For those of us that call Chula Vista home, we know that it is much more than simply “a place where we live.” For a city of over 270,000 people, Chula Vista is the kind of place that somehow still feels like a small town. It’s where we see our neighbors at the store or our kids soccer games. It’s the place where we’ve grown up, built friendships, raised families, and found the people and experiences that have shaped who we’ve become.
One organization, in particular, knows just how special Chula Vista is, and has been doing work to uplift this community for nearly 20 years. The Chula Vista Community Foundation (CVCF) is a volunteer-run philanthropic foundation committed to improving the quality of life in Chula Vista. Each year they pool together funds given by Chula Vista donors, and use it to grow their impact and support causes that benefit the Chula Vista community now and forever.
We had the opportunity to speak with LaVonne Cashman — the most recent past Board President and member of the Foundation for 14 years — about the gratitude she has for her time on the board, the work of CVCF, and the people who call Chula Vista home.
LaVonne joined CVCF as a member in 2012, later serving six years on its Board, volunteering for the Grants Committee, and most recently serving as Board Chair. While she has recently stepped down from that leadership role, her commitment to the community remains deeply rooted.
“I grew up in Chula Vista and attended Chula Vista public schools, so this community is very personal to me,” she says.
That connection is at the heart of her involvement, and is a reflection of the reason why so many of the Foundation members join in.
Giving, Together
Anyone interested in making an impact in Chula Vista can become a member of the Foundation by signing up and committing a gift of at least $1,000. What’s special about being a member of CVCF is that their collective giving model means that donors' dollars have a much greater impact than they might on their own. The giving also stays right here in Chula Vista, uplifting our very own community in direct and tangible ways.
LaVonne’s journey with CVCF is a prime example. Like many others, her journey began with the simple desire shared by her and her husband to direct a portion of their charitable giving specifically toward their hometown.
After learning about CVCF through the San Diego Foundation, she quickly recognized the potential of its model. Rather than giving in silos, donors have the opportunity to pool their contributions, allowing their collective generosity to reach even further than they could imagine on their own.
“That really appealed to us,” she explains. “Together with the pooled funds, we could have a much greater impact and help fund important projects addressing real needs right here in Chula Vista. And we love knowing that the money stays right here where we live.”
That spirit of collective philanthropy remains central to CVCF’s mission. Since making its first grant in 2011, the Foundation has awarded more than $900,000 to nonprofit organizations serving Chula Vista. It has also built an endowment of over $1 million, creating a lasting source of sustainable support for the community for generations to come.
When new donors choose to become a member of the Foundation, half of their donation supports the current grantmaking cycle and the other half is invested in the permanent endowment.
This model is intentionally designed with both the present and the future in mind. It means that every member not only makes an immediate impact in the community, but leaves a legacy of their very own to continue improving the lives of Chula Vistans in perpetuity.
Whether you have given in the past, will give this year, or plan to give in the future, your dollars will continue working to support the Chula Vista community in 10 years, 50 years, 100 years, and beyond.
This is the power of intentional long-term impact. CVCF knows that a thriving community is not built overnight, but rather through generations of people willing to invest in its future.
Leaving a Legacy of Local Generosity
CVCF’s grantmaking process is intentionally member-driven. Each year, members vote on a broad area of focus for the upcoming grant cycle. The Grants Committee then develops a more specific focus based on the needs they identify in the community for the coming year.
Once a grant focus is chosen, CVCF works with the San Diego Foundation to invite nonprofits serving Chula Vista (or interested in serving Chula Vista) to submit proposals. Committee members carefully review every application and conduct site visits to learn about the organizations and programs seeking support before making funding recommendations to members.
Once the potential grant recipients have been narrowed down, all active members get to vote. This process means that every single donor-–from $1,000 to $100,000—gets a say in how the money is spent. Past areas of focus have included animal welfare, senior well-being, and this years focus: education. Whatever the most pressing need is identified as, is how the committee decides where to direct the funds.
This kind of process is one that requires time, attention, and a strong willingness to collaborate — a prime example of the ways in which Chula Vista is leading the way in collaborative philanthropy in our region.
Connections that Create Impact
Beyond the check, one of the most meaningful aspects of CVCF’s work lies in building community connections. In addition to supporting Chula Vista organizations financially, CVCF regularly brings together organizations, donors, nonprofits, businesses, and community leaders in collaborative environments, creating relationships that lead to new ideas, shared resources, and new opportunities for everyone involved. When people come together and begin to work in tandem, that’s where the magic happens and the most powerful results occur.
“When organizations form partnerships, share resources, and work together toward common goals, the impact of our grants can extend far beyond the original investment,” says LaVonne. It’s the beauty of coming together around shared goals.
Generous in Gratitude
It would be difficult to overstate the gratitude that the South Bay community has for the Chula Vista Community Foundation, just as it would be difficult to overstate the Foundation's gratitude for the incredible organizations here in Chula Vista that they get to support. As someone with the privilege of growing up in Chula Vista and a background in nonprofit work, I know firsthand the true power and genuine impact that happens when people get together for the greater good.
What better way to say “thank you” to the community that helped build us—the community that supports us every day, the community where we have grown and loved and lived—than to give back. If leaving a lasting legacy on your community and expanding your impact far and wide right here in your own backyard is on your bucket list during this season of gratitude, becoming a member of the Chula Vista Community Foundation might just be the best way to do it.