Mammoth Lakes Foundation
Mammoth Lakes Foundation fulfills the vision of Dave McCoy to support higher education and cultural enrichment in the Eastern Sierra.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We provide cultural and educational opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds who live, work, and play in our economically and racially diverse, rural mountain community.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Mammoth Lakes Foundation
Our major operating programs are all associated with supporting the Mammoth College Center of Cerro Coso Community College and the local art based community organizations.
Mammoth Lakes Foundation Local Scholarship
Provides tuition and book scholarships for any student graduating from a Mono County High School, or Mono County residents for at least 2 years.
Mammoth Lakes Foundation Transfer Scholarship
The scholarship funds tuition for one student, up to $10,000 per year for two years at any
California State University (CSU) campus, the University of Nevada Reno (UNR), a University of
California (UC) campus or a private, accredited college or university (maximum award of
$20,000). The student is expected to complete their Bachelor’s degree within the two-year
timeframe.
Mammoth Lakes Foundation Student Housing Scholarship
The Mammoth Lakes Foundation (MLF) is pleased to offer six (6) awards of student Housing Scholarships on a semester basis when housing space is available. Students who have graduated from Inyo or Mono County high schools are encouraged to apply for housing scholarship support at South Gateway Apartments (SGA). Students are awarded scholarships based on academic achievement, community involvement, demonstration of financial aid needs, and an in-person interview.
In conjunction with South Gateway Apartments, Mammoth Lakes Foundation is awarding the following housing scholarships towards rent in a shared one-bedroom at South Gateway Apartments:
$300 credit toward rent, each month; up to $1,200 total per semester.
Where we work
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The Mammoth Lakes Foundation and our supporters believe that availability of higher education and cultural enrichment in the Eastern Sierra enhances the quality of life enjoyed by residents, second homeowners, and visitors by balancing the recreational attractions in the community with cultural and educational opportunities. Higher education and the arts promote leadership, stimulate growth, and build a stronger year-round economy and community.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Mammoth Lakes Foundation Scholarship program was launched in 2003 to encourage Mono County residents and local high school graduates to take advantage of educational opportunities through Cerro Coso Community College's Mammoth Campus. We offer full-tuition scholarships to Mono County residents pursuing full-time study at Cerro Coso Community College in Mammoth Lakes. A book stipend and partial housing scholarships are also available.
The Dave’s Scholar Transfer Scholarship, first awarded in 2020, represents a significant undertaking and financial investment by the Mammoth Lakes Foundation to further our mission of supporting higher education and cultural enrichment. The Mammoth Lakes Foundation recognizes that many of our scholarship students pursue study at Cerro Coso with the intention of completing a 4-year degree after obtaining their A.A. The scholarship funds tuition for one student, up to $10,000 per year for two years at any California State University (CSU) campus, the University of Nevada Reno (UNR), a University of California (UC) campus or another public or private, accredited college or university. Maximum award of $20,000. The student is expected to complete their Bachelor’s degree within the two-year timeframe.
In addition to financial assistance, the Mammoth Lakes Foundation provides mentorship and provides opportunities for students to connect with Dave's Scholar alumni, members of the community, and career professionals to pursue their educational and career interests. Once a month MLF hosts a Scholar Brunch, where we invite community members to share their insights on various topics with our Scholars and check-in on how we can best support them throughout the semester. In recognition of the giving spirit of Dave & Roma McCoy, MLF Scholarship recipients are required to volunteer in the Mammoth community towards a cause they are passionate about.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Donations and fundraising support all of our programs. No qualified applicant is turned away from receiving tuition assistance.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Here are a few benchmark accomplishments the Mammoth Lakes Foundation and its donors achieved:
1989 Formed as a 501c3 nonprofit
1992 Influenced the annexation of Inyo and Mono Counties into the Kern Community College District making the area eligible for state funding of college facilities
1996 Built Edison Hall as a visible start to campus development
1998 Lobbied for Proposition 1A to secure state funding for the $7 million Dave & Roma McCoy Learning Center, which opened to students in 2003
1998 Received 265 acre land donation from Southern California Edison
1999 Completed a seven-year land exchange with U.S. Forest Service and donated land for the college
2003 Created the Mammoth Ski Museum
2003 Began awarding scholarships to Mono County residents
2008 partnered with Robin Morning to publish the first edition of Tracks of Passion - http://robinmorning.com/
2008 Opened the $8.5 million South Gateway Student Apartment facility
2009 Began partnership with the Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre to support community theatre
2010 Announced remodel of Edison Hall to include a theatre, art studio, and culinary teaching kitchen
2015 Launched the 5-day Mammoth Lakes Film Festival
We established a community college campus in Mammoth Lakes by donating the land and helping build the Learning Center facility, after which we developed a student housing complex to help grow and sustain enrollment. We also built the 100-seat black-box Edison Theatre and support Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre in programming it year-round (prior to Covid-19).
Covid-19 has impacted arts programming across the globe and will prevent performances in the Edison Theater for the foreseeable future. Consequently, MLF intends to support, rather than produce, live theater and other events going forward.
The new Mammoth Arts & Cultural Center project will bring a larger, dedicated, state-of-the-art, performing arts facility to the Eastern Sierra. The Foundation has taken measured steps over the past year to move forward with the project, which was paused amid financial uncertainty at the onset of the pandemic and as a result of escalating construction estimates based on earlier designs. Please stay tuned in 2022 as we release project updates for the new MACC.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Mammoth Lakes Foundation
Board of directorsas of 04/24/2024
Luan Mendel
Judy Bornfeld
Gary McCoy
Gary Myers
Stacey Bardfield
Sandi Forstenzer
Luan Mendel
Shields Richardson
Lois Klein
David Barrett
Neil Sherman
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes