Trusted Messenger Partners
In 2024, the Community Foundation of Merced County launched a Trusted Messenger pilot program, convening three local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to identify effective engagement strategies used across Merced County. Funded by the League of California Community Foundations, the pilot assessed each CBO’s unique perspective on building trust in the communities they serve, formalized their findings, and developed shared resources available to the more than 150 CBOs serving residents of Merced County.
Cultiva Central Valley
Cultiva Central Valley at United Way of Merced County engages, educates, and inspires residents to become actively involved in improving their health and the health of their families and communities. The organization primarily provides services and programs in communities with predominantly Spanish-speaking families, particularly those needing support for healthcare access and health education, such as Planada, Livingston, and Santa Nella.
LifeLine Community Development Corporation
The Merced-based nonprofit LifeLine Community Development Corporation works in three of the most under-served communities of the Merced area — the Loughborough neighborhood, South Merced, and the unincorporated community of Winton — to empower community members, help them discover their unique qualities and combine efforts to make their communities safer and healthier.
Merced Lao Family Community
The nonprofit Merced Lao Family Community (MLFC) supports the Southeast Asian community in Merced County. The MLFC provides social work assistance, adult and youth programs, education, cultural, and arts and crafts programs. The organization also has strong connections with seniors, particularly non-English speakers, who are among the hardest to reach when sharing information about resources and services.