It’s the season for giving and there’s no more valuable way to give than to help out the organizations making a difference in our community. Here we’ve highlighted a few of our valuable partners that help make Marin such a great place to live.
If you’re looking for ways that you can make give back yourself, check out our guide to giving.
Children & Young Adults | Elder Care | Families | Healthcare Services | Homelessness | Miscellaneous
Bank of Marin
Guided by the mission to “do well by doing good,” Bank of Marin is committed to making an impact. The Bank and its employees live this mission by supporting local organizations and initiatives that strengthen their communities. Each year, Bank of Marin donates at least 1% of its pre-tax profits to nonprofits. In 2025, through its Charitable Grants Program, the Bank contributed over $620,000 to 137 schools and nonprofits.
“In 2020, we launched Credit Repair Program with Adopt A Family of Marin,” says David Short, Bank of Marin regional manager and Adopt A Family of Marin board member. “This initiative equips families with essential tools to rebuild credit and improve financial stability. Participants also qualify for debt relief, and since launch, Adopt A Family of Marin has provided over $400,000 in debt relief to hundreds of families.”
“Bank of Marin’s support makes us stronger,” adds Executive Director Jacqueline Jaffee, JD. “Its Credit Repair Program is a vital resource for Marin County families and we are deeply grateful for its unwavering commitment to our community.”
BankofMarin.com, Member FDIC
City Carpets
Giving Back from the Ground Up
For more than three decades, City Carpets has been proud to call Marin home. As a family-owned business rooted in the community, we’ve been fortunate to raise our five children here and to give back to the place that has supported us.
We’re passionate about supporting organizations that help families transition out of homelessness, including Adopt A Family of Marin, Homeward Bound, Welcoming Home, Make It Home, The Living Room, and Gilead House. On weekends, our carpet vans even take on a different role—helping transport animals for the Milo Foundation. Through our Carpet One co-op, we support Tunnels to Towers and the Stephen Siller Foundation, helping build smart homes for our catastrophically wounded service people.
Our community involvement also extends through the San Rafael and Novato Chambers, where Leigh has served on the Women of Industry, Green Business, and East San Rafael Working Group committees, as well as five years on the San Rafael Chamber Board of Directors.
415.454.4200, city-carpets.com, San Rafael, CA
Children & Young Adults
10,000 Degrees
The Power of Education in Marin
10,000 Degrees unlocks student success at scale, bridging the Education Opportunity Divide for students from low-income backgrounds.
With 44+ years of proven impact, we provide equitable access to college and career success through holistic support and near-peer mentorship, breaking cycles of generational poverty.
We currently support 16,000+ students and alumni across the Bay Area—including 4,375 college students who are 100% from low-income backgrounds, 93% from communities of color, and 92% first in their family to attend college.
The impact is clear: 80+% of our 4-year college students graduate within 6 years—double the rate of their peers, and our community college students transfer and complete their degrees at double the national rate. This year, we awarded $9.6M in scholarships and leveraged an additional $73M in free financial aid.
A college degree is the single best pathway for breaking the cycle of poverty for Marin students. Yet only 61% complete the courses required to even apply to a 4-year college. That’s why your support now is essential.
Help make college possible for Marin students from low-income backgrounds: 10000degrees.org/maringives2025
1401 Los Gamos Drive, Ste 205, San Rafael 415.451.4016 • 10000degrees.org
The Helix School
Embracing the Power of Possibility
At The Helix School in San Rafael, possibility is more than a promise — it’s a daily practice. We guide children and young adults with autism, ages 5–22, toward fulfilling and connected lives through relationship-based education that integrates individualized learning with emotional regulation, communication skills, and family partnership. And, our innovative model continues into adulthood, with the opening of The Helix Adult Academy in 2026.
Founded in 2014 with just two students, Helix now serves nearly sixty from Marin and beyond — a thriving model for what’s possible when we lead with heart, creativity, and belief in every child’s potential. Families describe Helix as a place of healing, hope, and understanding where their kids can finally be themselves in a school community. Each student’s experience is tailored to their developmental level, sensory processing differences, and emotional-regulatory needs. With a core belief that all behavior is communication and learning happens when students feel safe and supported, our interdisciplinary team helps students build confidence, form meaningful connections, and discover a love for learning. The results are profound. From reading a first full book to performing on stage, spending a first night away from home to walking proudly at graduation, our students’ milestones prove what’s possible when understanding and innovation meet.
