The Los Altos Community Foundation was formed in 1991 to the promote community-building of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.
Since then, it has been a strong force behind many of the city's institutions, including the Bus Barn Theater, Los Altos History Museum, Leadership Education and Advancement Program and the Community Scholars program for Mountain View Los Altos students who are the first in the family to attend college.
As a community foundation, it makes grants that broadly strengthen the community and it provides fund management for others. It operates four grant programs and supports its own programs, for students development, teaching philanthropy and providing mediation. Mindful of the changing demographics, it has the Aging in Place committee, which researches and disseminates information on services that may allow Los Altans to stay in their homes longer.
It has also played a leading role in convening and facilitating discussions of community-wide interest, such as the closing of Bullis School and issues of mutual interest between Mountain View and Los Altos.
It owns and operates out of the Richard Neutra House, where the 28-member board of directors meet on the third Wednesday of the month, at 181 Hillview Avenue, as well as the Los Altos Community House.