An interview with Dan Baldwin, President & CEO of the Community Foundation for Monterey County
Inspired by America 250, Monterey 1000 broadens the lens to recognize histories that long predate the founding of the United States. Over the coming year, this ongoing series will explore those stories, starting with some of the earliest chapters and connecting them to what makes the destination distinctive today.
For generations, Monterey County has been shaped not only by the people who have lived and worked here, but by those who have chosen to give back. Philanthropy has helped preserve historic places, support the arts, advance science and education, strengthen community organizations, and create many of the cultural institutions enjoyed by residents and visitors today.
That tradition can be traced back to 1945, when a group of members of the Monterey History & Art Association gathered at the Custom House in Monterey to establish what was then known as the Monterey Foundation. Their goal was to preserve historic adobe buildings and celebrate Monterey's history.
Modeled after the Santa Barbara Foundation, the organization brought together prominent figures from across the community, including U.S. Army Colonel Roger S. Fitch, Pebble Beach Company founder S.F.B. Morse, and Monterey's first elected mayor, Carmel Martin. Artists, writers, business owners, and other community leaders, including interior designer Frances Elkins, artist Armin Hansen, poet Robinson Jeffers, newspaper editor Robert Griffin, and department store owner William Holman, were also part of the effort.
That early spirit of civic involvement eventually grew into the Community Foundation for Monterey County, whose mission today is simply “Here for Good.”
A Tradition of Giving Back
The Community Foundation for Monterey County has evolved considerably since its founding, expanding from a small volunteer organization focused on historic preservation into a major grant-making institution serving communities throughout the county.
Dan Baldwin, who served as the foundation's CEO for 16 years, followed Todd Lueders, the organization's first executive director. Hired in 1981, Lueders spent nearly three decades growing the foundation and establishing its role in supporting local organizations. Baldwin continued that work, helping expand programs designed to strengthen nonprofits and connect philanthropy with community needs.
For Baldwin, philanthropy is ultimately about what happens when people invest in the places they call home.
And in Monterey County, that investment is evident in some of the destination's most recognizable institutions.
Supporting the Places That Define Monterey County
Monterey County is known for its remarkable intersection of art, music, science, marine life, nature, and culture. Many of the organizations that bring those experiences to life have benefited from philanthropy.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey Symphony, Pacific Repertory Theatre, and Carmel Bach Festival are among the institutions that contribute to the county's cultural landscape.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium offers one of the clearest examples. David and Lucile Packard helped make the aquarium possible through their personal investment, creating an institution that has become an internationally recognized center for marine science and conservation and one of Monterey County's most visited attractions.
"Nonprofits are deeply felt throughout the county and every aspect of our lives."
- Dan Baldwin, President & CEO of the Community Foundation for Monterey County
The Community Foundation for Monterey County has distributed more than $500 million in grants, supporting organizations and initiatives across the region. Baldwin describes this kind of giving as “paying civic rent,” the idea that when we benefit from a community, we have a responsibility to give something back to it.
That philosophy has deep roots in Monterey County, where philanthropy has helped build and sustain many of the experiences that make the region distinctive.
Making Giving Accessible
One of the most visible examples is Monterey County Gives, or MC Gives, which has helped make charitable giving more accessible to people throughout the region.
The program was launched through a collaboration between Monterey County Weekly and the Community Foundation for Monterey County, with matching funds from donors including the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. What began with approximately $600,000 in community donations has grown into a major annual giving program, raising more than $99 million for local nonprofit organizations over the years.
By creating a simple platform for discovering and supporting nonprofits, MC Gives has helped lower the barrier to philanthropy and connect more people with organizations working throughout Monterey County.
For Baldwin, its growth is one of the highlights of his career, and an example of how philanthropy can become part of the fabric of a community.
From the Golf Course to the Community
Philanthropy is also deeply woven into some of Monterey County's most celebrated events.
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am traces its roots to the Crosby Clambake, an event that evolved into one of the country's best-known professional golf tournaments while maintaining a strong connection to charitable giving.
Today, events such as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the PURE Insurance Championship support charitable organizations and programs such as First Tee. The Pebble Beach Foundation set the goal to raise over $5 million during Monterey Car Week 2026 for the 75th anniversary of Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Over the years, Pebble Beach Foundation has donated over $50 million to charities across Monterey County.
Golf and automotive events have similarly become important avenues for charitable giving. Even events that attract visitors from around the world can have a lasting impact beyond the competition itself, helping to fund programs and organizations that serve local communities.
Investing in the People Behind the Work
Philanthropy isn't only about funding buildings, programs, and institutions. It can also mean investing in the people responsible for the success of those organizations.
The Community Foundation's Center for Nonprofit Excellence began with a Packard Foundation grant focused on developing community leaders. During Baldwin's tenure, the program expanded into the LEAD Institute, designed to strengthen leadership within nonprofits throughout Monterey County.
More than 300 leaders have gone through the program.
The goal is straightforward: help nonprofit organizations become stronger, more effective, and better equipped to serve their communities. Training focuses on areas including governance, operations, leadership, and sustainable business practices.
Baldwin believes that strong nonprofits require the same kind of thoughtful management and adaptability as private businesses, and that donors want to know their contributions are being put to good use.
That emphasis on effectiveness reflects a larger philosophy of giving: philanthropy isn't simply about writing a check. It's about helping organizations turn those resources into meaningful results.
A Community Coming Together
For Baldwin, philanthropy ultimately comes down to people.
He encourages nonprofit leaders to personally thank their donors, emphasizing that every gift represents a decision to invest in the community. A $10 donation, he says, can be just as meaningful to the person giving it as a $10,000 donation is to someone else.
That perspective captures something fundamental about Monterey County's philanthropic history: Giving isn't limited to a handful of major institutions or wealthy donors. It takes many forms, from supporting a local nonprofit to investing in a cultural institution, preserving a historic place, or volunteering time and expertise.
The results are visible throughout the county.
They can be found in museums and theaters, on golf courses and at community events, in programs that support local leaders, and in institutions dedicated to science and conservation. They are part of the experiences visitors come to Monterey County to discover and part of the community that makes those experiences possible.
As Monterey County looks toward its next 1,000 years of history, that tradition of people investing in the place they call home remains an important part of its story.
Brian Edwards
Brian Edwards is the Library & Museums Director for the City of Monterey. He focuses on preserving and sharing our cultural and historic resources for people today. He serves on the board of the Monterey State Historic Park Association and promotes events and information for early California. He has a background in studio art, storytelling, research and information sharing. He loves to share stories with residents and visitors throughout Monterey County.
