The Rancho Cucamonga Community & Arts Foundation is dedicated to its mission “to enrich our community by supporting, expanding and enhancing arts and cultural opportunities.” Currently comprised of an all-volunteer 8-member Board of Directors, along with an Executive Director and Bookkeeper, the Foundation hosts several fundraisers annually to raise much needed funds to support local arts organizations, programs and events.
The Rancho Cucamonga Community & Arts Foundation was originally founded in 1986 as the Rancho Cucamonga Community Foundation. The focus shifted specifically to the arts in 2006 when the City of Rancho Cucamonga was preparing the open the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center and Lewis Family Playhouse. The Foundation became the key fundraising entity where local corporations, businesses and residents could provide donations to support the arts in the city.
In 2011 the Foundation formally changed its name to Rancho Cucamonga Community & Arts Foundation. From that point on, the Foundation’s priorities for the arts generated $150,000 to $200,000 annually through a combination of fundraisers, grants, sponsorships and many generous donors. The funds were largely allocated to support a wide variety of locally produced theatre performances, provide free school group attendance to hundreds of children, sponsor guest artists, and present cultural arts community concerts at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center.
However, with the Covid-19 pandemic causing complete devastation of performing arts venues in 2020, the Foundation decided to shift their focus once again to COMMUNITY and ARTS in a much broader sense. With limited fundraising opportunities to generate funds during 2020, the Foundation still managed to offer funding support to local high school’s art programs to assist Instructors in the challenge of distance learning and continued arts scholarships to graduating seniors.
Then, in Spring 2021, the Foundation launched their Community Arts Grant Program, offering up to $25,000 in arts support to new and existing local arts organizations. And in Spring 2022, the Foundation held the inaugural Community Arts Festival, which spotlighted over 40 local arts organizations, offered classes and performances throughout the day, and drew over 2,000 in attendance.
The Foundation has also expanded School Arts Program Sponsorships to our local middle schools, in addition to the high schools. And continues to provide Arts Scholarships to local students pursuing education in the arts.
Soon, the Foundation will launch a monthly Arts Newsletter to help inform the community of the many and varied arts programs, events, performances, classes, festival and exhibits.
The Board of Directors or the Board’s Executive Committee meet monthly along with the Executive Director to provide general financial oversight, coordinate fundraising efforts, establish business partners and sponsors, and develop short- and long-term program goals for the Foundation.
For more information about the Rancho Cucamonga Community & Arts Foundation, contact Executive Director, Susan Sluka Kelly at [email protected] or call (909) 581-6355. Our mailing address is 10995 Eucalyptus St., Suite 103, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730.
RCCAAF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization – Tax ID 33-0255599