Donate to Rancho Cielo
Rancho Cielo serves under-resourced and at-promise youth who were unsuccessful in a traditional high school setting for several reasons: incarceration, pregnancy, homelessness, food insecurity, language barriers, neurodivergence and more. Yet, in Monterey County, providing undeserved, challenged youth with a high school education alone is insufficient to address their long-term needs.
We integrate job training programs alongside WASC-accredited high school education, equipping these individuals with the skills and confidence they need to overcome barriers, secure employment and become accountable, productive citizens and professionals. With your support, we can empower these youth and provide the opportunities they need to build a brighter future for themselves and our community.
Rancho Cielo is a 501(c)(3). All donations are tax-deductible in accordance with IRS guidelines. Federal Tax ID #77-0555859
Prefer to mail your donation?
Mail to: Rancho Cielo
PO Box 6948
Salinas, CA 93912
(Make checks payable to: Rancho Cielo, Inc.)
Why give to Rancho Cielo?
Rancho Cielo provides educational and vocational opportunities to youth in Monterey County who have had barriers to success. Your support is an investment not only to our students but to their families, our community, and the economic future of Monterey County.
An investment in Rancho Cielo helps to provide:
- Diploma and vocational education, enrichment programs, and opportunities for young people who lost hope of achieving that milestone.
- Removal of significant barriers for students with the help of probation supervision, counseling, and direct services such as transportation to/from campus or appointments, healthy meals, interview clothing, and legal assistance.
- Successful placement in jobs, post-secondary education, and additional training or internships for 100% of graduates.
- Scholarships for graduates to attend Hartnell College; Monterey Peninsula College; and Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena, San Francisco, and Scottsdale; as well as L’Escoffier School in Austin, Texas.
- Ongoing counseling and employment assistance for graduates.
Explore giving options
Whether you decide to give now or give later, we can help meet your philanthropic goals and maximize your impact.*
Monetary Donations
Cash gifts are one of the easiest and most expedient ways to help our students and community. We understand everyone has unique financial circumstances and charitable interests; any amount will help us make a difference in the lives of our youth.
In-Kind Donations
Individuals and companies alike may give tangible assets that can have an immediate impact on our community. Previous in-kind donations have included lumber, roofing and solar materials, produce, wine, etc.
Planned Giving
Including Rancho Cielo in your estate planning is a sustainable way to help future generations of our county’s most vulnerable youth reach their full potential. Planned giving arrangements may provide for you or your loved ones, entitle you to charitable income and/or gift or estate tax deductions, or leave a legacy for Rancho Cielo.
Ready To Make An Investment In Rancho Cielo?
Contact Joanne Bravo, Major and Annual Gifts Manager at Jbravo@ranchocieloyc.org or 831-444-3530.
*All gifts, unless otherwise indicated, shall be applied to unrestricted funds.
RIDE (Rancho Invests in Driving Equity) Scholarship Program
Rancho Cielo’s RIDE Scholarship Program was created to remove transportation barriers and empower our graduates as they transition into higher education and the workforce. Introduced in 2024 by our Board’s Equity Committee, this initiative helps empower our recent graduates with a critical need: a vehicle of their own to transport themselves to work, college, and/or additional training/internships and other daily activities, which they otherwise may not be able to afford.
RIDE is the natural progression of Rancho Cielo’s work toward driving equity, following our driver’s education program and direct transportation services to/from our campus. It is also a key component of our ongoing commitment to removing barriers to our students’ success and creating equitable opportunities for all.
To be eligible, graduates must have completed their driver’s education program/obtained a license and demonstrated hard work, commitment and perseverance while at Rancho Cielo. The selection process is rigorous, involving an application and extensive in-person interviews with a panel of Rancho Cielo advisors.
The first three recipients of the RIDE Scholarship were awarded in February 2025.
We are seeking support from our community to donate previously owned, well-maintained vehicles for the RIDE Scholarship Program.
To ensure the safety of our young drivers, certain criteria must be met before we can proceed. These may include factors such as high mileage, tire condition, body repairs, electrical issues or smog compliance. We would be honored to be your first choice for vehicle donations.
If you have a used vehicle that you would like to give to the RIDE program, please contact Joe DeRuosi at jderuosi@ranchocieloyc.org.
You can also make a monetary gift to support the program. Click the button below and be sure to write “RIDE Scholarship Program” in the “comments” section.
