Yountville Community Foundation funds new projects, may consider new applications early in ‘26
The Town of Yountville Community Foundation (TOYCF) board of directors met on Oct. 24 to review submissions.
Created by the Town of Yountville in 2017, the TOYCF is a 501(c)(3) organization established to accept donations and raise funds that support community-based programs benefiting Yountville residents.
Within the purvey of the foundation, the Imagine Yountville Grant Program accepts applications for projects designed to enhance the quality of life in town. Anyone can apply and bring their idea forward for consideration, with applications traditionally open in August of each year and available online at TOYCF.
The board of directors recently reviewed this year’s submissions and voted to approve the support of several new or expanded projects:
- The Farmstand Garden received a grant to continue its valuable work maintaining the garden and its volunteer network, which provides fresh produce to The Coop that is then sold at a discount to residents. As part of this year’s grant, the group will develop a new gleaning program to collect fruits and vegetables grown locally by homeowners who wish to share their bounty. To support this effort, you will soon see dedicated electric bikes buzzing around town, equipped with bins for gathering produce. More information will be shared soon, so if your orange tree is overflowing, stay tuned.
- If you’ve walked around Yountville, you may already have a Hospitality Hounds card in your pocket. Created last year by Cynthia Kapjian, this Yountville-born project brings together local dogs and their owners to greet residents and visitors, creating a warm and welcoming community spirit. The program received a grant to cover expenses and expand participation. You can find them online at Hospitality Hounds.
- Another project funded this year is an Intergenerational Farming and Animal Sanctuary Project, a partnership between Lindsay Hoopes and the Yountville Optimists Club. The project will pair local seniors with elementary and middle school students from Napa to explore the Oasis by Hoopes animal sanctuary and regenerative gardens, encouraging meaningful intergenerational connections while learning about caring for animals and healthy farming practices. The Boys & Girls Club after-school program and residents of Rancho de Napa have both pledged their support for the 2026 launch of this program.
After discussing all the applications, the board of directors discussed the idea of opening the grant application process again early next year for brand new ideas or clarification of recently proposed projects that were declined funding at this meeting. The board felt that all ideas are exciting and welcome, but some needed further development. The decision was made to put this on the January agenda for further discussion. So, get to work! You have a couple months to develop your ideas for the next fun or enriching project for Yountville.
