Community Youth Center

Community Youth Center (CYC) occupies an unusual position in the philanthropic landscape: it is classified as a grantmaker but operates primarily as a direct-service nonprofit that runs athletic and academic programs for youth ages 3-18 in Concord, California. Its 'giving' — $2.1M in FY2020, rising to $3.6M in FY2023 — represents program service expenditures and internal scholarships rather than grants distributed to external organizations. Understanding this distinction is essential before approaching CYC in any capacity.

Founded in 1995 through a $1 million transformative gift from The Hofmann Family Foundation, CYC's entire organizational DNA is built around removing financial barriers to youth participation. President Lisa Hofmann Morgan — a member of the founding family — maintains active governance alongside Executive Director Matthew Lalis Harrison ($273,000 compensation in FY2024), CFO/Treasurer Dennis Drew, and Directors Steve Gonsalves and Richard L. Greene. Matt Harrison is the primary contact for all institutional funding discussions and can be reached at executivedirector@cycmail.org.

For institutional funders (foundations, corporations, government agencies) seeking to support CYC as a grant recipient, the relationship progression is informal and direct: an introductory email to Matt Harrison, followed by an in-person facility tour, then a formal proposal. CYC has no published RFP cycles, no online grant portal, and does not solicit unsolicited applications via a formal process. All institutional giving is negotiated through direct relationship. The FY2024 donor roster confirms this model: American Endowment Foundation ($52,000), Thoresen Foundation ($50,000), and Beyond Sport Foundation ($11,426) each made targeted grants.

For youth and families seeking financial aid to access CYC's programs, the process begins with enrollment — not an application. Membership ($37/month for first child, $18 for additional children, plus $40 registration) must be active before the household scholarship application is submitted via email to info@cycmail.org. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis covering up to $500 per season, with no fixed deadline.

First-time institutional applicants should emphasize CYC's expansion moment: the new 75,000-square-foot facility at 2241 Galaxy Court (projected open September 2025) creates immediate demand for program-specific operational funding, naming opportunities, and scholarship endowment. Organizations that can commit multi-year support at the $50,000–$500,000 level will find CYC's leadership most responsive.

CYC's financial trajectory spans two distinct eras separated by a dramatic asset inflection in FY2021. From FY2012 through FY2020, the organization maintained a stable but modest profile: total assets ranged from $6.2M to $7.6M, annual giving (program expenses) ranged from $2.1M to $3.5M, and total revenue ranged from $1.9M to $3.7M. Investment income contributed meaningfully in FY2014 ($855,647) and FY2015 ($772,706), suggesting a modest endowment.

The post-2021 era reflects massive capital acquisition. Total assets jumped from $6.6M (FY2020) to $50.4M (FY2021) — a $43.8M increase in a single year — driven by the acquisition of the former Big C Athletic Club facility (75,000 sq ft at 2241 Galaxy Court, Concord) funded by $8.5M in public grants and presumably capitalized at fair market value on CYC's balance sheet. Assets continued climbing: $49.7M (FY2022), $51.2M (FY2023), $57.1M (FY2024).

Annual giving (program service delivery) grew consistently: $2.1M (FY2020), $2.8M (FY2021), $3.4M (FY2022), $3.6M (FY2023). FY2024 total expenses were $3.4M against revenue of $9.1M — a significant surplus reflecting the receipt of large capital and operational grants. FY2024 revenue composition: 79.5% grants/contributions ($7.2M), 20.4% miscellaneous revenues ($1.9M). FY2023 contributions received were $4.0M.

CYC's entire program footprint is a single site: an athletic/academic facility in Concord serving Contra Costa County youth. There is no geographic spread, no sub-granting, and no endowment distribution model. The organization averaged 1,377 participants in FY2021, 1,454 in FY2020, and 1,972 in FY2024 — a 43% increase in participation over four years, with the new facility targeting 3,800 annually.

For funders, the key pattern is CYC's growing dependency on institutional philanthropy: the 79.5% grants-and-contributions share of FY2024 revenue means continued expansion depends on sustained foundation, corporate, and government support. Program-specific grants in the $10,000–$100,000 range (American Endowment Foundation at $52K, Thoresen Foundation at $50K) are the current institutional floor; the $5M Measure X county grant represents the ceiling for public-sector engagement.