Your generosity fuels transformation. Join us as we redefine what’s possible. Visit thehelixschool.org/give
161 Mitchell Blvd, San Rafael, CA, 415.569.5064 • thehelixschool.org
Marin Foster Care Association
Every child deserves safety, stability, and love — yet 35% of Marin’s foster youth are placed outside the county due to a shortage of local resource families. Marin Foster Care Association (MFCA) is working to change that statistic by equipping foster families with the tools and support they need to keep kids close to their schools, friends, and communities.
Through its Community Resource Center, MFCA provides FREE essentials like clothing, shoes, diapers, toiletries, school supplies, and backpacks — everything a child needs to feel safe and cared for from day one. MFCA’s Opportunity Project grants fund tutoring, camps, and enrichment activities that let kids explore, learn, and build confidence.
For youth aging out of care, MFCA offers vital support, including access to affordable housing, household supplies, and career resources. But MFCA doesn’t just support kids — they nurture the entire caregiving ecosystem. By offering therapeutic support, caregiver trainings, and community-building events, MFCA strengthens families so they can continue this life-changing work.
This holiday season, your gift can keep foster youth in Marin, help them heal, and give them the bright future they deserve. Support kids right here in our community by giving to Marin Foster Care.
55 Mitchell Blvd, Suite 2, San Rafael, CA 415.507.0557 • marinfostercare.org
North Bay Children’s Center
Innovative Child Care
During the first five years, a child’s brain develops faster than at any other time— building the connections that shape how they think, learn, and relate to the world for the rest of their lives. At North Bay Children’s Center (NBCC), their mission ensures every child has access to these early learning experiences that lay the foundation for lifelong success.
This summer, NBCC proudly opened the Al & Lisa Brayton Campus in Novato, a state-of-the-art facility redefining early childhood education, teacher training, and environmental learning. “Eighteen years in the making, this project stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when a community unites around a shared mission,” said Susan Gilmore, Founder & CEO.
The new campus features the Garden of Eatin’® Learning Lab, vibrant outdoor classrooms, and a greenhouse that brings health and sustainability to life. Here, children plant, cook, and explore—growing their “green muscle memory” and a lifelong connection to nature. With inclusive classrooms, therapeutic spaces for early intervention, and a Learning Lab for Educators, NBCC’s impact now extends far beyond its doors. Even its design reflects climate resilience, with shaded patios, fruit trees, and outdoor play spaces built for year-round discovery. “This expansion will nurture and support countless families and help raise our next generation of climate leaders.” — Jennifer Siebel Newsom, First Partner of California
932 C Street, Novato, CA 415.883.6222 • nbcc.net
Sausalito Woman’s Club Scholarship Recognition Fund
SWCSRF Supporting Local Scholars
For 70 years, the Sausalito Woman’s Club Scholarship Recognition Fund (SWCSRF) has provided support and encouragement to students from Sausalito and Marin City as they pursue higher education, including trade scholarships and re-entry pathways. We’ve awarded over $1.7 million granted through 1000+ scholarships. Our scholars excel: 87.5% have graduated from four-year colleges (vs. 64% nationally) and 25% pursue graduate or professional degrees. While these numbers are strong, the words of our scholars are stronger:
“SWC scholarships let me pursue my education and my dreams … enabling me to become a doctor and give back to my community.”— Estella Wong, 2025 Scholar; first-year UC Davis“SWCSRF’s financial and personal support empowered me to pursue my aspirations as a scientist.”— Malachia Hoover, Ph.D., 2008–2023 Scholar; Postdoctoral Fellow, BioMarin
Alumni stay connected—sharing experiences, volunteering, and supporting our future scholars. With your help, we can recognize academic potential and offer scholarships to those with financial need. All donations are tax-deductible. Help us support our local scholars.
Donate at swcsrf.org Sausalito, CA
Tribe Rising India
Fuel a Child’s Dream, Ignite Generational Change
Honor a loved one by gifting a scholarship to a Santal student in India. For just $41/month or $492/year, you’ll provide a life-changing Jesuit education — plus safe boarding, nutritious meals, uniforms, healthcare, music and sports, tutoring, and more — in a school built specifically to uplift an indigenous community long marginalized by caste prejudice.
In Gurap, West Bengal, Tribe Rising India has created a 54,000 sq. ft. modern school and the first-ever girls’ dormitory for Santal students. Our culturally sensitive, academically rigorous environment helps children thrive and girls stay in school — avoiding early marriage and unlocking prosperous futures.
As the school grows (now through 10th grade!), our Mill Valley-based nonprofit is growing too. If you have experience in education, fundraising, development — or simply a passion for equity — we invite you to volunteer your time and be a part of Gurap’s powerful story of hope and transformation.
