CAMARILLO, CA - The Ventura County Community Foundation will offer office space to emerging nonprofits in the new VCCF Nonprofit Center in Camarillo at a fraction of current market rate.

Eligibility criteria and an application form to become a tenant in the new Grassroots Office Suite are posted on vccf.org, with applications due Jan. 31.

VCCF has set aside permanently 1,155 square feet in the recently opened VCCF Nonprofit Center, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., for three to five emergent charities. Qualifying organizations will receive a 33 percent discount over current market rate.

The goal of the Grassroots Office Suite program is to assist these start-ups while they assist their clients, according to Linda Garcia, VCCF vice president of Programs and Grants.

"With the influx of people seeking services, many organizations have emerged to address their needs. This discounted space will allow emerging nonprofits to worry less about operating costs and give them time to plan their stability."

Beyond the rent subsidy, which is covered by a VCCF grant, these organizations will receive other benefits from an office in the VCCF Nonprofit Center, according to Garcia.

Locating in the same building as the VCCF Center for Nonprofit Leadership will give them ready access to approximately 125 professional development classes and networking opportunities every year, a technology center and access to the Library for Nonprofit Research and Development with over 1,000 resources.

The ecosystem taking shape at the VCCF Nonprofit Center mirrors the charitable landscape of Ventura County, said Dena Jensen, VCCF vice president and director of the Center for Nonprofit Leadership.

"Large and mid-sized organizations are sharing space with grassroots organizations throughout our county. With the addition of these emerging nonprofit organizations, we have created an environment that fosters collaboration, shared leadership and opportunities for nonprofit leaders to learn and grow together, furthering our belief that more can be done together than any one of us can do alone," Jensen said.

They also will share the building with some of Ventura County's largest and most established nonprofits, including VCCF, United Way of Ventura County and Interface Children and Family Services.

"That will help them build a network of peers and colleagues and learn from the experience of seasoned nonprofit professionals," Garcia said.

VCCF has a history of supporting grassroots charitable efforts, said VCCF President and CEO Hugh Ralston. Two years ago, VCCF added the Kesa Ryono Unsung Hero Award to its signature Community Leadership Awards. The honor is named for the Port Hueneme community activist and Ventura County Civic Alliance associate who died in March 2010 at the age of 47.

"At VCCF, we recognize neighborhood leadership through the Kesa Ryono Unsung Hero Award. With the Grassroots Office Suite program we can take that a step further by assisting smaller nonprofit organizations like those Kesa advocated for," Ralston said.

Nonprofits must meet the criteria determined by VCCF, that include being located in Ventura County or serving Ventura County residents, 501(c)(3) status or having a fiscal sponsor that is a 501(c)(3) and having a board of directors and paid staff. After determining eligibility and completing the application and questionnaire, a committee reviews each organization and selects tenants based on the criteria listed. Selected nonprofits can occupy the space in the spring.

To learn more about the Grassroots Suite, contact Garcia at (805) 988-0196, Ext. 120, or lgarcia@vccf.org.

ABOUT VCCF
Celebrating its 25th year, VCCF invests the charitable capital that drives the philanthropic engines of Ventura County. Its portfolio performance ranks in the top 11 of all community foundations in the United States for long-term growth. With total assets of $115 million, as of Sept. 30, its mission is to promote and enable philanthropy to improve our community for good for ever, which it does through grantmaking, scholarships and training at its Center for Nonprofit Leadership. In December, VCCF moved into its new home ---- the VCCF Nonprofit Center in Camarillo ---- a place where nonprofits and the community can come together to work together. Visit vccf.org or call (805) 988-0196.