This article is part of the ’24-’25 Donor Yearbook & Annual Report. Click here to download the full report (PDF).
At HAF+WRCF, Designated Funds are an enduring way to invest in the strength and well-being of our region. Generated through 129 funds, these grants provide annual designated support to the organizations that keep our communities vibrant—schools, senior centers, art programs, libraries, health clinics, and many more.
This year, HAF+WRCF distributed over $1.1 million through distributions from Designated Funds to more than 110 nonprofit organizations across Humboldt, Del Norte, Curry, and Trinity counties. Each grant is rooted in donors’ charitable vision and is guided by local need, offering reliable funding that helps organizations plan for the future, adapt to changing circumstances, and grow their impact over time.
These funds are a reflection of the deep commitment donors have made to the causes and institutions they care about. In rural and historically under-resourced areas, this steady support often provides the margin of sustainability that can help vital programs to thrive.
FUND HIGHLIGHT: The Jenifer Foundation
Jenifer Nunnemaker was born and raised in Fortuna and attended Fortuna Union High School, where she excelled in athletics, participated in student government, and was recognized for her participation in youth leadership programs. In 1981, she was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that would take her life later that same year at just 16 years old. As one of her last acts of leadership and care for her community, she used her savings to create the Jenifer Foundation to provide scholarships to students graduating from Fortuna High.
In 2017, her parents Fred and Marnie Nunnemaker decided to change the fund to a Designated Fund to provide reliable, annual support to the Fortuna High JV Girls basketball and girls track teams. All these years later, Fred and Marnie continue to be amazed by the outpouring of support from community members who have donated to the Jenifer Foundation and by the impact Jenifer’s idea has had.
As of 2025, the Jenifer Foundation fund has shared over $113,800 in scholarships and grants to support Fortuna High students. Mike Benbow, Athletic Director at Fortuna High, shared that “Jenifer’s passion for sports lives on as her foundation supports our JV Girls Basketball and Track programs—providing uniforms, equipment, travel opportunities and resources that help our athletes compete, grow, and become better people. We appreciate the support.”
We’re sure that Jenifer would be just as amazed to see how her legacy and the foundation she started continue to make a difference for the students of Fortuna High.
Grantees Receiving Highest Designated Distributions in FY 2024-2025
- American Cancer Society
- Food For People Inc
- Glen Paul School
- Hospice of Humboldt
- Humboldt County Library
- Humboldt Senior Resource Center
- Leavey Ranch, LLC
- Planned Parenthood Northern California
- Redwoods Monastery
- Sequoia Humane Society