Donate or get involved today. Contact: Annette@TribeRisingIndia.org
Domestic Violence Survivors
Center for Domestic Peace
We continue to stand strong so you can stay safe.
Center for Domestic Peace addresses domestic violence at every level in Marin County—crisis response, survivor support, prevention, and systems change.
Domestic violence is all around us—too often hidden, dismissed, or ignored. But its impact is devastating. It tears through families and fractures our community.
At Center for Domestic Peace, we show up with you and for you every day, confronting this crisis at every level with expertise, compassion, and action—for as long as it takes.
Because when domestic violence goes unchecked, it perpetuates a cycle of fear and trauma. But when people are safe, supported, and seen, domestic peace becomes a shared value and reality for our community.
Stand with Survivors. End Domestic Violence. With your help, we can continue to provide vital services that uphold the dignity and safety of all individuals. Every contribution makes a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by domestic violence.
Be a part of the solution.
Donate today and help us foster a future where hope prevails and everyone can live in peace. Together, we can create a world free from domestic violence. We welcome your support by using the QR code below.
734 A Street, San Rafael, CA 415.924.6616 • C4DP.org
Elder Care
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Combating Hunger for 45 Years
For 45 years, our Free Dining Room has remained a steadfast beacon of hope for our less fortunate neighbors, never closing its doors for a single day. Every day we proudly serve warm and nutritious hot breakfasts and lunches, along with dinner-togo, ensuring that our hungry neighbors receive the nourishment they deserve: 500 meals a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — 180,000 meals a year.
We are deeply committed to feeding our Marin community with compassion, kindness, and dignity. In a place where no one should ever have to go to bed with an empty stomach or face the heartbreaking choice between paying rent and having a meal, we strive to make a difference. Thank you to our wonderful community for supporting Marin’s Only Free Dining Room. Together we are not just ending hunger, we are fostering a sense of belonging and hope.
820 B Street San Rafael, CA 415.454.3303 • vinnies.org St. Vincent de Paul
Vivalon
Connection Works Wonders
In Marin County, nearly one in four older adults lives on a limited income, struggling to afford essentials like rent, food, and medication. At Vivalon, we believe no one should have to choose between nourishment and connection.
For more than 70 years, Vivalon has helped Marin’s older adults stay healthy, independent, and engaged. Every day, we deliver nutritious meals, provide accessible rides, and create opportunities to learn, move, and build friendships that enrich lives and strengthen our community.
Each year, Vivalon serves more than 7,500 people across Marin — and more than 3,500 of them participate in programs at our Healthy Aging Campus in downtown San Rafael, coming together to share meals, join classes, and find belonging. As Marin’s population ages — with adults over 60 now representing 30% of the county — the need for these vital services continues to grow.
This holiday season, you can make a difference. Your gift delivers meals for homebound neighbors, rides to medical care, and community for those who need it most. Together, we can build a Marin where every older adult feels seen, supported, and valued.
999 Third Street, San Rafael, CA 415.456.9062 • vivalon.org
Families
Gilead House
Gilead House a Haven of Hope
Gilead House remains a haven of hope for unsheltered mothers and their children. For 25 years, we’ve been more than a shelter — we’ve been a lifeline.
Our mission is to inspire hope and empower single moms and their children to achieve financial stability and lasting independence as they navigate the journey to self-reliance. Gilead House brings hope to unhoused families by providing temporary housing and essential life skills that lead to a stable life and permanent housing. Many of our residents have experienced domestic violence on some level, making the safety and support we offer not just meaningful — but vital.
Every success story at Gilead House is a testament to the power of hope, the strength of a mother’s love, and the transformative impact of a community that cares. When you support Gilead House, you’re not just giving shelter, you’re giving families the chance to rebuild, reclaim, and rise.
1024 7th Street, Novato, CA, 415.895.5575 • gileadhouse.org
North Marin Community Services
This holiday season, your donation to North Marin Community Services (NMCS) makes an immediate, lifechanging impact in Marin. Right now, many families are facing crises and struggling to afford basic needs.
When you contribute to NMCS, you open doors for your neighbors, helping them build a future on steady ground. For more than 50 years, NMCS has been your trusted anchor nonprofit, helping local people move from crisis to stability and success. Through our whole-person approach, we deliver vital services that strengthen families and uplift our community. Your gift helps people facing economic hardship stay in their homes. It helps seniors and single parents put healthy food on the table. It connects children, teens, and adults to timely, compassionate mental health care. And it supports families with affordable childcare.
