We asked our local nonprofits how they could benefit from contributions during the holiday season, and here’s what they had to say on how donations ranging from $50 to $10,000 would enable them to help others.
Now it’s your turn. Take a look at our list to see how you can help spread hope and goodwill this season by making a contribution to one or a few of these incredible organizations helping children and young adults in need. Your support powers tutoring, after‑school enrichment, mental‑health services, and college/career pathways for local youth.
10,000 Degrees
10,000 Degrees® empowers students from low-income backgrounds to achieve college and career success, helping close the Education Opportunity Divide. For more than 44 years, the organization has provided holistic support and near-peer mentorship to break cycles of generational poverty. Its alumni are making a difference around the world.
Photo courtesy of 10,000 Degrees
$50
Provides materials for a financial aid advising session with a near-peer mentor, helping a student from a low-income background take a key step toward college.
$100
Covers college application fees for a student from a low-income background, unlocking new opportunities. More than 80% of 10,000 Degrees’ four-year college students earn bachelor’s degrees—double the national average.
$250
Funds commuting costs for a community college student from a low-income background, removing a major barrier to attendance.
$500
Covers a full semester of books and supplies for a college student from a low-income background.
$1,000
Trains a near-peer mentor who supports students from low-income backgrounds in Marin and beyond from high school through college graduation.
$2,500
Supports our Train-the-Trainer program, expanding our impact and helping educators better serve students from low-income backgrounds.
$5,000
Provides renewable scholarships for a student from a low-income background pursuing a four-year degree.
$10,000
Delivers full support from 10th grade through college, including advising, scholarships, mentorship and career guidance for one student from a low-income background.
Bridge the Gap
Bridge the Gap provides educational, social, and emotional resources to underserved students in Marin County, helping them graduate high school and reach their full potential through college or other pathways to economic independence.
Photo by Rosita Cifuentes
$50
Provides one week of healthy snacks for students in our Extended Day program.
$100
Funds one week of literacy intervention.
$250
Covers the cost of college application fees for a student.
$500
Provides one year of college textbooks or two years of educational supplies for five students.
$1,000
Covers the cost for five students to participate in college tours.
$2,500
Covers the cost of a field trip for 50 students to Muir Woods.
$5,000
Supports our credit-recovery summer program for high school students.
$10,000
Covers the cost for 10 high school students to attend Cross the Bridge, an immersive two-night, three-day college preparatory program at Dominican University.
Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL)
Since 1964, CVNL has strengthened nonprofits and volunteerism by building leadership, encouraging innovation and empowering individuals in their communities. The organization works with aspiring and established leaders to develop the skills and connections needed to increase impact.
CVNL offers programs supporting nonprofits and volunteers, including Learning & Leadership training, executive search, consulting, volunteer matching and corporate engagement. Signature events such as Heart of Marin™, Heart of Napa™, Heart of Sonoma County and 100MARIN provide recognition and cash awards. Additional programs include Secret Santa, Court Referral Program, Paratransit and disaster preparedness training, serving as an Emergency Volunteer Center for Napa, Marin, Sonoma and Solano counties. CVNL believes confident, prepared leaders help nonprofits create healthier, more equitable communities.
$50
Provides outreach materials to recruit volunteers for urgent community needs.
$100
Supports one-on-one volunteer matching services for individuals with specialized skills.
$250
Helps train and equip nonprofit staff with best practices in volunteer engagement.
$500
Supports the development and execution of community-wide Days of Service events.
$1,000
Sustains year-round volunteer portal access, training, and coordination across counties.
Children for Change
Children for Change inspires young people to become change-makers, giving them the knowledge, confidence and empathy to create a positive impact in their communities.
Photo by Gretchen Ellis
$2,500
Funds the annual Student Philanthropy Summit, where 3rd–5th graders allocate $1,500 to local nonprofits.
$5,000
Covers supplies for student-led service projects benefiting 10+ nonprofits and engaging hundreds of students in community leadership.
$10,000
Underwrites a 10-week in-school program for three grade levels at a Title I elementary school in Marin.
Exploratorium
The Exploratorium, an iconic San Francisco museum of science, technology, and art, creates inquiry-based experiences that transform learning worldwide.
Photo by Skyler Greene
$5,000
Supporting the Exploratorium means helping provide vital educational programs, including free field trips for Title I schools, the High School Explainer program and essential classroom resources that make STEAM learning accessible to Bay Area students. A $5,000 gift brings 150 students to Pier 15 for a day of hands-on discovery.
