Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2018-2019

n Opinion channeling your inner philanthropist VERONICA BLAKE, CEO, PLACER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION W When it comes to the well-being of people in our communi- ty, we believe philanthropy is a nonpartisan issue. As an orga- nization, we don’t have a specific political bias, and our donors, trustees and grant recipients reflect the many opinions of the communities we serve, but as community leaders, we can’t be afraid to take a stand on important issues. For several years now, we’ve been alarmed by the affordable- housing crisis. Without reasonably priced housing, people with moderate incomes like teachers, police officers, firefighters and nurses can’t afford to live in Placer County communities. Hopes to purchase a home are out of reach considering that the median listing price is $530,000, and only 37 percent of households have income to afford it. Renters face a vacancy rate below 1 percent, and we have a third of all households who are living house poor — they’re spending more than 30 percent of their income on house payments or rent. It impacts all of us when young professionals, new families and vital members of the workforce are squeezed out or burdened to live here. Affordable housing is vital in attracting a local workforce, in- creasing regional buying, reducing long commutes and improv- ing the long-term vibrancy of a community. A policy change is a critical step to increase the stock of affordable housing. We must eliminate fee loopholes that fail to produce affordable hous- ing. We need to help developers find a faster and clearer path to building affordable units. Inclusionary development is one tool that will help us achieve 10 percent of all new housing develop- ment in Placer County be built as affordable. Roseville adopted a similar goal in 1988, and we are advocating the county follow suit. It’s good for the future growth of our region. While we can all engage with philanthropy in some way, that doesn’t mean philanthropy is always easy. But we can also lean on organizations such as community foundations to pro- vide leadership for positive change. Showing goodwill to fellow members of the human race sometimes means taking a stand on issues that challenge how we’ve always done things and working toward a better outcome for all. n comstocksmag.com | 2018-19 CAPITAL REGION CARES e all have a vision of who and what a philanthropist is: Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffett, Mark Zuck- erberg and Dr. Priscilla Chan, and William Randolph Hearst come to mind. With those individuals as models for philanthropy, there’s a good reason most of us can’t envision ourselves as philanthropists. The word “philanthropy” sounds complicated, yet the meaning of the word is simple: to show goodwill to fellow mem- bers of the human race. Philanthropy is about all of us giving back as we are able. Community foundations work so everyone can be philanthropists, and it’s not just about donating vast amounts of wealth. Yes, philanthropy is about giving financial support of causes, but it’s also about community engagement and giving one’s time. If you’re not familiar with community foundations, here’s a quick explanation. Most are based in and do work in a specific geographic area — sometimes it’s a city or a whole county. There are more than 750 community foundations across the U.S. and more than 30 in California. Community foundations require the support of many people, unlike a private or corporate foun- dation, which receive funds from a single source. Community foundations support a variety of causes that reflect the needs of the community and the desire of donors. Placer Community Foundation is different than many non- profits. We are in the business of building permanent resourc- es for the community through funds in an endowment. Assets are invested in the stock market for the long term; we spend a portion of our endowment’s market value on grant-making and community-leadership work. Since 1948, we’ve been growing and stewarding our community’s “savings account.” Generous donors’ annual gifts and provisions in their estate plans have in- creased the assets of PCF and positioned us as a philanthropic leader in our region. What sets PCF apart is our community-leadership focus. It’s our role to be tuned in and at multiple tables throughout the community. Whether its hunger, isolation, jobs, education or housing, we’re working side by side with decision-makers in our community. There are times when an issue needs addressing, and we utilize our connections and expertise to bring people to- gether to listen, problem solve and take action. The most critical issue we’re dealing with right now is affordable housing. 113

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