What Richmond Community Foundation does

Richmond Community Foundation (operating as RCF Connects) is a 501(c)(3) community foundation founded in 2000 and headquartered at 3260 Blume Drive, Suite 110 in Richmond, California. The organization originated from a 1993 industrial crisis in which a sulfuric acid release from a Richmond chemical plant led to a $1.5 million community benefit fund, and was formally established in 2000 before being rebranded as RCF Connects in 2019 to reflect its countywide reach across Contra Costa County. The organization operates a hybrid model combining a traditional community foundation (donor-advised funds, corporate advised funds, field-of-interest funds, bequests, and a community impact fund) with direct service delivery across five core initiatives: Ensuring Opportunity (poverty elimination), Equity for Black Women and Girls, Healthy Contra Costa, Restoring Neighborhoods, and SparkPoint Contra Costa (a free financial education network).

The organization runs supporting programs including the Richmond Housing Renovation Program, Housing First (rapid rehousing), the NURVE neighborhood revitalization initiative, Comment Studios (media training), an Electric Vehicle Car Share Program, and the recently launched Embodied Leadership Coaching program. Service delivery is conducted through eight physical locations spanning Richmond, San Pablo, Bay Point, Pleasant Hill, Antioch, and Pittsburg, including SparkPoint centers on all three Contra Costa Community College District campuses. Programs are offered free to community members, while revenue is generated through donor contributions, grants, charitable giving vehicles, event ticket sales, and corporate sponsorships. Reported impact metrics include more than 3,000 individuals served annually by SparkPoint, $1.3 million returned via Free Tax Prep, over 25 homes renovated for first-time homeowners, and 20 Black women-owned businesses supported through the Sistas SOAR and Taking Flight programs.

The organization is led by Co-CEOs Jim Becker (with the foundation since 2005, CEO since 2014) and Rosalind Welch (joined 2016), under an interim shared leadership model introduced in January 2026 in anticipation of Becker's retirement. RCF Connects employs approximately 35 team members (up from 13 at the time of Welch's arrival), maintains active partnerships with over 20 organizations including Chevron, U.S. Bank, Chase, Mechanics Bank, United Way Bay Area, and multiple county colleges, and is recognized as the 2024 Non-Profit of the Year by the Antioch Chamber of Commerce and a 2024 East Bay Innovation Award recipient. The 2026 Peer-to-Peer fundraising campaign targeting $250,000+ for Equity for Black Women and Girls represents a new fundraising channel alongside traditional major-gift and event-driven revenue.

Name

Richmond Community Foundation

Legal name

Richmond Community Foundation

Website

https://rcfconnects.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RCF Connects is a 501(c)(3) community foundation serving Contra Costa County, California, operating donor-advised funds and direct service programs including financial education (SparkPoint), affordable housing, equity initiatives for Black women and girls, and homelessness response across eight locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community foundation services
• Donor advised funds
• Financial education programs
• Affordable housing programs
• Equity philanthropy initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Advised Funds: Flexible charitable giving tool where donors can actively engage in philanthropy by directing donations according to their values and interests. RCF provides financial administration, personalized service, and grant-making expertise.
2. Corporate Advised Funds: Tailored corporate giving programs that reflect company culture and values. RCF assists with community grants programs, outsourcing corporate giving management.
3. Agency Funds: Safe investment vehicle for nonprofit organizations to build reliable sources of continuing support with economies of scale benefits.
4. Field of Interest Funds: Donations channeled to address specific charitable causes such as education, health, environment, civic engagement. RCF selects grantees within targeted fields.
5. Bequests: Planned gifts through wills or trusts after death. Members joining Legacy Society. Can establish endowment funds supporting favorite causes in perpetuity.
6. Community Impact Fund: Pooled resources from multiple donors supporting critical charitable projects in Contra Costa County. Leverages contributions to multiply donor impact.
7. Event Revenue: Revenue from event tickets and sponsorships for galas, pitch competitions, and community events supporting specific initiatives.
8. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Community members raise funds on behalf of RCF initiatives, expanding donor base for programs like Equity for Black Women and Girls.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Richmond Community Foundation (dba RCF Connects) is a 501(c)(3) community foundation that mobilizes the power of connection to build healthy, thriving, and equitable communities across Contra Costa County. It does this by convening residents and partners, facilitating infrastructure for grassroots equity programs, and funding those programs through donor-advised, corporate-advised, agency, field-of-interest, and endowment funds, while also running direct-service programs such as SparkPoint Contra Costa financial education centers, Housing First rental assistance, the Richmond Housing Renovation Program, and the Equity for Black Women and Girls initiative.

