News of Strengthening Philanthropy

Davis Farr LLP is a trusted regional public accounting firm that provides tailored audit and tax services to local nonprofit organizations. We understand the intricate financial landscape nonprofits navigate and are dedicated to supporting their growth and success. Beyond our professional expertise, we actively engage with the nonprofit sector through community involvement and board participation, fostering a deep understanding of their goals and challenges. This involvement allows us to develop holistic solutions and share best practices, enabling nonprofits to thrive and make a lasting impact.

 

As a proud member of the North County Philanthropy Council (NCPC), we have connected with like-minded individuals, professionals, and organizations who share a passion for philanthropy and social impact. These connections have led to fruitful collaborations, valuable partnerships, and enriched knowledge sharing opportunities. We highly appreciate the learning and professional growth opportunities NCPC offers, including workshops, webinars, and guest speaker events that keep us at the forefront of the ever-evolving philanthropic landscape.

 

In today’s challenging landscape, nonprofits face numerous financial complexities while striving to fulfill their missions. At Davis Farr, we recognize the unique needs of the nonprofit community, and our team is committed to providing tailored support that goes beyond standard accounting services. We understand that the success of nonprofits goes hand in hand with the communities they serve, and we actively seek opportunities to give back and make a positive impact.

 

Over the past year, we have been thrilled to participate in several outreach events. For instance, we collected over 150 new books for the Children’s Hospital of Orange County Family Resource Center, supporting their efforts to provide educational resources to children in need. Additionally, we proudly hosted North County Philanthropy Council’s May Coffee Connector, facilitating meaningful connections among scholarship recipient organizations, and furthering their important work.

 

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue our community involvement. In October, we are planning to participate in a large community event that will bring together members from the community, corporate entities, and nonprofit organizations. This event aims to encourage community involvement and employee engagement, fostering a spirit of collaboration and collective impact.

 

At Davis Farr LLP, we are more than just an accounting firm – we are your trusted partner and advocate for nonprofit financial excellence. With our extensive experience, active engagement in the nonprofit sector, and dedication to making a difference, we are here to support your organization in achieving its mission and creating lasting positive change in our community.

What do you benefit most from being a member of NCPC?

Swinerton Management & Consulting is a part of the Swinerton family of companies. Established in 1888, and expanding across the country, one of our core tenets is to serve clients in our communities. SMC is proud to partner with community members and non-profits in the communities where our Team members live and work, and partner to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors and residents.

What is your Mission?

Swinerton Management & Consulting’s mission is to be our client’s trusted partner in every market we serve – proudly leading with integrity, passion, and excellence. Relationships and communication are critical to the success of every project. We do not pursue projects – we pursue relationships.

What do you offer to the community?

A trusted partner, advisor, and advocate for our clients when they have a physical asset, design or construction program or project. In addition, as a member of the Swinerton family of companies, we bring the added depth of resources and experience of a national company but focused on our local communities.

What was your organization/company’s biggest accomplishment in the past six months – one year?

Our biggest accomplishment over the past year was to be recognized in December 2021 as the Construction Management Firm of the Year by the San Diego Chapter of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA).  This recognition is especially endearing as it recognizes one of our Team members who has provided services on the Hotel del Coronado for nearly 20 years, and his commitment to mentoring and preparing professionals for their Certified Construction Manager (CCM) credentials.

What changes/opportunities have occurred due to COVID-19?

When COVID was first detected, Swinerton formed a COVID Task Force led by our Executive Team and our Safety Division. Swinerton was one of the first companies that developed a COVID Safety Plan, shared it with our clients and made it available on the Swinerton website for anyone to use: Swinerton COVID-19 Plan – Swinerton. The COVID Task Force continues to meet regularly and issue updates to the safety plan as new variants emerge, and new guidance is developed by health officials.

Have you made a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization/company and if so, how are you demonstrating it?

In 2020, Swinerton signed AGC’s Culture of Care pledge, which affirms our commitment to a work environment that is free of harassment, hazing, and bullying. We commit to hire and pay based on skill and experience, regardless of ethnicity, gender identity, nationality, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We retain high-performing employees by identifying and removing barriers to advancement. And we empower every individual to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion.

Commit to hire and pay based on skill and experience regardless of ability, age, ethnicity, gender identity, nationality, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Attract prospective employees by creating inclusive workplaces that are free from harassment, hazing and bullying.

Retain high-performing employees by identifying and removing barriers to advancement.

Empower every employee to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion.

In addition to the commitment to CARE, Swinerton has established an Equity Inclusion Council (EIC). The mission of the EIC is to educate our employees and encourage a more culturally inclusive environment. The EIC reports directly to the Executive Team.

To reinforce this work, Swinerton currently has four Business Resource Groups:

• Black Community Resource Group
• Women Business Resource Group
• Working Parents Business Resource Group
• LatinX Business Resource Group

Taken together, the goals are to:

• Set clear diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and strategic actions
• Recommend modifications to policies and practices
• Accomplish organization objectives and remove barriers in recruiting, retaining, and developing the best talent
• Ensure internal learning and teaching opportunities
• Act as change agents and disrupt the status quo
• Hold our organization accountable

What event/program or campaign do you have coming up that you would like to share with our readers?

