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Marin County

Magnolia Project expanded into neighboring Marin County in 2023, initially partnering with Novato Unified School District before expanding our work into all six public schools in rural West Marin in 2025.

While Marin County is much more closely connected to the broader Bay Area, opportunity is not distributed evenly across the county. Magnolia Project’s work in rural West Marin reaches public schools and young people in some of the county’s smallest and most rural communities, including Pt. Reyes Station (population: 895) and Tomales (population: 175).

Despite living in a wealthy county, young people in rural West Marin are often isolated from the nonprofit services, professional networks, and postsecondary opportunities available in other parts of Marin County (U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts; Marin Transit)

Similar to Sonoma County, Marin County’s economy is made up of small businesses: 89% of Marin County’s small businesses have fewer than 20 employees. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns)

Approximately 36% of Marin County’s public school students qualify for free or reduced-price meals; across the seven Marin County public schools Magnolia Project serves, 57% of students qualify (California Department of Education, 2025–26 Student Poverty Data: Marin County)

In Marin, Magnolia Project serves young people, their public schools and their communities in Novato and unincorporated West Marin, including Tomales, Pt. Reyes Station, Nicasio, Bolinas, Stinson Beach, Lagunitas, and the San Geronimo Valley.

“Magnolia Project has been a wonderful success, bringing a burst of energy, connection, and opportunity to West Marin. Young people are discovering career paths they may not have known were available locally, while also expanding their sense of what is possible for them beyond West Marin. West Marin Fund is incredibly proud to have invested in Magnolia Project”

Valeria Brabata, Program Director, West Marin Fund