The Central Valley Opportunity Fund (CVOF) is a private, donor-advised fund dedicated to improving the lives of residents of the greater Merced community.
The Central Valley Opportunity Fund was founded in 2017 by philanthropic investors with a passion for Merced. CVOF seeks to utilize the power of collective impact philanthropy by serving as a catalyst to draw in additional public and private resources, and establishing regional partnerships to pursue strategic, research-driven investments aimed at equitable, lasting, and systemic change. CVOF seeks to invest in impact-driven initiatives in three main categories: Youth Development, Economic & Workforce Development, and Housing & Homelessness.
Foundation’s Role
The Foundation administers this donor-advised fund.
Geographic Focus
Merced County
Youth Development, Economic & Workforce Development, and Housing & Homelessness
The Fund prioritizes investments that emphasize collaboration and regional partnerships, catalyze additional public and private funding, and tackle systemic change for lasting, generational impact. Below are some examples of initiatives funded by CVOF:
Merced Rescue Mission
Funded purchase of the land that now houses Village of Hope transitional supportive housing for homeless veterans, families, and respite care.
Kids Discovery Station
Founding partner in Merced’s first children’s museum and recently provided a grant to fund construction of its outdoor facility “Discovery Terrain.”
TwelveThirteen
Funded a project to rehabilitate an unused motel into permanent supportive housing for at-risk and chronically homeless individuals. A partnership with Merced County, Merced Community Action Agency, and State of CA Project Homekey.
Restore Merced
Funded capital startup for the Restore Jobs program and, most recently, for the launch of the Back2Work program in partnership with the State of California Dept. of Transportation. Both programs provide job and life skills training for at-risk, homeless, and formerly incarcerated individuals.
ACE Overcomers
Funded a pilot project to offer an adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)-aware, trauma-informed life skills training program to people experiencing homelessness. A partnership with Merced County Navigation Center and UC Merced.
City of Merced
Funded a small business voucher program in partnership with the City of Merced to encourage community support for small, local businesses to help sustain them through and recover from COVID lockdown restrictions.
For more information
Cori Lucero
Merced Regional Director
(209) 631-4378
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cori@centralvalleycf.org
Partners
- CVOF’s informal advisory committee is comprised of individuals, selected by the donors, who are dedicated to the advancement of the Merced community