Product overview

RCF Connects operates as a community foundation offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and charitable services. The organization provides core initiatives including Ensuring Opportunity (poverty elimination), Equity for Black Women and Girls, Healthy Contra Costa (health equity), Restoring Neighborhoods, and SparkPoint Contra Costa (financial education). Supporting programs include the Richmond Housing Renovation Program, Housing First, Comment Studios, Electric Vehicle Car Share Program, and NURVE. RCF also offers charitable giving vehicles including Donor Advised Funds, Corporate Advised Funds, Field of Interest Funds, and the Black Wealth Builder's Fund. Embodied Leadership Coaching provides professional development. All programs are connected through the foundation's mission to mobilize the power of connection to build healthy, thriving, and equitable communities throughout Contra Costa County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SparkPoint Contra Costa Network of free financial education centers located in Richmond, San Pablo, Pleasant Hill, Bay Point, Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, and Los Medanos College that help individuals, families, and students build financial stability through credit improvement, income increase, asset building, free tax preparation, financial coaching, and one-on-one career services.
• Ensuring Opportunity Initiative Cross-sector campaign to end poverty in Contra Costa County by addressing root causes of poverty and systemic racism through policy change, engaging social sector organizations, businesses, labor, local government, and community members.
• Equity for Black Women and Girls Initiative Initiative launched in October 2020 to address the less than 1% of community dollars that support Black women and girls in Contra Costa County, providing funding, training, and safe spaces for Black women entrepreneurs and community leaders, including the Sistas SOAR incubator, Sister Circles, and Taking Flight Pitch Competition.
• Healthy Contra Costa Initiative that gathers resident leaders and advances demands for economic justice, education reform, and systems change, advocating for low-income BIPOC communities to have decision-making seats at policy tables.
• Restoring Neighborhoods Initiative Multi-faceted strategy to rebuild neighborhoods throughout Contra Costa County, creating and supporting livable, safe, and healthy environments by developing, preserving, and investing in community assets, including the Richmond Housing Renovation Program and the Electric Vehicle Car Share Program.
• Housing First Program Evidence-based program that prioritizes providing safe, stable, long-term housing to unhoused community members, with supportive services including up to 12 months of rental payments and hotel/motel vouchers for rapid rehousing.
• Richmond Housing Renovation Program Partnership with Mechanics Bank and the City of Richmond to eliminate housing blight by reclaiming abandoned properties and creating clean, safe, advanced-energy rehabilitated homes sold to first-time homebuyers at price points ranging from $134,000 to $690,000.
• Electric Vehicle Car Share Program (Miocar) Electric vehicle car share program accessible through the Miocar mobile app at $4/hour, providing transportation access and filling gaps in the transportation ecosystem for often-forgotten neighborhoods.
• Comment Studios Formerly Mobility LABs, a studio based in Antioch developing computer-based media skills and storytelling capabilities for technology-based job careers, advancing solutions to lift families out of poverty and promote dynamic leaders.
• Nystrom United Revitalization Effort (NURVE) Collaborative effort founded in 2002 to create safe, diverse, and thriving neighborhoods where children walk to quality schools, people use parks and community facilities, and housing options meet resident needs.
• Donor Advised Funds Flexible charitable giving vehicles allowing individuals and families to actively engage in philanthropy by directing donations according to their values and interests while RCF Connects handles financial administration, personalized service, and grant-making expertise.
• Corporate Advised Funds Tailored corporate giving programs that reflect company culture and values, providing seamless outsourcing of community grants programs with employee engagement opportunities.
• Field of Interest Funds Charitable funds channeling donations to address specific or broad causes such as education, health, environment, or civic engagement, with RCF Connects selecting grantees within the designated field.
• Black Wealth Builder's Fund Dedicated fund supporting Black families in building generational wealth through homeownership via downpayment assistance, in partnership with U.S. Bank expanding BIPOC first-time homeowners across Contra Costa and Alameda counties.
• Embodied Leadership Coaching Program developing leaders, coaches, and changemakers committed to fostering healing, growth, and transformation through coaching training and embodiment practices, including the AnDrea Neal Coach Training and the Portal of Practice: Oracle for Every Body oracle deck.
• Sistas SOAR Incubator Program Success Opportunities Apprenticeship Resilience incubator helping Black women realize dreams of becoming successful business owners through 24-week intensive training with workshops and business preparation, in partnership with Chase Minority Business and Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of SparkPoint clients made progress in a 3-month period
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Housing Authority of Contra Costa CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Transferring properties to RCF Connects for $1 each to be rebuilt as affordable homes for first-time homebuyers in Las Deltas neighborhood.
• CHDC (Community Housing Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Partner in Las Deltas neighborhood revitalization, working with RCF Connects to create affordable homeownership opportunities.
• Richmond Neighborhood Housing ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Housing development partner supporting first-time homeownership programs and neighborhood revitalization efforts.
• Mechanics BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Presenting sponsor for Equity for Black Women and Girls events including Angry Black Woman 101 performance and The Queen's Jewel Gala.
• CalNonprofitsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Membership in CalNonprofits association, demonstrating commitment to nonprofit sector best practices.
• Chase Minority BusinessflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Partnership powering the Sistas SOAR (Success Opportunities Apprenticeship Resilience) program, a 24-week business incubator supporting Black women entrepreneurs.
• Renaissance Entrepreneurship CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Co-partner in Sistas SOAR program providing entrepreneurship training and support to Black women business owners.
• CoBiz RichmondcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2024Venue partner for Taking Flight Pitch Competition event at 1503 Macdonald Ave., Richmond CA.
