About Us
CCC FOUNDATION
The People Behind a Stronger California
Through service, training, and opportunity, the California Conservation Corps is building stronger communities and a more resilient California.
Investing in California's Future Through Corpsmembers
California faces growing challenges: increasing wildfire risk, climate-driven disasters, environmental degradation, workforce shortages, and barriers that limit economic opportunity for young adults.
​
CCC Foundation helps address these challenges by investing in the young people who will become California's future conservation leaders, skilled workers, emergency responders, and public servants.
​
As the philanthropic partner of the California Conservation Corps (CCC), the Foundation expands opportunities beyond what public funding alone can provide. Through grants, strategic partnerships, and charitable support, we help Corpsmembers gain valuable skills, overcome barriers, access career pathways, and participate in projects that strengthen communities and protect California's natural resources. When Corpsmembers succeed, California benefits.
​
Our Mission
​
To advance the education, training, leadership development, personal growth, and career opportunities of CCC Corpsmembers while protecting and enhancing California's natural resources.
Why Corpsmembers Matter
​The California Conservation Corps is the nation's largest and longest-running conservation corps program, providing paid service opportunities for young adults ages 18-25 and military veterans up to age 29. Each year, thousands of Corpsmembers strengthen California communities through conservation projects, disaster response, climate resilience work, and public service while gaining valuable education, training, and workforce experience.
Corpsmembers come from communities across California and represent a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences. Many join the CCC seeking stability, educational opportunities, workforce skills, and a pathway toward economic mobility.
​
The CCC's combination of service, education, and workforce training produces remarkable results. Every Corpsmember earns an industry-recognized credential; many continue their education after service, and thousands have launched careers in conservation, public service, natural resources, emergency response, and skilled trades.
​
The Foundation helps accelerate those outcomes by securing philanthropic investments and partnerships that expand opportunities during and after a Corpsmember's service year.
OUR LEGACY OF SERVICE
50 Years of Impact
Since 1976, California Conservation Corps crews have protected natural resources, strengthened communities, and answered the call when disaster strikes.
250+
Public Agency & Non-Profit Partners
Working together to serve communities across California.
Workforce Development & Career Pathways
CCC Foundation helps Corpsmembers prepare for successful futures through certifications, internships, professional development opportunities, and career-connected experiences. By securing private funding and strategic partnerships, we help Corpsmembers gain skills, credentials, and hands-on experience that open doors to meaningful careers.
Featured Partnerships
Parks California – Corps to Career Connection (C2CC)
Provides California Naturalist and Climate Steward certifications, Youth Co-Instructor training, Youth Mental Health First Aid certifications, mentorship, and job-shadowing opportunities. Corpsmembers gain hands-on experience while exploring careers in parks, public lands, and natural resource management.
Edison International
Supports firefighter training, arborist and lineworker certifications, EMT preparation, and fire and medical dispatcher training. These investments help Corpsmembers gain specialized workforce skills and prepare for careers in public safety, utilities, and emergency response.
Conservation, Climate Resilience & Community Projects
California's natural resources and communities depend on a skilled workforce prepared to address environmental challenges. The Foundation invests in projects and partnerships that provide Corpsmembers with hands-on conservation experience while delivering lasting benefits to communities across the state.
Featured Partnerships
California Natural Resources Agency
Supporting the Grant Elementary School Urban Greening Project in Los Angeles, transforming school grounds through expanded tree canopy, native habitat, shade infrastructure, and outdoor learning spaces.
U.S. Forest Service
Providing internship opportunities for former Corpsmembers to participate in trail maintenance and reconstruction, recreation site improvements, wilderness stewardship, and post-fire recovery projects in California's national forests.
PG&E Foundation
Supporting the CCC Watershed Stewards Program and Backcountry Trails Program through equipment, gear, and resources that help Corpsmembers conduct fisheries surveys, implement watershed restoration projects, deliver environmental education, steward wilderness areas, and improve public access to outdoor spaces.
Disaster Response & Wildfire Resilience
​​Corpsmembers serve on the front lines when California communities need help most. From wildfire response and recovery to fighting floods and emergency operations, the CCC plays a critical role in protecting communities during times of crisis.
The Foundation helps strengthen this work by supporting training, equipment, certifications, and specialized opportunities that prepare Corpsmembers for emergency response careers while building California's resilience to future disasters.
Featured Partnership
PG&E Wildfire Resilience Initiative
Supports fuel reduction projects, vegetation management, roadside fuel breaks, defensible space creation, and other wildfire mitigation efforts that reduce risk and improve community resilience while providing valuable workforce experience for Corpsmembers.
Corpsmember Success & Opportunity
Success requires more than training alone.
The Foundation invests in resources that help Corpsmembers overcome barriers, pursue opportunities, and achieve their goals. Support may include emergency financial assistance, scholarships, driver's license assistance, leadership development, wellness initiatives, and transformative educational and team-building experiences.
Featured Partnerships
California Natural Resources Agency - Capacity Building Grant
Supports the Corpsmember Relief & Support Fund, which provides direct assistance to Corpsmembers experiencing unexpected hardships, including housing instability, food insecurity, transportation challenges, and childcare needs. The grant also helps fund leadership development, team-building experiences, educational excursions, essay contests, graduation celebrations, and other opportunities that strengthen Corpsmember engagement and success.
PG&E Foundation
Supports the Global Corps exchange to Japan, the Power Within Scholarship program, driver's license assistance, leadership development opportunities, and other initiatives that help Corpsmembers achieve their educational and professional goals.
Edison International
Supports CPR certification, public safety first aid, wilderness first aid training, wellness initiatives, gym memberships, and nutrition education that contribute to Corpsmember well-being and long-term success.
Looking Ahead
California's future depends on a new generation of leaders, conservation professionals, skilled workers, and emergency responders ready to meet the challenges ahead.
The CCC Foundation is building the partnerships, resources, and philanthropic support needed to expand opportunities for Corpsmembers while strengthening the communities and landscapes they serve. Through investments in workforce development, climate resilience, conservation, disaster preparedness and response, and Corpsmember success, we are helping create pathways to meaningful careers and lasting impact.
Our vision is simple: when young adults are given the opportunity to serve, learn, and lead, they can transform their own futures while helping build a stronger, more resilient California.
As we continue to grow, we are seeking partners who share this commitment. Together, we can create life-changing opportunities for Corpsmembers while addressing some of California's most pressing environmental and workforce challenges.
Join us in investing in the next generation of California's workforce, environmental leaders, and communities.
​