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 The El Monte Community Building Initiative (CBI) is a 10-year effort to revitalize the community by engaging residents and developing their leadership, and improving their physical environment and social services. This initiative is a significant undertaking by CCF to achieve better and measurable results at the neighborhood level over an extended period of time.
The CBI is a pilot project that seeks to document and measure the success of the California Community Foundation’s multiyear, multimillion-dollar investments and partnerships in improving the quality of life in a targeted community. The goal is to dramatically improve deteriorated conditions in a community by increasing access to safe, quality varied housing options, health care, quality schools and critical social services. The foundation will closely evaluate the outcomes and best practices of this initiative, so that it may be replicated in other Los Angeles communities or nationwide.
Click on the links to read more about CCF’s El Monte Community Building Initiative:
Goals and Approach 
The CBI seeks a vibrant and stable environment for low-income residents in El Monte. Following are the primary objectives:
- Improve the physical infrastructure of the community through increased development of varied housing options, community facilities and public amenities.
- Improve community engagement and problem-solving capacity through increased resident involvement and local leadership development.
- Improve access to and delivery of social services (e.g., high-quality education, health, human services and arts and culture) for residents.
This unique initiative takes a comprehensive approach to neighborhood revitalization by simultaneously focusing on improving physical infrastructure, human capital and social services in a targeted community.
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Support and Activities
The foundation has committed to invest up to approximately $1 million each year in El Monte over 10 years, in the form of:
- Core operating support grants
- Low interest loans and guarantees
- Land trust investments
The foundation will build partnerships with local government agencies, private sector and other funders to leverage these resources.
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CBI Target Areas
Investments are concentrated in three geographically targeted areas to maximize resources. Mostly low and moderate income residents live in these targeted areas. Other determining factors include availability of land and under-used parcels with the potential for development.
The CBI target areas are:
- Little Five Points: Located in southeast El Monte where the majority of the residents are low and moderate income.
- Tyler Corridor: Located in downtown El Monte and referred to as the heritage district and civic heart of the city.
- Ramona/Valley: Located in downtown El Monte, a commercial corridor bounded by two major streets in the center of the city.
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Proposed Outcomes
The foundation seeks to achieve the following outcomes:
- Improved Quality of Life for Residents
- Increased access to safe, decent affordable housing
- Increased access to community facilities, public amenities and parks
- Increased access to quality education, health, arts and human services
- Increased Social, Public and Private Investment in the Community
- Increased resident participation in local planning and policy advocacy
- Strong and effective community leadership
- Strong resident infrastructure to support a proactive community
- Increased public and private resources to support community improvement efforts
The foundation has identified a set of success indicators and will use evaluation tools – such as resident satisfaction surveys and a livability survey – to assess the impact of this initiative. A progress assessment will occur every two years followed by an overall evaluation at the end of the 10-year project period.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Community Building Initiative?
The Community Building Initiative is a 10-year effort to comprehensively revitalize a community by engaging residents, developing their leadership, improving their physical environment and the quality of social and educational services. The CBI is a pilot project that seeks to document and measure the success of CCF’s multi-year, multimillion-dollar investments and partnerships in improving the quality of life of residents in a targeted community.
 2. What are the goals and objectives of the El Monte CBI?
The CBI seeks to provide safe, stable and vibrant neighborhoods for El Monte’s low-income residents. More specifically, it hopes to:
- Improve the physical infrastructure of the community through increased development of varied housing options, community facilities and public amenities.
- Improve community engagement and problem-solving capacity through increased resident involvement and local leadership development.
- Improve access to and delivery of services (e.g., high-quality education, health, human services and arts and culture) for residents.
3. What is unique about this initiative?
The initiative takes a comprehensive approach to neighborhood revitalization by simultaneously focusing on improving physical infrastructure, human capital and social and educational services in a targeted community. It also involves partnerships with local government and the nonprofit and private sectors to ensure long-term results and sustainability.
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4. How was El Monte selected?
El Monte was selected based on its socio-demographic profile, the amount of available land controlled by local government, and existing efforts by the city to update its general plan that involved an extensive research and community outreach/engagement process.
5. Are there specific target areas within El Monte?
The California Community Foundation is primarily targeting three areas: Little Five Points, the Tyler Corridor and the Ramona/Valley neighborhood. While support will not be limited to these areas, organizations working in these areas will be given priority consideration.
6. How long is the CBI?
The foundation committed resources to the CBI for 10 years, beginning in FY 2006/2007.
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7. How much financial support will CCF devote to this community?
Including below-market rate loans and loan guarantees for nonprofit organizations, Community Foundation Land Trust activities and grants, CCF is investing about $1 million a year over 10 years.
8. What is the Community Foundation Land Trust?
Established in 2002 at CCF, the Community Foundation Land Trust acquires land and works with nonprofit and for-profit developers, government agencies and others to create affordable homes and rental units for low- and moderate-income populations.
 9. How does the CBI relate to your competitive grantmaking?
The foundation is provides core operating and project-specific grants to eligible nonprofit organizations in El Monte that are working in the areas of housing, resident engagement, health, education, arts/culture and human services.
10. How will CCF know if it has succeeded?
The foundation is measuring progress each year by using quantitative indicators, such as the number of families housed in affordable rental and homeownership units, the number of low-income or uninsured adults and children who receive health services, and student achievement in the schools. Qualitative indicators include the number of El Monte residents who indicate improvements in the safety, quality and livability of their neighborhoods, and the number of residents who have increased their involvement in community issues.
The CBI is a pilot project. The foundation will closely track progress and evaluate outcomes. Ultimately, the intent is to have the CBI serve as a model that can be replicated in other Los Angeles communities and nationwide.
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11. What is the process/timeline for the CBI?
- Planning phase: CCF worked with residents to determine needs in health and human services, school facilities construction and expansion, and housing.
- Development of an investment strategy: CCF developed a portfolio of program investment opportunities that are used to leverage funding from public, private and other philanthropic sources for services, infrastructure development and other priorities identified by community stakeholders.
- Formation of an advisory committee: CCF is working with diverse stakeholders that comprise the advisory committee. The committee provides input for various activities.
- In 2007, CCF began awarding grants to nonprofit organizations that help the foundation meet the key outcomes of the initiative and are aligned with existing and future housing, health care, educational and human services needs identified by community residents.
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Neighborhood Grants
April 3, 2009 - The foundation accepted applications for neighborhood improvement grants to benefit the City of El Monte.
Feb. 20, 2009 - The California Community Foundation accepted applications for housing-related neighborhood improvement projects in the City of El Monte.
Sept. 29, 2008 - The California Community Foundation accepted applications for community improvement projects in the City of El Monte.
July. 8, 2008 - The California Community Foundation awarded $286,000 to 14 El Monte nonprofit organizations to support six-month projects that will enhance the quality of life for El Monte residents. This second set of grants were awarded by the foundation as part of the El Monte Community Building Initiative. Read the news release.
Oct. 31, 2007 - The foundation awarded $200,000 neighborhood grants to eight El Monte nonprofit groups as part of the first set of grants under the 10-year El Monte Community Building Initiative. Read the news release.
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El Monte Community Building Initiative Newsletter
Read the March 2008 newsletter to learn more about the community building initiative. Click on your desired language below:
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