Guide Dogs for the Blind
Headquartered in San Rafael, California, Guide Dogs for the Blind is the largest guide dog school in North America. The organization trains highly skilled guide dogs to help individuals who are blind or visually impaired navigate the world safely and confidently. Since its founding in 1942, more than 16,000 guide dog teams across the U.S. and Canada have graduated. All services, including personalized training, ongoing support, and financial assistance for veterinary care, are provided free of charge, made possible entirely by the generosity of donors and volunteers, with no government funding.
Photo courtesy of Barbara Zamost
$50
Supplies a leash and grooming supplies for a guide dog.
$100
Funds transportation for one puppy from its puppy-raising home to the California or Oregon campus for guide dog training.
$250
Provides a “Puppy Raising Kit,” which includes a leash, puppy jacket, veterinary products and take-home dog equipment for a volunteer puppy raiser.
$500
Provides one ergonomic guide dog harness for a guide dog team.
$1,000
Provides transportation to and from classes at the campus for two clients.
$2,500
Supplies 30 canes and tips for Orientation and Mobility clients.
$5,000
Helps cover the cost of room and board for one client during a two-week class at the campus in California or Oregon.
$10,000
Covers the cost for 10 visually impaired teens to attend Camp GDB.
Halleck Creek Ranch
At Halleck Creek Ranch, people of all abilities are educated and inspired to live a life without barriers. Since 1977, highly trained staff and dedicated volunteers have empowered children and adults with disabilities through adaptive horseback riding and equine-assisted learning programs.
Photo courtesy of Jordan Stanton
With two ranches in Nicasio Valley, participants have the rare opportunity to access the rugged West Marin countryside, experiencing nature’s beauty in a way that is safe, supported and inclusive. Programs focus on what individuals can do, supporting physical and emotional growth, strengthening families and caregivers and fostering true belonging and community.
$50
Provides one unmounted horsemanship session for a child or adult with disabilities to build confidence and life skills.
$100
Buys a new horseback riding helmet for one special needs participants.
$250
Funds one week of inclusive horsemanship camp for children and young adults with disabilities, along with their siblings.
$500
Funds the purchase of adaptive tack for one of the 37 therapy horses.
$1,000
Covers six months of adaptive riding for one child or adult with a disability.
$2,500
Supports six months of volunteer training and enrichment.
$5,000
Covers a year of care for one therapy horse, including stabling and vet care.
$10,000
Funds a full year of educational events and support for parents and caregivers of individuals with disabilities.
Karma Club Teen
Karma Club’s mission is to transform the lives of Marin County youth by fostering a healthy and supportive community, preparing them for the future and improving the systems that affect them. Located inside Northgate Mall, Karma Club is a free after-school teen center offering unique opportunities and workforce development programs that benefit the broader community. College and career-readiness programs—including Future Healers Academy, FuturePrep AP exam support and free STEM, math and public speaking camps—equip teens for higher education and real-world careers especially in high-impact fields. The center also meets essential needs through an onsite free grocery store and clothing store.
Photo by Sally Newsom
$50
Covers the cost of art supplies (canvases, paints and maker kits) for the art department.
$100
Purchase new board games that teenagers can enjoy and use to connect with each other.
$250
Helps upgrade from an old Xbox 360 to a newer gaming system.
$500
Provides new art supplies and games for the center.
$1,000
Provides two used Apple MacBook laptops for students to borrow, ensuring access to reliable technology.
$2,500
Helps purchase two to three Apple desktop computers so students can do homework, receive free tutoring and more.
$5,000
Assists with covering rent and staffing for the 3,600-square-foot teen center.
$10,000
Sponsors college and career readiness programs that support teens as they plan for the future.
Kids Cooking For Life
Kids Cooking For Life teaches nutrition and inspires lifelong healthy cooking and eating habits through hands-on classes for at-risk students, including those from low-income communities and those with special needs. KCL empowers Bay Area kids and teens with the knowledge and skills for lifelong health and well-being.
Photo by Lara Rajninger
$50
Covers the cost of fresh, nutritious groceries for one class, serving 15–30 young chefs.
$100
Sponsors four young chefs to learn about nutrition through hands-on cooking.
$250
Funds an entire class of fifteen young chefs, introducing them to the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
$500
Covers the cost of fresh, nutritious groceries for ten classes, serving approximately 150 young chefs.
$1,000
Funds two weeks of our virtual classes, including sending the necessary groceries to each young chef each week.
$2,500
Covers the cost of groceries for 50 classes—one semester—at five Bay Area schools, serving 75 young chefs.
$5,000
Provides 20 weeks of healthy cooking classes for 30 young chefs.