During each fall, Swinerton creates a Fall Giving program/competition. Each business unit and/or office compete against each other in various categories of participation, including volunteer hours, participation, and other aspects of giving.

The Jewish Community Foundation San Diego (JCF) builds flourishing Jewish communities and advances sustainable, just, and vibrant societies in San Diego, Israel, nationally, and around the globe. Since its founding in 1987, JCF has facilitated over $1.8 billion in grants to nonprofit organizations.

JCF collaborates with individuals and organizations and leverages philanthropic capital for positive impact. Guided by Jewish values, we combine donor-driven philanthropy, investing, and education with trusted, personalized service, enabling individuals and organizations to effectively dedicate their resources for maximum benefit in the community.

Following the success of our innovative curated philanthropy fund known as giv4 homelessness in san diego, we recently launched giv4 climate san diego, to highlight impactful local solutions to climate and environmental issues facing the San Diego region. Our current Jewish Teen Foundation class broke its own fundraising record to support (1) women’s rights and (2) homelessness organizations. We are in the process of awarding needs-based and merit-based scholarships to San Diego high school students. And registration is now open for this summer’s Trusted Charitable Advisor program, which is designed to provide wealth and financial advisors with the tools to engage their clients in charitable conversations. More information about JCF is available at jcfsandiego.org.

Ollie Benn

Director of Philanthropy and Social Impact

(858) 279-2740 x118

ollie@jcfsandiego.org www.jcfsandiego.org

Learn how you can be a part of the solutions to San Diego homelessness with giv4.

At MP Consulting, our purpose is to inspire nonprofit Boards and staff to master the Art of Philanthropy. MP Consulting services encompass strategic planning, retreat facilitation, comprehensive campaign consulting and strengthening Board engagement in Philanthropy.

Our pledge is to creatively help you develop and implement strategies to increase your resources and ensure your organization’s leadership and investors are working together. Our promise is to enlighten and challenge you and your Board from intent to execution – steadily swinging your pendulum as you master the art of philanthropy.

As President of MP Consulting, Marianne Pekala, CFRE has more than 20 plus years as a development professional, consultant, educator, and implementor. MP Consulting has worked with local and national nonprofits with small budgets and have helped them grow into buoyant sustainable organizations. MP Consulting will listen to what is important to you – assess and apply your strengths – recommend achievable approaches – and be with you through implementation.

Marianne is a Boardsource Certified Board Trainer and a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). She currently serves on the Board of Directors of North County Philanthropy Council (NCPC) and has also served on the Boards of the Pat Tillman Foundation, HD South, and Gilbert Leadership.

What do you benefit most from being a member of NCPC?

TrueCare has served North San Diego and Riverside Counties for over 50 years. Being a member of NCPC provides an opportunity to share information about our work and expand our reach to additional members of the community in need of accessing health care regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

What is your Mission?

To improve the health status of our diverse communities by providing quality health care that is comprehensive, affordable, and culturally sensitive.

What do you offer to the community?

TrueCare provides a safety net for those most in need. We believe that health care is a right that everyone deserves and that healthy lives equal a healthy community. Throughout our 20 health centers and WIC offices, we offer an incredible level of quality, comprehensive medical services delivered by compassionate providers and professional staff, as well as programs and resources for the communities we serve.

What was your organization’s biggest accomplishment in the past year? 

In 2022, TrueCare touched more than 93,000 lives and served nearly 60,000 patients directly through more than 300,000 patient visits. At TrueCare, we believe in building great relationships with everyone and we know that our work begins and ends with people. Our patients count on us to live long, healthy lives. This past year, we implemented and reinforced eight guiding principles organizationally-wide for building great relationships so that TrueCare always makes an internal impact among its work family as well as better engages with patients. Furthermore, many of TrueCare employees were patients and came to work for us because we helped them! By building a positive organizational culture and providing competitive compensation, TrueCare maintained an 80% provider retention rate in 2022 and hired over 25 new providers in first two months of 2023, which in turn provides greater access to health care for our patients!

What event/program or campaign do you have coming up that you would like to share with our readers?

The 6th Annual Goat for Joe Golf Classic & Mental Health Fair – In partnership with the Rotary Club of San Marcos, Goat for Joe raises funds for suicide prevention and mental health awareness, and TrueCare’s Behavioral Health Division is the primary beneficiary of the proceeds. Grab your friends and family members and attend the free Mental Health Fair open to the public from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM with activities for the kids and food trucks. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are also available, for those who want to get more involved. Please contact Debbie Adelman at debbie.adelman@truecare.org for more details.

Event Details:

Saturday, May 20, 2023

Goat Hill Park Golf Course

2323 Goat Hill Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056

Register Today

Connect: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

What do you benefit most from being a member of NCPC?

NCPC provides a range of professional development and networking opportunities for our University Advancement team. Over the years, our team members have been involved with board and committee leadership and our staff, faculty, and donors have served as featured speakers and panelists at events that bring the community together around important topics and initiatives.

What is your Mission?

