Supporting job-training programs in the East Bay for low-income workers with barriers to employment
Welcome to
Strive For Change Foundation
Strive for Change Foundation was founded in 2006 to help overcome poverty in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
We support innovative job-training programs that help ambitious low-income individuals get the job and life skills training they need to improve their career opportunities, earn a sustainable income and become financially self- sufficient.
All administrative costs and materials are paid for by our all-volunteer board. Every cent of donations goes directly to the groups we support.
Rubicon Programs
We provide pathways for our participants to develop the economic mobility to move out of poverty. No one service can address the many challenges people living in poverty face — we believe that success comes from participation and achievement in four areas... more
Cypress Mandela Center
The Cypress Mandela Training Center is a community based organization dedicated to improving the lives of the people it serves by providing pre-apprentice construction and life skills training along with employment assistance....
We Support Eleven Organizations
Food Shift
Despite the abundance of food and wealth in the Bay Area, 1 in 4 people in San Francisco are food insecure, many of them seniors and children. Food Shift discovers, demonstrates and shares creative and sustainable community approaches to addressing hunger ...more
The organizations that receive funding from Strive for Change include: The Bread Project, Cypress Mandela Center, Food Shift, Kitchen of Champions, Lao Family Community Development, Monument Impact, Opportunity Junction, Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, Rubicon Programs, skysthelimit.org, Wardrobe For Opportunity
Despite the abundance of food and wealth in the Bay Area, 1 in 4 people in San Francisco are food insecure, many of them seniors and children. Food Shift discovers, demonstrates and shares creative and sustainable community approaches to addressing hunger ...more
Food Shift
The organizations that receive funding from Strive for Change include: The Bread Project, Cypress Mandela Center, Food Shift, Kitchen of Champions, Lao Family Community Development, Monument Impact, Opportunity Junction, Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, Rubicon Programs, skysthelimit.org, Wardrobe For Opportunity
The Strive For Change Foundation is currently supporting twelve organizations including The Bread Project, Cypress Mandela Center, Food Shift, Kitchen of Champions, Lao Family Community Development, Monument Impact, Opportunity Junction, Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, Rubicom Programs, skysthelimit,org, The Stride Center, Wardrobe for Opportunity.
A Remarkable Story of Change
News About Strive
One Job Can Change Everything
When adults have a second chance and are able to make a successful transition to employment, they improve not only their lives but those of their families and communities, for generations to come...more
Building From The Rubble
After the Loma Prieta earthquake a local civil rights activist saw an opportunity to help workers take advantage of the well-paying construction jobs that would soon be needed. Read how Strive For Change helped the Nelson Mandela Center develop a free, 16-week pre-apprenticeship program leading to direct matriculation as apprentices into the building trade unions, including plumbers, electricians, pipe fitters, ironworkers and many others.
Remember Your First Job Interview?
Maybe a teacher, a family friend or a parent helped you set it up. Probably you had a resume, career goals, even a college degree. Certainly you had a clean shirt or blouse, appropriate pants or skirt, and clean shoes...more
Three Ways To Donate
Support eleven worthwhile organizations by supporting just one.
Make a secure, convenient donation.
Click here.
Please call Miriam Mangini to arrange for a gift of stocks.
She can be reached at 510-409-8444 or .
Please call Miriam Mangini to arrange for a gift of stocks.
She can be reached at 510-409-8444 or .
Complete our donation form and mail it with your check to:
Strive for Change Foundation
P.O. Box 22584
Oakland, CA 94609
STOCK TRANSFER
Please call Miriam Mangini to arrange for a gift of stocks.
She can be reached at 510-409-8444 or .
Applying For A Grant
If your organization is interested in applying for a grant, contact info@striveforchangefoundation.org.
Our grant committee determines if a prospective program supports the foundation’s core goals. Next, we determine if funding will make a significant difference to the program and will offer the best return on the foundation’s investment. Our due diligence process includes one or more site visits to the prospective grant recipients. To monitor our grants, grant recipients are required to submit periodic reports. These reports, and our ongoing interaction with the recipients, make it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the funded programs.
Our Directors
Miriam Mangini - President and Treasurer
Maria Winston - Vice President
Megan Nakahara - Secretary
Cathie Geddes - Data Base Manager
Victoria Robinson Smith - Grants
Andi Kosich - Grants
Norman Hersch - Board Member
About Us
Every cent that is donated to Strive For Change goes directly to the organizations we support. All costs of administration and materials are borne by our all-volunteer board.
For information about volunteering, please click here.