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The California Endowment

Annual Giving
$215.9M
Grant Range
$15K - $13.0M
Decision Time
2mo

The California Endowment

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $215.9 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 6-8 weeks
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $13,000,000+ (typically $15,000 - $500,000)
  • Geographic Focus: California statewide

Contact Details

Headquarters:

  • 1000 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
  • Phone: (800) 449-4149
  • Email: questions@calendow.org
  • Website: www.calendow.org
  • Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 am–5:00 pm; Friday 7:30 am–4:00 pm (closed alternating Fridays)

Regional Offices:

  • Sacramento: 1414 K St #500, Sacramento, CA 95814 | (916) 558-6760
  • Oakland: 2000 Franklin Street, 4th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612 | (510) 271-4300
  • Fresno: 2445 Capitol Street, Suite 205, Fresno, CA 93721 | (559) 443-5300
  • San Diego: 4305 University Avenue, Suite 330, San Diego, CA 92105 | (858) 526-2600

Media Contact: Communications@Calendow.Org

Overview

The California Endowment was established in 1996 following Blue Cross of California's acquisition of WellPoint Health Networks, emerging as California's largest private health foundation with over $4.1 billion in assets. Since inception, the foundation has awarded more than 22,000 grants totaling over $2.9 billion to community-based organizations throughout California. The Endowment's mission is to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. Under the leadership of President and CEO Brenda Solórzano, appointed in 2024, the foundation emphasizes transforming systemic "rules"—laws, policies, and institutions—that obstruct community health rather than focusing solely on individual interventions. The foundation recently issued a historic $300 million Social Bond in 2021 to advance racial justice and health equity and is implementing a Bridge Strategy with up to $160 million annually from 2025-2027 while developing its next decade-long strategic plan launching in 2027.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The California Endowment offers multiple funding mechanisms with invitation-only applications:

  • General Operating Support Grants: Multi-year unrestricted funding for organizational capacity - amounts vary widely from $15,000 to several million
  • Program Support Grants: Project-specific funding for aligned initiatives - typically $15,000 to $500,000
  • Social Justice Bond: $300 million fund (2021-2024) supporting Community Power Infrastructure, Climate Resiliency, Health Systems, and Research/Evaluation - grants ranging from $100,000 to $20+ million
  • Bridge Strategy Funding: $160 million annually (2025-2027) for existing Health Justice partners and new community health initiatives
  • Direct Charitable Activity (DCA) Contracts: Service agreements for specific deliverables
  • Program-Related Investments (PRI): Low-interest loans and equity investments for mission-aligned ventures
  • Specific Project Grants (SPGs): Targeted funding for discrete initiatives

Application methods: By invitation only; review process typically 6-8 weeks; approved applicants receive award documents via DocuSign.

Priority Areas

The California Endowment's three bold investment ideas guide all grantmaking:

  1. People Power: Building intergenerational leadership and community organizing capacity to shift power dynamics
  2. Reimagined Public Institutions: Transforming justice, education, and healthcare systems toward equity
  3. 21st Century "Health for All" System: Ensuring universal prevention and care access

Specific Focus Areas:

  • Health Systems: Healthcare workforce development, community health centers, primary care access, mental health services
  • Justice Reinvestment: Alternatives to incarceration, healing-centered justice, reentry programs
  • Inclusive Communities: Climate resilience, food systems, affordable housing, narrative change
  • Power Infrastructure: Community organizing, grassroots coalition building, civic engagement, voter mobilization
  • Schools: School-based health centers, youth leadership development, trauma-informed education
  • Research & Evaluation: Data infrastructure, learning systems, participatory evaluation

The foundation emphasizes the "ABC's of health equity": Agency (community self-determination), Belonging (cultural inclusion), and Change Conditions (transforming social determinants of health).

What They Don't Fund

The California Endowment explicitly excludes:

  • Individuals
  • Private foundations (only 501(c)(3) public charities)
  • Organizations that discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status
  • Organizations requiring membership in a certain religion or advancing specific faiths
  • Faith-based organizations that do not welcome all community members regardless of belief
  • Political campaigns or candidates
  • Voter registration initiatives (though civic engagement is supported)
  • Direct lobbying efforts
  • Organizations outside California (with rare exceptions for national policy impact)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The 17-member Board of Directors reflects California's diversity across race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and professional expertise. Leadership includes:

  • Dr. Katherine A. Flores (Board Chair): Family physician in Fresno; Associate Clinical Professor at UCSF; Director of UCSF Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research
  • Britta Guerrero (Board Vice Chair): CEO of Sacramento Native American Health Center, focuses on culturally competent healthcare delivery
  • Recent additions (May 2025): Dr. Howard and Nguyen began three-year board terms

The Board establishes grant-making priorities and oversees the foundation's strategic direction, emphasizing transparency as "critical to the foundation of change."