Every dollar makes a difference. And every gift is an investment in dignity, stability, and opportunity. “For the first time in years, I feel like myself again. NMCS didn’t just give me housing. They gave me back my history, my dignity, and a future I can believe in.” — NMCS Senior Shallow Rent Participant Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers is here and ready to serve. Thank you for your generosity.
680 Wilson Avenue, Novato, CA 415.892.1643 • northmarincs.org
Healthcare Services
Buckelew Programs
When Jill’s world changed, Buckelew was there. It was 1971 when Jill first showed signs of schizophrenia. She was a sophomore in college, and the whole family was “knocked sideways,” says her brother Jack. They connected with Buckelew Programs, where Jill continues to receive stable housing and supportive services to this day.
“Buckelew is an amazing gift for the whole family,” Jack reflects. “My sister became more confident and stabilized, and the family was given a sense of security because she is being cared for with understanding and compassion.”
Your generosity multiplies our impact. Buckelew Programs is the North Bay’s leading nonprofit provider of behavioral healthcare. We offer support to thousands of people every year through five core service areas: Counseling, Service Navigation, Substance Use Treatment, Suicide Prevention, and Supported Housing. Our trained counselors answer over 23,000 calls annually on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
We meet people where they are—especially those with limited income facing the greatest barriers to care. Whether someone is in crisis, supporting a loved one, or seeking long-term stability, your support helps us provide tailored care rooted in dignity and respect.
Watch Jill’s story and learn how you can help at Buckelew.org/55years
Novato, CA • Buckelew.org
By the Bay Health
The Guardians of Compassionate Care
For 50 years, By the Bay Health (formerly Hospice By the Bay) has been a trusted provider of compassionate care across Marin and Northern California. Originally one of the nation’s first nonprofit hospice programs, it has grown to become the region’s largest independent provider of home-based hospice, palliative, pediatric, home health, and bereavement services, now serving all nine Bay Area counties, including Napa and Solano.
As California’s aging population grows, By the Bay Health remains committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of circumstance, receives high-quality, equitable care at every stage of life. The organization serves individuals often overlooked by the system — children with terminal illnesses, unhoused neighbors, and rural families — offering care without regard to ability to pay. Its nonprofit model ensures that all donations directly benefit community care.
Through partnerships with local education and academic leaders, By the Bay Health also fosters the next generation of compassionate caregivers through scholarships, internships, and expanded opportunities to explore careers in home-based care.
In a landscape where many hospices are for-profit, By the Bay Health continues to serve with heart, integrity, and equity. For 50 years, it has been more than a healthcare provider — it’s been a partner in the community, measuring success not in profits, but in dignity and care for all.
Marin, San Francisco, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, 415.927.2273 • bythebayhealth.org
Marin Community Clinics
A Lifeline of Care, Dignity, and Hope
Every day, Marin Community Clinics (MCC) serves as a lifeline for families across Marin County who are doing their best to stay healthy amid rising costs, complex systems, and uncertain times.
When life takes an unexpected turn, access to compassionate, affordable care can make all the difference. That’s what your support makes possible.
In 2024 alone, more than 38,000 people — one in five Marin residents — relied on MCC for medical, dental, and behavioral health care. Nearly a third were children, and 70% of our patients live below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. For many, MCC is the only place they can go when they need care, comfort, and hope.
Your support creates a lifeline of care, dignity, and hope — ensuring that every person, regardless of income or background, can access the healthcare they deserve.
As costs rise and needs grow, your generosity keeps that lifeline strong. Please make your year-end gift today at MarinClinics.org/donate and help ensure that families across Marin continue to receive the care they need — and the compassion they deserve.
Together, we’re building a healthier, more compassionate Marin for all.
P.O. Box 5008, Novato, CA • marinclinic.org
Postpartum Support Center
A Lifeline for New Parents and Families
Every month, the Postpartum Support Center (PPSC) serves over 600 families monthly – including 900 parents and more than 1,000 children – who rely on essential support. PPSC has become a lifeline for new parents navigating the challenges of early parenthood, offering everything from mental health support to vital supplies like diapers, wipes, and baby clothes. For families facing financial or emotional hardship, these resources are transformative.
Our mission extends beyond immediate needs. By providing peer counseling, perinatal education, and compassionate care, PPSC helps to prevent postpartum depression and other maternal mental health complications. Our compassionate team works tirelessly to reduce stress and isolation that so many mothers feel, helping to create a stable, nurturing environment for babies and families alike. When parents feel supported, babies thrive — and whole families grow stronger.