$10,000
Funds a full semester of classes at four Title I schools in Marin County, reaching 60 students.
Literacy by the Bay
Literacy by the Bay is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping people of all ages and backgrounds grow as readers, writers and communicators. By improving literacy, the organization enriches lives and strengthens the community through reading, writing and cultural programs.
Photo by Cheryl Popp
$250
Provides books to children in need and encourages reading, especially at the holiday party for Marin City families.
Little Wishes
Founded in Marin in 2003 by pediatric nurses, Little Wishes helps seriously ill, hospitalized children cope with physical pain and emotional isolation. These children often miss school, birthdays, and milestones while facing life-threatening diagnoses. Little Wishes grants a wish every two weeks, restoring joy, control, and normalcy—whether it’s a teen celebrating a birthday in the ICU, a patient’s room transformed for the holidays, or a young child receiving a superhero costume before a procedure. To date, the organization has granted more than 35,000 wishes, bringing hope and comfort during the most challenging times.
Photo courtesy of Laura Euphrat
$50
Brightens a seriously ill child’s day with a magical holiday gift delivered to their hospital room.
$100
Makes the holidays a little more special for a seriously ill child with a personalized wish delivered to their hospital room.
$250
Turns a hospital room into a cozy winter wonderland with cheerful decorations and a heartfelt holiday wish for one seriously ill child.
$500
Grants wishes for two seriously ill children, allowing them to choose festive décor to transform their hospital rooms into cozy holiday wonderlands—bringing joy and magic right to their bedsides.
$1,000
Brings holiday magic to four seriously ill children by helping them personalize their hospital rooms and experience the joy of the season.
$2,500
Delivers the spirit of the holidays to 10 young patients with serious illnesses, complete with décor and gifts that make their hospital rooms feel festive and cozy.
$5,000
Funds a festive room makeover and fulfills holiday wishes to 20 seriously ill children.
$10,000
Turns the holidays into a magical experience for 40 hospitalized children with meaningful gifts and festive décor that brighten their rooms and transform them into winter wonderlands.
Marin Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
The Marin CASA program recruits, screens, trains, and supervises community volunteers who serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused and neglected children in Marin County’s dependency court system. These volunteers provide a crucial voice for vulnerable children during legal proceedings, ensuring their needs and best interests are represented in court.
Photo courtesy of Marin CASA
$50
Covers the cost of a background check for one volunteer, ensuring the safety and security of the children served.
$100
Provides materials for volunteer training sessions, equipping advocates with the tools to support children in the foster care system.
$250
Funds one month of case supervision for a volunteer, ensuring they have the guidance needed to effectively advocate for children.
$500
Supports outreach efforts to recruit and train new CASA volunteers, expanding the capacity to serve more children.
$1,000
Supports the critical needs of a child through educational support, tutoring, recreational activities and birthday or holiday gifts.
$2,500
Covers the cost of training and supporting a CASA volunteer for a year, enabling them to advocate for a child’s best interests.
$5,000
Provides comprehensive training, support and resources for a team of CASA volunteers, empowering them to advocate for multiple children throughout the year.
$10,000
Funds the recruitment, training and supervision of new CASA volunteers, allowing Marin CASA to expand its impact and serve more children in foster care.
Marin Foster Care Association
Marin Foster Care Association provides support, services, and resources for foster children and their caregivers.
Photo credit Joanna Stott
$50
Provides diapers and wipes for a parent caring for a newborn placement.
$100
Provides four new sets of cozy warm pajamas for foster youth this winter.
$250
Provides a new car seat or stroller for a foster parent with a toddler.
$500
Enables a foster child to attend summer camp or cover dues and equipment costs for a foster child to play a new sport.
$1,000
Provides ‘welcome home’ baskets of basic household goods—such as laundry detergent, a broom, cleaning supplies and trash bags—for four transition-age foster youth moving into independent housing.
$2,500
Helps fund Opportunity Project grants for five foster youth, which may include a musical instrument for a budding musician, a Chromebook or tablet for school, a prom dress or a sports uniform.
$5,000
Supports the Say ‘Yes’ Fund, which helps offset or cover the costs of obstacles to saying ‘Yes’ to a foster child. Examples include repairing a lift for an ADA-compliant vehicle, replacing a faulty water heater or air conditioner, purchasing new kitchen appliances or buying mattresses for a new resource parent.
$10,000
Enables the organization to serve 10 additional resource parents in the Fostering Interconnection Through Therapy (FITT) program by providing one-on-one counseling sessions that offer proactive strategies and coping tools to improve daily functioning and strengthen security at home.
