Community Grants

Inspired by the OAC Purpose Statement, the Community Grants program funds
Marin County nonprofits that support the environment, under-served populations, or women’s initiatives

In 1902, the Outdoor Art Club’s Founders adopted a Purpose Statement, which guides the Club’s activities today: “To preserve the natural scenery of Mill Valley and the surrounding country, to beautify the grounds around public buildings, to work against wanton destruction of birds and game, to encourage the development of outdoor art and to engage in other civic, literary and charitable work.” In its early years, the OAC planted trees and flowers in public areas, cleaned forest paths, wrote letters to health offices urging them to protect streams from pollution and sewage, helped the library distribute books, and gave financial aid to other organizations that shared the Club’s goals. With the development of more formal grant-making in the 1970’s, the OAC has supported more than 160 Marin County nonprofit organizations with distributions of over $700,000. 

Today’s Community Grants program awards funds to local nonprofit organizations that further the objectives of the Club’s Purpose Statement and specifically address the environment, the under-served and women’s initiatives.  The Fall 2022 recipients of Community Grants program are:

Environment
Call of the Sea:  Six middle and high school scholarships for two-day overnight sailing experiences, including helming, navigation, oceanography, meteorology, and marine science programs, to Drake’s Bay. One professional compound microscope, one professional stereoscope and one hydrophone.
The Curtain Theatre:  All costumes rentals for nine free-to-the-public Summer 2023 performances of “Romeo and Juliet” in Old Mill Park.
ExtraFood:  Training of 45 gleaning team volunteers and five team leaders.  Outreach and training of 10 new Marin school districts.  Volunteer supplies and PPE.  Food recovery vehicle supplies to recover 25,000 pounds of food, provide 20,834 meals to food insecure residents, save 735,000 gallons of water and prevent release of 0.56 tons of CO².
Friends of Mill Valley Children’s Garden:  Plants, mulch, soil, hoses and fencing for 600 square foot pollinator garden.
Green Change:  Six “Exhibitor Booths” at the 2023 Mill Valley Earth Day Environmental Festival for youth and underserved community groups promoting climate action
Halleck Creek Ranch:  Ten one-week scholarships for children’s therapeutic horse-back riding camp.
O’Hanlon Center for the Arts:  Site preparation of 60’ of slope for native and pollinator plant restoration.
WildCare:  Two three-month, full-time wildlife hospital internships for veterinary students.

Under-Served Populations
Bridge the Gap College Prep:  One year pilot program of intensive in-school and after-school literary support for two Marin City students.
Chamber Music Marin:  One chamber music performance and demonstration for under-served San Rafael middle school students.
The Hannah Project:  Four “Family Night” leadership program events to increase Marin City parent engagement with schools, understanding of educational policy and advocacy for students, and competency to function as change agents.
The Mountain Play:  ASL translation for hearing-impaired attendees at one 2023 Mountain Play performance. Spring 2023 concert performance of “Into the Woods” for residents of The Redwoods.
Project Avery:  Scholarships for seven Marin County children of incarcerated parents to attend intensive four-week therapeutic and leadership development summer camp.
The Redwoods:  Arts materials and facilitator for expanded residents’ art program.
Trips for Kids Bay Area:  Six trail bikes and six helmets for use by 30 Marin County at-risk children weekly, and weekly transportation to trails.
Vivalon:  One year of food and kitchen supplies for at-home meal delivery service to 51 Marin County at-risk seniors.

Women’s Initiatives
Center for Domestic Peace: 
One month of transitional program support for 21 Marin County survivors of domestic violence to acquire skills necessary to achieve economic independence.
Marin Community Clinics: Women’s Health Day accessible mammograms and cervical cancer screenings for 50 women in San Rafael.
Marin Villages:  Capacity building for expanded referral services for Marin County senior women to support their ability to remain in their own homes.
Performing Stars of Marin:  One year of social skills and comportment programming for 30 five to 10 year old Marin City girls, including opportunities to practice skills in restaurants and on field trips, to optimize academic, social and economic success.