients and the monetary awards they received:

• Arts Council of Kern: $10,000

• Bakersfield Art Association: $500 and $2,500

• Bakersfield Museum of Art/Bakersfield Art Foundation: $8,000

• Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra: $1,000

• Boys and Girls Club of Kern County: $5,000

• Boy Scouts of America: $10,000

• Fix Your Pit: $5,000

• Foundation for Christmas Around the World: $1,500

• Fox Theater Foundation: $16,000

• Girl Scouts 100^th Anniversary Gift to Bakersfield Committee: $750

• Greater Bakersfield Green Expo: $2,500

• Independent Living Center of Kern County: $1,269

• Keep Bakersfield Beautiful: $5,000 and $10,450

• Kern County Museum Foundation: $11,053

• Spotlight Theater Foundation: $12,000

• Tree Foundation of Kern: $9,226.32

 

Spring 2011 Grant Awards

On May 17, 2011, the Foundation awarded $61,693.02 to Tehachapi-area nonprofits working in the arts, historic preservation and the environment.

Individual Grant Recipients and the monetary awards they received:

• American Lung Association in California: $1,500

• The Arts, Science and Technology Education Corp. of Tehachapi: $2,300

• Friends of the Tehachapi Depot/Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum: $5,000

• Have a Heart Humane Society: $3,000

• National Chavez Center/Stonybrook Corp.: $3,000

• Rotary Club of Tehachapi: $2,300

• Tehachapi Community Orchestra: $5,000

• Tehachapi Community Theater Association: $12,000

• Tehachapi Heritage League: $3,497.02

• Tehachapi Mountain Foundation: $10,000

• Tehachapi Mountain Rodeo Foundation: $5,000

• Tehachapi Pops (T-POPS) Orchestra: $3,500

• Tehachapi Wind Museum: $5,596

 

Previous Grant Awards

November 16, 2010: The Foundation awarded $45,025.90 to Kern County non-profits involved with early childhood literacy.

From CEO (and Foundation Board Member) Richard Beene’s blog, Bakersfield Observed: A blog for and about Bakersfield ... life, media, politics and people.

Thursday, December 2, 2010:

 * ... TBC FOUNDATION:
Seven local non-profits have been selected by The Bakersfield Californian Foundation for monetary grants. Among those receiving funds were the Ready to Start reading program ($15,000); Here's Inner City Life, Bakersfield, a division of Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc. ($5,945.90); Society for Disabled Children ($5,000); Arts Council of Kern ($5,000); Garden Pathways ($5,068); Community Action Partnership of Kern ($6,012), and the Kern County Library, ($3,000).

The Foundation is not part of the newspaper but is run by publisher Ginger Moorhouse and vice president Tracey Cowenhoven. It is operated as a separate entity. This current grant cycle [Fall, 2010] focused on funding non-profit programs involved with early childhood literacy.

 

The Bakersfield Californian Foundation recently distributed grants totaling more than $81,400 to local nonprofit organizations in support of its mission to promote arts and educational programs throughout the city.

The family foundation, which operates independently of the newspaper, received about 40 grant applications throughout March and notified the recipients after a May 25 meeting of its board members, foundation administrator Kaarin Simpson said.

Foundation President Ginger Moorhouse, who also serves as the publisher and chairman of The Californian, said the privately funded nonprofit entity was established to build on the legacy of her great-grandfather, Alfred Harrell, who championed community philanthropy during his tenure as owner of the newspaper in the early 1900s.

The foundation has supported local groups for more than 25 years.

"It strengthens our community and promotes our quality of life," Moorhouse said."The goal is to make our corner of the world a better place for everyone."

Read full story and view complete list of recipients.

The grant money awarded to the Bakersfield SPCA allowed some 8 - 11 year old kids to get camperships to attend the first years' Kids and Critters Day Camp at the Bakersfield SPCA. Many of the Kids would not have been able to attend otherwise. A week long Day camp offered a basic introduction to Responsible Pet Ownership for Kids, 8 - 11 years of age. They enjoyed many daily activities including feeding the SPCA shelter animals, Socializing shelter dogs, Tips on grooming, first aid for pets and veterinary services. Attached are 3 photos showing the kids getting the food bowls ready to do a Daily feeding, picking out their companion dog for the week and wearing their SPCA Day Camp T-Shirt along with their hand crafted marionette dog puppets. Four weekly sessions were offered this inaugural year with high hopes for more next year.

Chuck Nordstrom
SPCA Public Relations Coordinator