Melissa Prandi Children Foundation
The Melissa Prandi Children Foundation empowers impoverished communities in Uganda with educational opportunities, vocational training, microloans and donations of food and crucial supplies.
Image courtesy of Melissa Prandi Children Foundation
$50
Provides 3 pairs of shoes for a child. These unique shoes actually grow up to 5 sizes, adjusting as the child’s feet grow.
$100
Covers the cost to feed some of the poorest of the poor, providing vital nutrition to those in greatest need.
$250
Supports the healthy eating program called The Garden of Eatin’, which teaches 4- to 6-year-olds how to plant, harvest, prepare and eat healthy foods.
$500
Supports a student’s enrollment in vocational school to learn a trade such as sewing, event planning or landscape design, covering one year of a two-year program.
$1,000
Sponsors a child to attend boarding school for a full academic year — an opportunity that can change a child’s life forever
$2,500
Purchases 357 reusable hygiene kits, provided free of charge to girls to help keep them in school with dignity and confidence.
$10,000
Funds the Sponsor a Village program, which assesses each village’s most urgent needs, including bathrooms, wash stations, school upgrades, The Garden of Eatin’, Women in Business and more. The program has even installed solar power in villages with no electricity.
Next Generation Scholars
Next Generation Scholars supports first-generation, under-resourced middle and high school students in Marin County, helping them succeed in college and beyond through socially conscious leadership development. With personalized academic and social support for students and their families, the program empowers young people to confront inequities and make a positive impact in their lives and communities.
Photo credit Sterling Rodas
$50
Provides an elementary student in Little Scholars with school supplies, books and healthy meals.
$100
Covers one week of after-school tutoring and academic support for a middle school scholar.
$250
Funds a month of college readiness workshops, including SAT prep and application counseling.
$500
Supports a parent workshop series on housing, food security, jobs and healthcare, creating stable homes for student success.
$1,000
Provides a full year of one-on-one academic advising and leadership development for a high school scholar.
$2,500
Underwrites a Community Uplift Project, empowering students to tackle real-world issues like food insecurity and climate justice.
$5,000
Covers a full year of holistic family services, stabilizing housing, food, healthcare and employment for one NGS household, so students can focus on academics.
$10,000
Funds a complete college access pathway for a first-generation student, including advising, SAT prep, tours and application support.
North Bay Children’s Center
For more than 37 years across 14 centers, North Bay Children’s Center has provided high-quality childcare and early learning experiences that lay the foundation for lifelong success.
Photo credit Skyler Green
$50
Provides a vulnerable child in Marin with a month’s worth of healthy meals including breakfast, lunch and a snack.
$100
Supports professional development for an NBCC teacher.
$250
Grows a season of vegetable starts in NBCC’s Garden of Eatin’® where children of all ages can learn and explore through the planting and harvesting process.
$500
Offers tuition assistance to a family in need.
$1,000
Supplies early-education materials to an NBCC classroom to help every student achieve proficiency.
$2,500
Distributes Raising a Reader bookbags at an NBCC preschool to engage parents in regular book-sharing with their children, fostering brain development and healthy home relationships.
$5,000
Covers six months of childcare for a low-income child, allowing the parent to pursue employment or educational goals.
$10,000
Purchases a naming-opportunity sponsorship to support NBCC’s Bright Futures Capital Project, which expands childcare and early education to more families in Marin.
North Marin Community Services
Rooted in the community for over 50 years, North Marin Community Services provides vital resources, educational opportunities and economic support to individuals and families. Its mission is to empower youth, adults and families to achieve well-being, growth and success.
Photo credit Amy Shmania
$50
Provides a month of afterschool snacks for a middle school student, giving them the energy needed to learn and grow during this critical stage of development.
$100
Provides a week of healthy breakfasts, lunches and snacks for a preschool student, ensuring each child receives balanced, nutritious meals that support learning and growth, regardless of household income.
$500
Provides fresh fruits and vegetables for nutritious, balanced meals that strengthen the growing minds and bodies of 100 preschool, elementary and middle school students.
Okizu
Okizu helps families affected by childhood cancer heal through peer support, respite, mentoring and recreational programs.
Photo credit Sarah Uldricks
$250
Provides a group of campers the chance to experience a day of camp activities, like the ropes course, boating or swimming, bringing adventure, confidence and smiles when they need it most.
$1,000
Sends a group of kids to Camp Oziku for a summer of healing, fun, and meaningful peer connection.
$5,000
Sponsors 10 campers for a weekend packed with campfires, laughter, s’mores and lifelong memories.
