Leave a Legacy

We all want to make a difference in the world and leave a lasting imprint on society. When it comes to investing in the long-term success of local people, no organization is more committed to meeting the community’s diverse needs as Community Bridges. Together, we can make our community a better place for generations after us.

Legacy Giving – Common Options

You can decide to leave your gift for general purposes, or for a specific program. You can direct your planned gift to the general fund, or to our endowment.

It is Easy!

  • Donate appreciated assets such as stock shares and offset a tax burden quickly, easily and flexibly. 
  • Name Community Bridges as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or insurance policy to offset penalties.
  • Contribute to our endowment and help build a reserve fund that earns income for our programs for years to come.
  • Name Community Bridges in your will or living trust, leaving a meaningful legacy that demonstrates a lifetime of your values.
  • More complex options, like charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities, can be set up easily with the help of a financial advisor.

Legacy Gifts are Caring Gifts for the Future

Our largest gifts have come from bequest donors. These thoughtful and caring gifts support important services over many years. Your legacy can truly live into the future with a little planning today.

Appreciated Assets

Gifts of appreciated assets, including appreciated shares of stocks and mutual funds, may be some of the most tax-efficient ways to give. If you have securities that have increased in value, you may receive a deduction based on the full appreciated value, and you might also avoid the capital gains tax that would have been due had you sold the shares.

Community Bridges uses the firm LPL Financial to handle all electronic transfers of stock. Your broker can transfer directly your gift to our account using this information:

  1. Receiving Account Registration: Community Bridges– A nonprofit organization
  2. Receiving Account Number: 51042048
  3. DTC number for LPL Financial: 0075

Please have your broker include your name and contact information when making the transfer. Upon completion of your stock transfer, please complete this Stock Transfer Form and return to:

Community Bridges
519 Main Street
Watsonville, CA 95076

Retirement Accounts

IRAs, 401(K), 403(B) and other accounts grow tax-deferred, often becoming quite large over the years. Unlike many other types of investments, funds withdrawn from retirement accounts can be taxable to you and, eventually, to your heirs.

If you are over 70 ½, you are required to take distributions from an IRA. Instead of creating a taxable event for yourself, make the distribution a charitable gift. As long as the distribution is paid directly to Community Bridges from your IRA administrator, the amount will not be counted in your taxable income for the year, which may result in tax savings for you! 

Make your withdrawal payable to Community Bridges, 519 Main St, Watsonville CA 95076. Our Tax ID Number is 94-2460211. You can donate to our general fund, or make a notation designating your gift to one of our ten programs.

Endowment Giving 

Community Bridges is creating sustainable solutions to support our mission. Relying on government funding to support our programs simply isn’t enough. In 2014, we started an endowment to ensure that the safety net we have created will continue to grow for generations to come.

Contributions to our endowment earn interest, creating an investment in our community for years to come. 100% of profit from our endowment will be used to support the operations of our programs, strengthening this vital community.

Founding 100 Giving Circle

We invite you to join the “Community Bridges Founding 100.” This group will consist of 100 members that donate $1,000 or more to the Community Bridges endowment, helping us create lasting solutions to issues of poverty, health, and education in our community.

Thank you to our first Founding 100 members:

Raymon & Trisha Cancino
Paul & Teresa Carrubba
Leland & Susan Faust
Barbara and Allen Frank
Ralph and Julie Kimball
Jerry Lopez & Ana Espinosa
The Solari Mazry Family Fund at Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
Susan Marinshaw
O’Connell Family
The Rinker-Kan Family
Paul & Baylee Whitted

Bequests

Leaving a gift in your will or trust is a powerful way to express your values now – and strengthen our community’s future. The right planned gift can provide you and your loved ones with tax and income benefits, while leaving a lasting impact on the people and programs that mean the most to you. To leave a gift in your will or trust, just discuss this language with a qualified
professional:

“I bequeath $_____ or _____% of my estate to Community Bridges, Tax ID# 94-2460211, located at 519 Main Street, Watsonville, CA 95076.”

Contact Us

To learn more about how you can leave a lasting legacy in our community, contact Anna Vaage, Annual Giving Coordinator, at 831-688-8840 x205 or annav@cbridges.org.

