We’re especially passionate about pursuing work in the following areas:
Click a content area to see related project summaries.
Housing provides the vital foundation for people and communities to thrive. We help philanthropy develop effective strategies, from strengthening the safety net and preventing homelessness to supporting the production, preservation, and protection of affordable homes.
Although climate change affects us all, low-income families and communities of color are disproportionately impacted. We support foundations in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery and in developing initiatives to create more climate-resilient communities.
Healthy communities need accessible and affordable housing, schools, grocery stores, parks, and transit, as well as opportunities for social connection and cultural vitality. We work with intermediaries and foundations to improve social determinants of health and create greater community well-being.
Transforming educational and workforce systems is essential to increasing educational attainment and addressing income inequality. We partner with cross-sector leaders to focus on the most impacted populations, remove barriers, and align resources to improve outcomes.
At the end of the day, our focus is about changing systems to create equitable opportunities for people—no matter the issue area.
“Cassandra has an expertise with complex cross-sector projects that blends grants and capital investments. Her support was so valuable that we not only retained her to assist with implementation of the effort, but we also asked her to serve as the interim Initiative Director for a year. Her flexible and adaptive leadership style was a great fit for our corporate culture and well received by a wide range of stakeholders."
~ Ben Hecht, President & CEO, Living Cities
Our Publications
Housing Affordability: Philanthropic Solutions for Santa Barbara County
This report is intended to help develop a shared, cross-sector understanding of Santa Barbara County housing affordability challenges and offer actionable opportunities for philanthropy to join other sectors in increasing housing affordability, supply, and stability in the region.
Producing, Protecting, and Preserving Housing Affordability in Central Texas
Compared to other metropolitan areas in the country, the Austin-Round Rock metro is the 9th least affordable region with only 20 affordable and available homes for every 100 renter households — and more than half of Austin residents are renters. With housing costs outpacing wage growth, 49% of Austin’s renters are “cost-burdened,” spending more than 30% or even 50% of their income on housing. These families are disproportionately people of color, with Black and Latinx families experiencing cost burdens at higher rates than white households.
Oakland COVID-19 Relief Fund Report
Grants to serve Oakland’s most vulnerable communities and impacted neighborhoods were awarded to more than 50 community-based nonprofit organizations. Just over half of grant dollars ($2.9 million) went for direct financial assistance for Oakland residents, providing cash aid for extremely low-income community members, particularly those experiencing housing instability, populations not eligible for government assistance due to their immigration status, and people of color.
Strengthening the Safety Net in Butte County: Findings and Recommendations
This report is a thorough analysis meant to serve as a tool for advocacy, collaboration and developing a deeper understanding of how Butte County can rebuild its social safety net after the devastating Camp Fire.
Protecting, Preserving, & Increasing Production of Affordable Housing in Silicon Valley
Research report that highlights four areas of opportunity where philanthropy can play an impactful role in increasing the supply of affordable housing.
Homelessness, Hunger, Workforce: Community Basic Needs Report
Report that reviews needs, service systems, funding sources, demographic context, and opportunities to affect change in the issue areas of homelessness, hunger, and workforce development.
Putting the East Bay to Work, Part Two: Partnering with Employers
Research report on workforce support strategies and resource gaps identified by employers as promising approaches to increase employment among individuals with work barriers in the East Bay Area.
Safety Net Issue Briefs
A series of short issue briefs providing an overview of safety net systems and describing emerging needs, promising practices, and opportunities for policy and systems change.
Strengthening the Safety Net: Bay Area Philanthropy’s Response and Early Lessons
Research report on the scope and emerging best practices in safety net grantmaking in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Putting the East Bay to Work: Sustainable Jobs for the Underemployed
Research report on sustainable jobs and recommendations for best practices in employment of three target populations in the East Bay Area.
Ending Bay Area Homelessness: The Philanthropic Role
A review of effective grantmaking strategies for preventing and ending homelessness.
Broken Yardstick: Administrative Cost Rates as a Measure of Nonprofit Effectiveness
Research report on practices used to determine nonprofit administrative cost rates, based on a survey of San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit organizations.
Learn more about our core service areas
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