• Richmond Golf ClubcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2024Centennial campaign partner raising $100,000 for first-time homeownership through RCF Connects, contributing to Richmond Housing Renovation Program.
• Coach to Discover, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Black-female-led consulting firm led surveying effort for Equity for Black Women and Girls Initiative, conducting Sister Circle focus groups and research.
• Bay Area LISCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019NURVE partnership for community development and neighborhood revitalization around Nystrom Elementary School.
• West Contra Costa Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Educational partner in NURVE collaborative for community schools and youth development.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Federal partner in NURVE initiative supporting parks and community facilities improvements.
• Richmond Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Housing authority partner for affordable housing development and NURVE neighborhood revitalization.
• United Way of the Bay AreacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017Key partner in SparkPoint Contra Costa network, providing financial support and resources for financial education centers serving low-income individuals and families across the county.
• ChevroncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017Corporate partner supporting SparkPoint Contra Costa initiatives and financial education programming for underserved communities.
• Contra Costa Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017Healthcare partner providing integrated services at SparkPoint locations, addressing health and wellness alongside financial stability.
• Employment & Human Services Department of Contra Costa CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017Government partner connecting SparkPoint clients with employment services, workforce development, and human services programs.
• Bay Area Legal AidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017Legal services partner at SparkPoint locations providing civil legal aid to low-income community members.
• Brighter BeginningscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017Family support partner providing services to families and children served through SparkPoint centers.
• Opportunity JunctioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017Workforce development partner connecting SparkPoint clients with employment and training opportunities.
• Shelter, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017Homeless services partner providing housing support and shelter services integrated with SparkPoint programs.
• Contra Costa CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2017College campus location for SparkPoint services, providing financial education to students and surrounding community.
• Diablo Valley CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2017College campus location for SparkPoint services, reaching students and community members in Pleasant Hill area.
• LEAP-City of RichmondcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017Literacy program partnership providing educational services to SparkPoint clients and community members.
• Richmond Mayor's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017City government partner supporting community development initiatives and housing programs.
• Supervisor John Gioia's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017County district partner supporting community initiatives and programs in District 1.
• Supervisor Federal Glover's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017County district partner supporting community initiatives in District 5.
• Dreamcatchers Empowerment NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017Community organization partner supporting empowerment programs for community members.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• California Community Foundation: Los Angeles-based community foundation offering donor advised funds, scholarship funds, and equity-focused grantmaking; comparable in operating model as a regional place-based community foundation serving a defined geography.
• Sacramento Region Community Foundation: Regional community foundation serving the Sacramento area with donor advised funds, community grantmaking, and affordable housing initiatives; comparable in structure, geography-based service area, and multi-program approach.
• Bay Area LISC: Local Initiatives Support Corporation affiliate focused on community development and neighborhood revitalization; a current RCF Connects partner in the NURVE initiative and a direct peer in affordable housing and neighborhood equity work.
• Silicon Valley Community Foundation: Large Bay Area community foundation operating donor advised funds, corporate giving programs, and equity initiatives; highly comparable in service offerings (DAFs, corporate advised funds, field-of-interest funds) though larger in scale.
• United Way of the Bay Area: Bay Area social-services funder and direct operator of SparkPoint financial-coaching centers; a current RCF Connects partner in SparkPoint Contra Costa and a direct peer in financial inclusion and emergency-assistance programming.
• San Francisco Foundation: Major Bay Area community foundation offering donor advised funds, grantmaking, and equity-focused programs including racial and gender equity work; comparable in product mix (DAFs, field-of-interest funds, community impact grants) and a known employer of RCF Connects' Grants Manager.
• East Bay Community Foundation: East Bay-based community foundation serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties with donor advised funds, grantmaking, and equity-focused initiatives; a long-standing RCF Connects partner via the NURVE project and a direct comparable in mission and geography.

Regional players

• Tipping Point Community: Bay Area anti-poverty organization funding and supporting programs fighting poverty; comparable mission focus on poverty alleviation and workforce/financial stability, though operating primarily in San Francisco rather than Contra Costa.

Others

• Contra Costa Health Services: County government health partner providing integrated services at SparkPoint locations; a key RCF Connects partner rather than a direct competitor, but adjacent in addressing health equity for low-income BIPOC communities in Contra Costa.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Shield of California Foundation: Large California foundation focused on domestic violence, health equity, and community health; comparable in grantmaking to community-based organizations including those addressing health access for low-income populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RichmondCF
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAHSGmsqR572xrtTDQmgzPg
• Facebookfacebook.com/RichmondCF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/richmond-community-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/richmondcf

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Richmond Community Foundation