The Bertha M. Rankin Trust was managed by trustees until 2024. The Attorney General of California assigned Kern Community Foundation the estate’s remaining assets to distribute to Kern County nonprofit organizations. Ms. Rankin’s wishes were that the assets support employed and unemployed farmworkers in Kern County.  The funds must be fully distributed by 2027. The grant’s primary focus is to support unemployed and employed farmworkers.

2025 Grantees

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County ($30,000) – The Lamont Boys & Girls Club – Youth Services Initiative for Farmworker Families Program implemented by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County will allow 23 school-age children/teens from low-income families with at least one farmworker as a parent or guardian (working or not) living in Lamont to participate each month (June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026) in after school an during out-of-school times programming (Monday to Friday, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.) at no cost to their families at the Lamont Boys & Girls Club (8301 Segrue Road, Lamont, CA). Each child attending the Boys & Girls Club will be provided one healthy meal and a snack each day. This facility has a maximum capacity of 60 children or youth per day.
• California Farmworker Foundation ($40,000) – CFF’s Nutrition Education & Obesity Prevention (NEOP) – Kern County Expansion project aims to improve farmworker health in rural communities including Delano, Shafter, Arvin, Lamont, and Wasco. CFF will provide nutrition education to 1,225 farmworkers over 12 months, engaging 125 participants in a nine-week curriculum and 1,100 farmworkers through on-farm outreach and community events. The NEOP course teaches how to read food labels, prepare healthy meals, reduce sugar, and increase vegetable consumption and physical activity. Classes are held in partnership with employers and trusted community organizations to ensure accessibility. The goal is to improve eating habits, reduce chronic illness, and promote long-term wellness in underserved farmworker communities.
• Clinica Sierra Vista ($30,000) – Clinica Sierra Vista (CSV) proposes the Farmworker Health Outreach Initiative to deliver mobile, preventative healthcare—including vaccinations and exams—to approximately 1,700 employed and unemployed farmworkers and their families across Kern County. In partnership with the California Farmworkers Foundation and Bolthouse Farms, CSV will use its Mobile Unit to provide on-site services at worksites and community locations, addressing critical barriers to care and improving health outcomes for underserved agricultural communities.
• Omni Family Health ($30,000) – Omni Family Health’s Rural Kern County Farmworker Children’s Dental Outreach Initiative delivers mobile dental care and education to children of employed and unemployed farmworkers in underserved rural Kern County communities to improve long-term oral health outcomes.

General Information

Who Can Apply

• 501(c)3 public charity, or an organization fiscally sponsored by a 501c(c)3. If an organization is using a fiscal sponsor, they must provide partnership history.
• Registered with Kern Community Foundation
• Current with GuideStar Transparency rating
• All organizations applying for a grant must be current on reporting obligations for past KCF grants.

What are the focus areas?

The KCF Farmworker Grant supports unemployed and employed farm workers in Kern County.

Support can include:

• Family Support: Help for spouses, children, or dependents
• Education: Scholarships, tutoring, or job training programs
• Healthcare: Medical, dental, or mental health services
• Housing: Affordable housing or temporary shelter
• Food Assistance: Meal programs or food distribution
• Childcare: Affordable or subsidized childcare
• Legal Aid: Help with immigration or workers’ rights
• Emergency Relief: Support during disasters or emergencies
• Job Support: Job placement or skills training programs
• Transportation: Help with transportation for work or healthcare

When to apply:

How do we apply?

Grant Guidelines

• Maximum Award: $50,000 per organization
• Grant Period: 2025 – 2027, each year will grant no less than $100,000
• Project Budget: Overhead costs are limited to a maximum of 5% of the total requested funds.

Grantee Reporting

Grant recipients must submit an interim and final report through the grant portal.

Questions?

Contact us at info@kernfoundation.org or 661-325-5346.

Download General Information PDF