Play Marin
Play Marin is dedicated to providing recreational and educational opportunities for children and teens from diverse backgrounds. The programs are designed to promote personal growth, encourage community engagement and build leadership skills.
Photo courtesy of Play Marin
$50
Buys one basketball and two volleyballs for the programs.
$100
Provides a full uniform or a pair of new basketball shoes for a child.
$250
Provides two bicycles or one kayaking trip for 10 children.
$500
Covers three sailing trips over the summer for one youth.
$1,000
Pays the league fee for one team, provides 10 individual team uniforms, or sends 10 youth surfing.
$2,500
Funds the entire CYO Track & Field season.
$5,000
Supports eight weeks of guitar lessons for six to eight children.
$10,000
Helps fund the annual snow trip ($20,000 total) or makes a down payment on a new van for youth transportation.
The Helix School
The Helix School is a nonpublic school for neurodivergent children from kindergarten to age 22, specializing in autism and related developmental challenges. It offers an interdisciplinary, relationship-based education with a curriculum tailored to students’ developmental levels, sensory processing differences and emotional needs. Emphasizing motivation, kinesthetic and sensory-based learning, The Helix School empowers students to advocate for themselves, find comfort in their own bodies and discover the joy of learning through exploring their passions.
Photo courtesy of The Helix School
$50
Provides classroom supplies.
$100
Supports field trips.
$250
Contributes to staff credentialing.
$500
Helps maintain playground equipment.
$1,000
Funds afterschool enrichment programs.
$2,500
Supports scholarships.
$5,000
Helps to invests in staff professional development..
$10,000
Enables innovative teaching technologies.
Sausalito Woman’s Club Scholarship Recognition Fund
SWCSRF is a women-led, all-volunteer nonprofit supporting Sausalito and Marin City students with need- and merit-informed scholarships and light mentoring. Students pursue two- and four-year degrees, trade and certificate programs, re-entry and graduate or professional paths. Average award is about $4,000; 78% of scholars are low- to moderate-income and many are first-generation. Cohorts tracked from 2010 to 2025 show 87.5% four-year graduation and roughly 25% pursuing graduate or professional study. In 2025–26, the organization marks 70 years, supporting 42 scholars and surpassing $1.76 million in lifetime awards to more than 1,000 scholars.
$50
Helps cover a lab safety item or a transit pass to get to class and can be pooled toward a full scholarship.
$100
Pays for a required textbook or software and can be pooled toward a full scholarship.
$250
Provides books and supplies for a course and can be pooled toward a full scholarship.
$500
Covers a term’s books and fees at community college and can be pooled toward a full scholarship.
$1,000
Equips a student with essential tech such as a laptop and can be pooled toward a full scholarship.
$2,500
Funds one full-year community college scholarship or helps higher-need awards including tuition, fees, books and transit.
$5,000
Funds a full two-term community college scholarship or helps cover unmet CSU costs including tuition, fees, books, laptop and transit.
$10,000
Funds two higher-need scholarships: either two community college students, covering full-year tuition, fees and books and supplies; or one trade or certificate student, covering tuition, fees, tools and licensure, plus one university student’s unmet costs after other grants, including tuition, fees and books.
The Mallory Gaston Foundation
The Mallory Gaston Foundation powers youths’ untapped talent with the mental and physical fortitude to secure high-paying jobs in fitness and beyond.
Photo credit The Mallory Gaston Foundation
$50
Covers an MGF T-shirt and shorts for each apprentice in the MentorUP! program.
$1,000
Covers the cost of the 800-page International Sports Science Association (ISSA) book & certification.
$2,500
Sponsors the MGF Apprenticeship Lab, including 24/7 access, for apprentices and the community.
$10,000
Sponsors an Apprentice for the MGF 10-week intensive MentorUP! Program.
Tribe Rising India
Tribe Rising India exists to create generational change. The organization builds schools, educates children and provides hope for the Santal people.
Photo credit Annette Venables
$50
Provides a child with one full month of essential support that goes far beyond the classroom. It covers nutritious meals and snacks, safe and stable boarding, school supplies, and access to a high-quality education in a nurturing environment. Your gift also helps fund enrichment programs, technology, and counseling services that support the child’s emotional and academic growth.
$500
Provides a student with a full year of support, including everything needed to thrive—academically, physically and culturally. This includes a safe boarding environment, quality education, three nutritious meals and two snacks per day, all textbooks and school materials, uniforms, sports gear and traditional instruments and attire to preserve and celebrate tribal music and dance.
