The Nonprofit Partner Program is an outreach program of the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa. Each year since 2004 twelve nonprofit partners have been selected from nominations submitted by individuals in our spiritual community who are either associated with a nonprofit or have benefited from its services. Nonprofits may not nominate themselves. Nominations are received in the fall of each year.
A committee meets to review the nominations, vet them to make sure they have a nonprofit tax ID number, and to ensure that the mission of the nonprofit is harmonious with the values and teachings of the Center. From the nominations, twelve are selected, and each nonprofit is assigned a month of the year. During their assigned month, representatives of the nonprofit are invited to make a two-minute presentation at all three of our Sunday morning services, and also to staff a table in our Social Hall with information about their work and volunteer opportunities.
Each month, the Center sends a check to each of our 12 nonprofit partners. One-quarter of our annual 10% tithe money is set aside for our Nonprofit Partner Program.
The benefits of the program include connecting the individual givers of our community with programs in the world that resonate with our Center’s teaching, as well as continuing education for our community about ongoing good work being done in the world, and the opportunities to volunteer for these organizations. Rather than duplicate the work already conducted by these organizations, we align ourselves with them and support their efforts in the world.
The Nonprofit Program selection process is not compelled by need, but by resonance with the teaching of our Center. In other words, we do not select organizations because they are underfunded, but because they are doing work in the world that leads to individual empowerment, expressions of compassion, sharing of resources where needed, the support of art and aesthetics, as well as other ideals expressed in the Global Vision of Centers for Spiritual Living.
Our nonprofit partners become a second family to us. We are connected spiritually with others who are doing good work in the world. We are truly living our principle of circulation and know this when our partners testify to the work they do as a result of our contributions. We are deeply grateful to our wonderful community for supporting our center and these wonderful organizations.
AIDS/LIFECYCLE, co-produced by the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation, this 545 mile ride is designed to advance their shared interest to reduce new HIV infections and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. www.aidslifecycle.org
CLEAN RIVER ALLIANCE, removing trash from the Russian River watershed and educating citizens about the problem of trash in our waters by creating more public clean-up events. www.cleanriveralliance.org
COTS, working to combat homelessness in Sonoma County by providing hot and nutritious meals daily to anyone in need and a range of services to support people in reaching their short- and long-term housing, healthcare, and employment goals. www.cots.org
KNIGHTS OF SONOMA COUNTY, serving people in need in Sonoma County, including children, senior citizens, physically disabled, and the unsheltered–often for those who have fallen between the cracks and have not been able to find help from existing agencies. www.knightsofsonomacounty.com
LILY’S LEGACY, a haven in Petaluma for the love and care of abandoned, homeless, or displaced senior large breed dogs. www.lilyslegacy.org
POSITIVE IMAGES, providing support, advocacy, and education to Sonoma County’s LGBTQIA+ community through creating an affirming environment where everyone can explore their identities, develop leadership skills, and participate in building a just and equitable society. www.posimages.org
SEEDS OF AWARENESS, cultivating empathy, connection, and support through counseling and mentorship programs in schools, teaching social-emotional learning in classrooms, and providing cutting edge mindfulness-based counseling and nature-based social skills to our local communities. www.seeds-of-awareness.org
SHOES FOR KIDZ, providing one good pair of athletic shoes for every child who needs them, so every kid can get in the game with confidence and pride. www.shoes4kidz.com
SHONE FARM, SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE, a 365-acre outdoor learning laboratory for Santa Rosa Junior College’s Agriculture/Natural Resources Department, providing students with hands-on experience that cannot be duplicated in the classroom. https://shonefarm.santarosa.edu/
SONOMA BACH, performing concerts of early music, believing passionately in the power of music to bring people together, to help us work through life’s challenges, and to serve as a catalyst for positive change. www.sonomabach.org
VERITY, working to eliminate all forms of violence, with a special focus on sexual assault and abuse. www.ourverity.org
ZARIKI NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL, nurturing the development of children in the Magu-Mwanza District of Tanzania, in a new school that is a safe place for the children, parents, and teachers. www.zariki.org