FREE Food Distributions in Santa Cruz County This August! 💚Community Bridges is proud to support our communities with free food distributions throughout the month. Stop by for fresh produce, pantry staples, groceries, clothing, and other essential items.📍 Nueva Vista Community Resources711 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz🗓️ August 5 & 19⏰ 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM📍 Mountain Community Resources6134 Highway 9, Felton🗓️ August 6, 13, 20 & 27⏰ 10:30 AM – 11:30 AMWhether you’re picking up for yourself, a neighbor, or a family member, all are welcome.✅ No registration required✅ No ID needed✅ No questions askedJust come as you are. 💚🔗 Learn more: communitybridges.org/frc#CommunityBridges #FoodDistribution #SantaCruzCounty #FoodAccess #SantaCruz #FeltonCA #SanLorenzoValley #CommunitySupport #FreshFoodForAll ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
Every day, Community Bridges programs help neighbors across the Central Coast access food, transportation, education, and health services.Behind that impact is a community of supporters who believe in caring for one another.Members of the Bridge Builders Circle provide steady monthly support that helps sustain essential services across Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties.Your generosity helps strengthen dignity, stability, and opportunity for families throughout our region.Become a Bridge Builder today:communitybridges.org/monthly/ ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
We're proud to share that Community Bridges CEO Ray Cancino will be speaking at the Nonprofit Advocacy: Roles, Rules & Responsibilities workshop, hosted by the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County and Nonprofit Connection Santa Cruz County. Advocacy is an essential part of building stronger, healthier communities. Join nonprofit leaders from across our region to explore how organizations can effectively advocate for the people they serve while understanding the legal and ethical guidelines that shape this important work.📅 Thursday, August 27, 2026🕘 9:00–11:30 a.m.Register and learn more: cfscc.org/events/nonprofit-advocacy-roles-rules-and-responsibilities#CommunityBridges #NonprofitLeadership #Advocacy #CommunityImpact #SantaCruzCounty #Nonprofits ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
🌟 Congratulations to Esteban Gudino, our July Employee of the Month! 🎉We are proud to recognize Esteban Gudino, our dedicated Facilities Technician!Esteban consistently goes above and beyond in his role, demonstrating an outstanding work ethic, integrity, and commitment to excellence. He approaches every task with professionalism and takes pride in keeping our facilities running smoothly. Beyond his hard work, Esteban treats everyone with respect, kindness, and compassion, making a positive impact on both his coworkers and the people we serve.His dedication, reliability, and positive attitude make him an invaluable member of the Community Bridges team.Thank you, Esteban, for everything you do and for being such an important part of the Community Bridges family. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! #employeeofthemonth #CommunityBridges ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
🌟 Build a rewarding career while making a difference in your community!Community Bridges supports people of all ages and backgrounds throughout Santa Cruz County and North Monterey County, including children, families, pregnant women, older adults, and adults with disabilities.We’re currently hiring for several positions, including:• EED Director• Consulting Pharmacist• HR Administrative Assistant• Director of Communications & External Affairs• Accounting Assistant• Teacher Floater• And more on our website!Benefits for eligible employees include:• 16 vacation days and 11 holidays• medical, dental, and vision coverage• 401(k) retirement plan• A hiring bonus for eligible regular positions, paid after completing a six month probationary period• Life insurance & Employee Assistance program• Flexible spending account (FSA)Join the Community Bridges team and help create a stronger, healthier community.Explore current openings and apply today at communitybridges.org/careers.#CommunityBridges #Hiring #JoinOurTeam #NonprofitCareers #SantaCruzCounty ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
50th Anniversary Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County - Community Bridges / Puentes de la Communidad logo

Celebrating 50 Years of Support

Join us at Food From the Heart to honor this legacy and support the future of senior care.

50th Anniversary Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County - Community Bridges / Puentes de la Communidad logo

Celebrating 50 Years of Support

Join us at Food From the Heart to honor this legacy and support the future of senior care.

Every Family Needs a Plan

Urge the Attorney General to adopt California’s Childcare Safety Plan.

This

giving tuesday

Strengthen
Our Roots

Since 1977, your generosity has helped our community grow stronger.