East/Central Contra Costa County, CA
Together for 5 years
Each Cohort lasts five years so relationships can strengthen, processes can develop, and internal structures can be built. Together, Opportunity Junction, Village Community Resource Center, and Center for Human Development meet quarterly to present grant proposals to each other, vote on new grants, share progress updates, and seek advice on new challenges as they build capacity and grow.
The mission of Opportunity Junction is to help motivated Contra Costa County job seekers develop the skills and confidence to launch careers that lead to financial security.
Founded 2000
The mission of Village Community Resource Center is to improve the quality of life for children and families in East Contra Costa County by promoting equity through education, wellness, leadership and organizing, and partnerships.
Founded 2002
The mission of Center for Human Development is to offer a spectrum of services for at-risk youth, individuals, families, and communities in the Bay Area.
Founded 1972
Long-Term Community Investment
Magic Cabinet prioritizes community-born, led, and serving organizations to build their capacity and accelerate their impact. We believe if given the time, tools, and resources they ask for, the organizations and the communities they serve will flourish.
Capacity Building Projects Overview
An effective nonprofit is more than its programs. Each Cohort has access up to $2.5m through collectively approved capacity-building grants— approximately $500k available each year. Every Cohort member faces unique challenges and opportunities for their organization; that’s why they determine how to leverage Magic Cabinet funds.
Sometimes, getting to yes means rewriting the rules. When our capacity-building model became too limiting, we trusted the expertise of our partners—seeding an idea that took root among multiple Magic Cabinet cohorts.
Several of our nonprofit partners are redefining what innovation looks like—using multi-year, capacity-building funding from Magic Cabinet to build critical infrastructure within their organizations and explore new revenue streams, setting them on a sustainable path for the future.
We're excited to announce Magic Cabinet's first cohorts of fiscally-sponsored organizations. Ushering in a new evolution of our grantmaking, we're eager to shift power to a new group of nonprofits to help them catalyze impact within the communities they serve.