The Value of a Pooled Fund

At its core, a pooled fund is simple: many donors contribute to a collective pool of money that can be invested strategically. By combining gifts of all sizes, a pooled fund unlocks a level of flexibility and impact that no single donor could achieve alone.

For Sonoma Valley, this model is especially powerful. Our community has incredible resources of all kinds, and at the same time, faces urgent, emergent, and chronic challenges. A pooled fund allows Catalyst to move quickly in times of crisis while also creating opportunities to invest in strategic, long-term solutions.

Catalyst’s pooled fund is held at Community Foundation Sonoma County and invested exclusively in Sonoma Valley. Our investment strategy is led by the Catalyst Steering and Grants Committees, who are guided by data, lived experience, and the nonprofit we support. We are in ongoing conversation with nonprofits across all sectors, giving us a bird’s-eye view of the Valley’s nonprofit ecosystem—how efforts fit together, where gaps remain, and where collaboration can make the greatest impact.

Together, we can do what none of us could do alone: create a just, united, and resilient Sonoma Valley.