Rochelle McLaughlin spoke on Apr. 10 about her journey in philanthropy, highlighting her involvement with organizations that focus on mental health and food security in the San Francisco Bay Area. She said she began fundraising for a nonprofit providing free mental health services to women of color and is now involved with Deep Medicine Circle, which supplies farm-to-table food to underserved populations.
McLaughlin said her main interests include empowering local communities and promoting peace by educating people on working together to dismantle exploitative systems. She explained, “I know how to grow food, and I understand how important this skill is particularly in these times of increasing food insecurity. This is why I am so passionate about the work of Deep Medicine Circle as they are growing food on an Oakland rooftop farm to feed their community. This is critically needed for all of our communities.”
When selecting organizations to support, McLaughlin said she looks for mutual aid groups that serve marginalized communities because “our struggles are one struggle.” She credited SFF Senior Philanthropic Advisor Catherine Kelliher and praised the foundation’s grantmaking process and Donor Center portal as intuitive tools supporting her philanthropic efforts.
Discussing Deep Medicine Circle (DMC), McLaughlin described its work at the intersection of climate justice, social justice, education, and food security both locally and internationally. She noted DMC provides two tons of food from its Oakland rooftop farm each year for low-income residents.
She also shared what inspired her about DMC: “I was inspired by one of DMC’s Board of Directors, a UCSF medical doctor, Dr. Rupa Marya…during a Gaza Genocide protest at Stanford University…When I found out about her work developing DMC, I knew this was an organization I would be honored to be involved with.” For McLaughlin, supporting DMC has been deeply meaningful: “DMC is literally feeding local families that are being exploited and actively harmed by the systems we all swim in.”
Looking ahead, McLaughlin expressed commitment to helping marginalized groups through daily efforts and ongoing fundraising for DMC’s $300K funding gap in 2026.
