Redefining Philanthropy in Rural Communities with Kim Garner

Kim Garner serves as the Merced Regional Director at the Central Valley Opportunity Fund,  a donor-advised fund housed within the Central Valley Community Foundation. Based in Merced, a small rural city where the nonprofit ecosystem is still taking shape, Kim supports grassroots organizations tackling issues like permanent shelter for the unhoused, workforce development, and especially youth development. Many of the region’s community-based organizations are in the early stages of development, where they are passionate but under-resourced, and still building fundamental infrastructure.

“I loved the program,” Kim shares. “It helped me move away from a charitable grant based, transactional mindset to thinking about long-term systems change.” 

“The community-based organizations here are incredibly under-resourced,” Kim explains. “Many organizations are grassroots, overlapping in mission, and still building the basics, like how to put together an effective board or properly file a 990 form. We’re really in the early stages of growing a nonprofit ecosystem.” But supporting these organizations isn’t just about writing checks—it requires strategic, long-term thinking. That’s what led Kim to our Education for Philanthropy Professionals (EPP) program.

The program helped shift her mindset from a short-term, grant-by-grant focus to a more systemic, long-range approach rooted in strategy and accountability. Through tools like causal loop diagrams and systems mapping, she gained a deeper understanding of the interconnected challenges facing communities like Merced, and new ways to think about leverage points for change.

One of the key takeaways for Kim was the value of stepping back to reflect. In a region with limited philanthropic infrastructure, day-to-day demands can easily overwhelm the ability to think long-term. EPP offered a rare opportunity to pause, learn, and connect.

 “It gave me a new lens to think about community issues and where we can support for real impact.”

In addition to the curriculum, Kim found the diversity of the cohort particularly powerful. The combination of virtual learning and in-person sessions created space for shared experiences across geographies, roles, and perspectives, which she noted is especially meaningful for those working in more isolated rural areas.

Kim believes the moment is urgent. With public funding shrinking and community needs growing, philanthropy has a unique responsibility to step forward, not just with dollars, but with clarity, intentionality, and a willingness to take risks.

For others considering the EPP program, especially those working in rural or under-resourced regions, Kim offers strong encouragement. Kim emphasized the importance of continuing to learn, especially as the philanthropic landscape shifts. With new information, emerging topics, and ongoing change, she sees value in returning to trusted sources and hearing directly from field experts to stay grounded and responsive in her work.

“Programs like this help ground your work in strategy and values,” she reflects. “They give you the tools to lead responsibly, think boldly, and connect more deeply with the field.”