The following table compares Community Youth Center to four peer organizations of similar asset size in the Human Services NTEE category:

CYC is fundamentally different from its peer group: it is an operating nonprofit that delivers programs directly, not a traditional grantmaking foundation that distributes awards to other organizations. The Jamie and Denise Jacob Family Foundation and the Thomas R. Kline Foundation are likely traditional private foundations making grants to external nonprofits — a model CYC does not follow. Camp War Eagle (Texas) is the closest structural analog: a youth-focused, sports-oriented operating nonprofit of similar scale. Bristol Bay Foundation, serving Alaska's remote fishing communities, shares a place-based, single-geography concentration similar to CYC's Contra Costa County focus. CYC's asset base of $57.1M now places it at the upper tier of this peer group, though its operating expenses ($3.4M/year) remain modest relative to assets, suggesting significant capital reserves from the facility acquisition.

The defining event of CYC's recent history is its $8.5 million public funding campaign and facility expansion. On October 29, 2024, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors formally presented a $5 million Measure X check to CYC — the culmination of a multi-year capital effort. This was supplemented by $2 million in California state funding and $1.5 million from the City of Concord. The target: renovate the former Big C Athletic Club at 2241 Galaxy Court, Concord into a 75,000-square-foot youth development campus capable of serving 3,800 youth annually, doubling prior capacity. Construction was scheduled for completion by July 2025, with the new facility set to open in September 2025.

The Contra Costa County Workforce Development Board designated CYC as one of three Measure X Youth Center anchor sites across Districts 3, 4, and 5, with ongoing county operational funding commitments beyond the construction grant.

In FY2024, CYC received grants from the American Endowment Foundation ($52,000 for youth development), the Thoresen Foundation ($50,000 for operational support), and the Beyond Sport Foundation ($11,426 for youth mental health programming). The beyond Sport grant signals a programmatic evolution: CYC is beginning to articulate mental health and social-emotional learning outcomes alongside its traditional sports and academics frame.

Leadership has been stable: Executive Director Matthew Lalis Harrison remains in place at $273,000 annual compensation, with Lisa Hofmann Morgan (founding family) as President. CYC's Yelp listing was updated as recently as April 2026, confirming active operations, and its social accounts (Facebook: CYCfans; X: @CYC_Concord) remain current.

Because CYC operates as a direct-service nonprofit rather than a traditional grantmaker, the 'application' process differs sharply depending on who is approaching and why.

For institutional funders (foundations, corporations, government agencies) making grants TO CYC: Begin with a direct email to Executive Director Matthew Lalis Harrison at executivedirector@cycmail.org. Introduce your organization, articulate your mission alignment with CYC's equity-and-youth-development focus, and indicate your giving capacity range. Do not use generic 'youth services' framing — cite specific programs (wrestling, boxing, academic excellence tutoring, gymnastics) and Contra Costa County community context. The most compelling proposals arrive in the fall (September–November), timed to CYC's fiscal year planning cycle and the natural momentum from the new facility's September 2025 opening.

Anchor your ask to CYC's published impact metrics: $100 covers three months of membership for one child; $500 sponsors a full youth scholarship for a season; $250 funds new sports or classroom equipment. At the institutional level, $50,000 funds roughly 100 full scholarships or 12+ months of program operations for a cohort of participants.

For naming opportunities at the new 75,000-square-foot campus, contact Harrison for current availability — facility expansions routinely offer room-level, court-level, or program-level naming at the $25,000–$250,000+ range.

For youth and families applying for financial aid: Enroll in membership first — financial aid cannot be applied for without active enrollment. Registration: $40 fee plus $37/month (first child) or $18/month (additional children). Once enrolled, submit one financial aid application per household to info@cycmail.org. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline. Reference specific financial circumstances and program participation interest. Consistent attendance after receiving aid is expected.

Common mistakes to avoid: Do not cold-submit via an online portal — none exists. Do not approach CYC expecting a formal LOI-to-proposal cycle; the process is informal and relationship-driven. Do not omit site visits — CYC leadership consistently prioritizes partners who have toured the facility and demonstrated genuine community investment before formalizing any financial commitment.