At Cal State San Marcos, our mission is student success. CSUSM is focused on closing educational equity gaps and providing social mobility for the most underserved populations in the region. As an engine of transformative knowledge, our community of dedicated teachers, scholars, and staff holistically advance the academic, social, professional, and personal development of students across the student life cycle, through education, innovation, and community partnerships. CSUSM strives to be the first-choice university for first-generation students and future generations.

This mission drives our vision: to support all aspects of success for our students before, during, and after their time with us. We are redefining what it means to be a leader in social mobility. In fact, we ranked #1 out of over 1,400 colleges and universities across the nation on the Social Mobility Index—an important acknowledgement of our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education and fostering our students’ post-graduation success. We see social mobility as an essential and powerful driver of social justice, social change, and social innovation ensuring that our students are prepared to participate and lead in the workplaces and community spaces of tomorrow.

What do you offer to the community?

Cal State San Marcos was founded in 1989 and first opened its doors to students in 1990. Today, the university offers more than 70 bachelor’s program offerings, more than 20 master’s programs, more than 40 certificate, credential programs, and a joint doctoral program with UC San Diego. With over 15,000 students, CSUSM is a high-demand, first-choice institution in this region and beyond. We continue to strengthen our partnerships with the community and prepare our students to be the talented workforce needed by local companies.

The university encourages community spectators for our 13 NCAA Division II athletic teams, along with various art and culture events that take place throughout the year. We are committed to building a stronger and more vibrant region by connecting the University to surrounding communities in mutually beneficial ways. CSUSM reaches out to all communities it serves to help address the region’s most critical issues.

What event/program or campaign do you have coming up that you would like to share with our readers? 

Tuesday, May 2 is One CSUSM, a 24-hour social media driven campaign to raise funds for scholarships at Cal State San Marcos.

One CSUSM is an important fundraising event because for many students, financial support from family is not an option as nearly 70% of our students receive financial aid. Scholarships are a vital component to student success, encouraging them to persist to graduation and experience the sense of pride that comes from earning a degree. Our work to fill the gap of unmet need continues as we believe financial need should not derail a determined student from earning their degree.

With more than 100 scholarships to choose from, help us carry the flag for our students on Tuesday, May 2 with a gift to your favorite scholarship. Visit our website: http://www.csusm.edu/onecsusm

Have you made a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization/company and if so, how are you demonstrating it?

We commit to every student – especially those who are from historically underserved communities – that they are welcome here, belong here, and will succeed here in this rigorous and challenging academic environment. CSUSM is an inclusive and welcoming community of students, faculty, staff, and administrators, grounded in social justice that creates educational equity as we reflect and embrace the range of regional and global diversity. We are an interculturally proficient learning community whose members at all levels develop and display critical skills to effectively advocate for social change, foster inclusion, and contribute intelligently and effectively in diverse groups and communities. In 2022, our Office of Inclusive Excellence partnered with the Center for Strategic Diversity Leadership and Social Innovation to accelerate our efforts to achieve Inclusive Excellence at CSUSM. CSUSM has received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award for 9 straight years.

What was your organization/company’s biggest accomplishment in the past six months – one year?

CSUSM ranks first nationally out of more than 1,400 schools measured in the ninth annual Social Mobility Index (SMI) by the online publication CollegeNET. The SMI rates four-year U.S. colleges and universities “according to how they hold the line on tuition, enroll students from low-income backgrounds, graduate those students into good jobs, and apply their promotional messaging to solve our nation’s social mobility problem.”

CSUSM had been included in the top 5% of the index for each of the previous seven years, but this is the first time that it has topped the list. Seven other California State University schools ranked in the top 20.

What is your Mission?

Vista Community Clinic’s mission is Valuable Connected Care: Meeting the health and wellness needs of our community.

What do you offer to the community?

VCC offers a comprehensive array of health and wellness units to the North County San Diego, Riverside County, and Orange County communities. Services include adult and family medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, dental, behavioral health, cardiology, optometry, acupuncture, chiropractic care, senior care, cancer screenings, and many more. VCC also offers various community health education programs, which are free and open to all community residents. Beyond providing care to anyone who walks through its doors, VCC promotes accessibility to quality health and dental services through its Mobile Medical Unit.

What was your organization/company’s biggest accomplishment in the past six months – one year?

VCC’s biggest accomplishment in the past year is the opening of our senior-focused facility in Vista, Ca. VCC: Durian Senior Adult Care is a response to the increased senior population in our community. This new location aims to make our senior patients feel safe in a welcoming and caring environment.

What event/program or campaign do you have coming up that you would like to share with our readers?

VCC is excited to be hosting its Inaugural Pickleball Tournament with all funds raised going directly to expanding health and wellness services in the community. This fundraiser will be at the Bobby Riggs Racket and Paddle in Encinitas on Saturday, May 20 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Open to all ages and skill levels. Spectators are also welcome! To register or for more information contact Betsy Heightman at betsy@vcc.org.

Have you made a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization/company and if so, how are you demonstrating it?

VCC’s core values are the foundation of our organizational culture. Our goal is to be inclusive and treat everyone who walks through our clinic doors with respect. We honor the diverse backgrounds that make up our community and employees as we work together towards health equity.