Foundations

“…our small investment leverages an incredible amount of donated staff, space and food from the participating faith-based groups.”

—Laura Escobar
Director, Safety Net Programs
Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program

The majority (76%) of shelter expenses are for paid professional shelter staff who provide round-the-clock supervision. Administrative costs were 12% of shelter expenses. Winter Nights Family Shelter is financially self-sustaining.  Carry-over funds at fiscal year-end have enabled the shelter to open the following fall for the past 13 years.

We enthusiastically thank our current major local funders:

• The Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation,
• the Children’s Support League of the East Bay,
• Firedoll Foundation,
• Wilcox Foundation,
• Gellert Foundation and
• the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

Grants for programs within Winter Nights address specific client needs:

• Moraga Valley Kiwanis support Traveling Tutors
• Lowell Berry Foundation and HEDCO Foundation help fund the Winter Nights Van, and
• the Lafayette Community Foundation paid for the computer and printer that make resumes and job hunting possible.

Grant writers volunteer time to research grant opportunities, write grant applications, manage foundation relationships and report outcomes to grantors. For more information or to submit an RFP, please contact volunteer grant writers Jo Kerner or Stephanie Baker at grants@cccwinternights.org.

“The Emergency Food and Shelter Program invests in the Interfaith Council’s Winter Nights Program because it plays a critical role in caring for homeless families during the wettest and coldest months of the year.  There are not enough family shelter beds in the county and our small investment leverages an incredible amount of donated staff, space and food from the participating faith based groups.   The volunteers personally invest in ending the housing crisis for each family that they serve. It is heroic work!”

—Laura Escobar
Director, Safety Net Programs
Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program

“The Kiwanis motto is ‘Serving the Children of the World’. To this end, the Kiwanis Club of Moraga Valley contributes to the Winter Nights Traveling Tutor program, which champions the education of the homeless children of Contra Costa County in the Winter Nights program. The mentoring and supplies that this program provides help keep these children in school and at grade level. Funds are used for reading incentives, books, school supplies, educational games and math manipulatives. We are glad for the opportunity to serve the children of Winter Nights.

—Kiwanis Club of Moraga Valley

“Your program is the only program around here that I feel people are treated with love and compassion. I know that because this is what the families tell me. Their families can stay together and the children are always so happy. It also gives them an opportunity to work, save money and really get up and out of the homeless situation. In addition, Winter Nights does an amazing job of connecting families with housing resources such as shelter inc… We so appreciate all of your work!”

—Vivica Taylor, Homeless Outreach Program for Education (HOPE), Mt. Diablo Unified School District