The Great Valley Center operates leadership development programs, organizes conferences and regional events, and provides information and data to the public, nonprofits, policymakers and businesses.
[6] The Corporate Advisory Board is composed of firms and organizations interested in the Central Valley's well-being, including Citibank, AT&T, and Comcast.
The survey was designed to provide comprehensive, advocacy-free information on the opinions and public policy preferences of Central Valley residents.
Each report focuses on one of five different areas: the economy, the environment, community well-being, public health and access to care, and education and youth preparedness.
The fund provides small cash grants to K-12 educators who develop programs which encourage at-risk students to stay in school.
[31] The Institute for the Development of Emerging Area Leaders (IDEAL) is a regional leadership program for members of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys.
It teaches its fellows how to make collaborative community decisions about public affairs and educates them about issues concerning land use, economics, agriculture and conservation in the Central Valley.
The bus tour featured experts who talked about and using manure, biomass, wind, fuel cells, solar energy, and hydrogen as power sources, as well as designs of energy-efficient schools and homes.
[40] Grant Advisory Boards for Youth gave Central Valley teenagers grant-making decisions in their communities between 2002 and 2005.
[41] Community-based Assistance Programs sponsored a series of workshops for nonprofit organizations in San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced Counties until 2005.
Past topics have included land use, transportation, green building design, air quality, water, healthcare, youth, and education.
In 1990, the Great Valley Center received the Olmsted medal by the American Society of Landscape Architects for environmental leadership, vision, and stewardship.
[55] In 2008, the Great Valley Center received one of the Wilmer Shields Rich Awards for Excellence in Communications by the Council on Foundations.