EBCF’s public-philanthropic partnership with Contra Costa County supported maternal and infant health, food and housing security, youth development, community healing, and more.
What happens when you fund the organizations that are already embedded in the work?
EBCF and Contra Costa County sought to answer this question in a $1 million pilot program to uplift and empower the region’s Black families with comprehensive, culturally responsive wellness services.
The funding went to service providers like Breast Friends Lactation Services, who have supported Black breastfeeding mothers for years through mommy meet ups, classes, and home visits. Through these trusted relationships, they’re now able to connect mothers to an even wider network of care.
The pilot was supported by Measure X and funded 13 organizations between May 2025 and April 2026, focusing on five priority areas: maternal and infant health, behavioral health, food and housing insecurity, youth development, and community healing. It’s the first step in fulfilling the county’s $9.1 million commitment toward Black wellness. The initiative, known as the Federal D. Glover Community Wellness Network, will be a countywide resource connecting local programs to ensure Black residents have access to streamlined, high-quality services.
“By collaborating with Contra Costa County, EBCF was able to deliver outsized impact with undersized infrastructure.” — Alexandria Cooley
Over the course of a year, the pilot reached eight cities and served 21,495 participants — 73% of whom are Black. The geographic range was especially important in Contra Costa County, where Black residents are dispersed across communities like Antioch, Richmond, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Concord, Martinez, Oakley, and Brentwood, and centralizing resources can pose challenges for transportation and logistics.
Among the grantees, Grace Arms of Antioch put $76,000 toward food and groceries, reaching 2,420 people and saving local households $75+ a month in food expenses. The Healing Spot Counseling Center in Antioch, which also received $76,000, served 3,900 people and used the funding to improve mental health outcomes and reduce social isolation.
EBCF supported the county with grant administration, in-person convenings, technical assistance, and training. Highlights included a “Liberatory Fundraising Labs” workshop series, a partnership with Candid on nonprofit resources, and a partnership with Mancala Collective to share resources on strategic communication and build an interactive website.
After an EBCF workshop series, 75% of grantees reported significant improvement in fundraising strategy understanding.
The collaboration also streamlined funding for grantee organizations, who often face cumbersome barriers to access when applying for government grants. EBCF was able to bridge this gap, disbursing funding nimbly and responsively. Most importantly, grantees were able to access funding at the start of their projects, rather than relying on reimbursements after completing their work.
“By collaborating with Contra Costa County, EBCF was able to deliver outsized impact with undersized infrastructure,” said Alexandria Cooley, EBCF Managing Director of Grants Administration. “It is critical that service providers receive basic capacity-building support, technical assistance, and training opportunities, all of which will require sustained investment.”
In the coming years, the network will focus on improving data collection to understand its impact and better serve communities, create strong referral pathways between community organizations, and plan for a possible physical hub.
Learn more about the Federal Glover Wellness Network online.