However, with demand for our services growing rapidly, we need your help to continue this important work. This Giving Season, we invite you to make a lasting impact by donating to PPSC. Every dollar you give helps us provide vital resources and support to those who need it most, ensuring every family has the foundation to thrive. For far too many families inequality starts at birth. Help us change that! Your support makes all the difference.
4162 Redwood Highway, San Rafael, CA, 415.320.6707 • postpartumsc.org
Homelessness
Community Action Marin
Community Action Marin is an anti-poverty movement building leader and the largest social services nonprofit in Marin County with over 225 staff dedicated to helping people and changing lives.
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: Free and affordable high-quality early childhood education, with services for over 600 children and families.
ECONOMIC JUSTICE: Workforce development, job training, financial counseling, and career support to foster long-term self-sufficiency and sustainability.
FOOD AND CLIMATE JUSTICE: Production farm, Central Kitchen, and efforts that foster partnerships and lift voices from communities of low income and of color disproportionately impacted by climate change.
HOUSING JUSTICE: Outreach, care management, rental assistance, and resources for adults, families, and transitional age youth experiencing housing instability.
Our team walks alongside people to support well-being, dignity, and hope. Join us! Make a difference — meet the moment. Help build lasting change for Marin County.
7665 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 415.526.7500 • camarin.org
Mt. Tam Community Land Trust
Each year, we are losing more affordable housing than we are building in Marin County. As a result, businesses, schools, and healthcare providers are struggling to recruit and retain staff. The backbones of our community—longtime residents, members of our local workforce, and our children—can’t afford to stay.
Mt. Tam Community Land Trust (Mt. Tam CLT) offers a practical solution: preservation of existing affordable housing. By acquiring multifamily properties and holding them in trust for the community, Mt. Tam CLT ensures that our small apartment buildings remain affordable. This model creates community and economic vitality, neighborhood stability, and housing security for our community.
Founded in 2020 and governed by a volunteer board of Marin residents, Mt. Tam CLT is poised to acquire its first property in 2026. This holiday season, donate to help us preserve the homes that make our community thrive.
Learn more at mttamclt.org.
35 Miller Avenue, #181, Mill Valley, CA, 415.885.5617 • mttamclt.org
Ritter Center
Give Hope for the Holidays
“If not for Ritter, my daughter and I could have lost our home.” —Alicia, Ritter Center client. From the moment you choose to take action, a family’s future can shift from fear to hope.
Every day in Marin, hardworking parents face unexpected emergencies: a sudden job loss, a medical bill, an unplanned rent increase. For many, one unplanned expense means the difference between a warm, safe home and a night in their car — or worse.
This holiday season, your compassion can be the steady ground a parent holds onto when an ordinary day suddenly turns into crisis.
Because of caring neighbors like you, Ritter Center stands ready to provide emergency rental assistance, urgent groceries, utility support, and comprehensive case management — giving families time to stabilize and keeping children in their schools and neighborhoods.
Your generosity keeps families in their homes, children in their schools, and hope alive during the holidays and beyond.
Make your year-end gift today. When the next parent reaches out for help, Ritter Center can respond without delay.
16 Ritter Street, San Rafael, 415.457.8182 • RitterCenter.org
Miscellaneous
Roots of Peace: Heidi Kühn Global Peace Foundation
Our Marin “Roots” of Peace Grow Deep
Our Marin “Roots” of Peace grow deep, nurtured by a community grounded in compassion, integrity, and reverence for the beauty of nature that surrounded us.
My dear childhood friend, Bob Placak, CEO of the Robert C. Placak Insurance, and I grew up side by side — he on the water polo team, and I on the high-dive team at San Rafael High School during the 1970’s. Even as children, we both aspired to make a splash in the world.
Bob went on to become an American record holder, Pan American Gold Medalist, member of the USA National Team, and Founder, Tiburon Mile Swim, while I devoted my life to transforming the scars of war into bountiful fields of peace — turning mines to vines.
Though our paths diverged, our shared Marin roots and values kept us connected in spirit and purpose. We both sought to uplift others and leave the world better than we found it.
I am deeply grateful to Bob, the first donor to the Heidi Kühn Global Peace Foundation, as we lead with a white rose — a symbol of peace, hope, and renewal. Together, we honor our Marin heritage, as we plant Global Gardens for Food Security to empower future generations to grow locally and worldwide!
DONATIONS: www.HeidiKuhnPeace.org
5800 Northgate Mall, Suite 250, San Rafael, CA, 415.948.9646 • heidikuhnpeace.org