Executive Leadership

  • Brenda Solórzano, JD (President & CEO): Appointed September 2024; nationally recognized leader in trust-based philanthropy; previously founding CEO of Headwaters Foundation in Montana. Solórzano began her career in health philanthropy at The California Endowment in 2001. She immigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala as a baby and lived in California for nearly 50 years. Holds a bachelor's degree in history and political science from University of San Francisco and JD from Whittier Law School.

Key Quote from CEO Solórzano: "We must fund not just services, but ideas that make our communities healthier. We are ready to move at the speed of trust and with the urgency that justice demands."

  • Carolyn Wang Kong (Chief Strategy Officer): Oversees grant programs, grants effectiveness, and communications; manages power-building health justice strategy
  • Kelli P. Washington, CFA (Chief Investment Officer): Manages $4 billion endowment portfolio with focus on impact investing
  • Mynor Alejandro Veliz (Chief Operations and Financial Officer): Oversees daily operations and Center for Healthy Communities sites across California

The leadership team emphasizes community voices remain central to philanthropic work and advances health equity through trust-based partnerships.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The California Endowment does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Funding opportunities are by invitation only.

How to Get on Their Radar:

  • Build relationships with program officers at one of their five regional offices
  • Network with existing grantees and community partners
  • Participate in community convenings and coalitions where foundation staff are present
  • Submit general inquiries to questions@calendow.org or call (800) 449-4149
  • Demonstrate alignment with their three bold ideas and commitment to health equity

Application Process for Invited Applicants:

  1. Program Managers identify prospective grantees/contractors aligned with strategic priorities
  2. Selected organizations receive email invitation with application portal link
  3. Applicants submit proposal through SmartSimple online portal (tce.smartsimple.com)
  4. Program, Finance, and Legal teams review application and organizational capacity
  5. Decision communicated within 6-8 weeks
  6. Approved grantees receive award documents via DocuSign

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Issues the organization addresses and alignment with TCE priorities
  • Geographic focus and communities/populations served
  • Long-term goals and strategic vision
  • Existing revenue sources and financial sustainability
  • Potential impact and theory of change
  • Prior experience and track record
  • Diversity goals and equity efforts
  • Organizational capacity to deliver on proposed work

Decision Timeline

  • Review Process: 6-8 weeks from submission to decision
  • Notification Method: Email notification with DocuSign award documents
  • Grant Period: Typically 1-3 years for general operating support; varies by program
  • Payment Schedule: Varies by grant type; often annual installments for multi-year grants

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. However, in 2024 the foundation made 1,117 awards, and in 2023 made 1,024 awards, indicating selective but substantial grantmaking. The invitation-only model means organizations invited to apply have already been vetted for alignment, likely resulting in higher conversion rates than open application processes.

Reapplication Policy

Since applications are by invitation only, there is no formal reapplication policy for declined proposals. However:

  • Organizations can continue building relationships with program officers
  • Strategic priorities evolve, so alignment may improve over time
  • Participation in funded coalitions or initiatives can strengthen future consideration
  • The foundation values long-term partnerships—many grantees receive multi-year or renewed support

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from The California Endowment

Trust-Based Philanthropy Approach: The foundation's grantmaking is "guided by the practice of trust-based philanthropy and the recognition that people closest to the problem have the best understanding of the solutions." They have waived grant reporting requirements for most grants until further notice, demonstrating commitment to reducing administrative burden.

Strategic Guidance from Leadership and Program Materials:

  • "We must fund not just services, but ideas that make our communities healthier" - Focus on systemic change over direct service
  • Emphasis on "narrative change" - reframing how people understand health as occurring "where you live, work, learn, and play," not just in medical settings
  • Building voice and power via long-term investment is viewed as both a means and an end itself
  • The foundation moves "at the speed of trust and with the urgency that justice demands"

Projects They've Recently Funded

Examples from the Social Bond and recent grantmaking demonstrate funding priorities:

  • California Primary Care Association: $13 million for advocacy and civic engagement to support community health centers
  • University of California, San Francisco: $7 million for health workforce policy development
  • Community Coalition (Los Angeles): $8 million for multi-faceted community power building
  • Silicon Valley Community Foundation: $5 million for voter organizing infrastructure
  • Generation Red Road (Upper Lake): Native American-led addiction recovery and prevention programs
  • Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (Culver City): Mental health services for Black communities
  • Southeast Asian Community Alliance (Los Angeles): Community organizing and health access
  • African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs: $900,000 over three years for economic development infrastructure

Language and Terminology They Use

Familiarize your proposal with their key frameworks:

  • The ABC's of health equity: Agency, Belonging, Change Conditions
  • Three Bold Ideas: People Power, Reimagined Institutions, 21st Century Health System for All
  • Health Justice (not just "health equity")
  • Power infrastructure and "power-building"
  • Community organizing and "grassroots leadership"
  • Systems change and "transforming the rules"
  • Trust-based philanthropy
  • Narrative change and "storytelling"
  • Intergenerational leadership

Tips for Standing Out

  1. Build Authentic Relationships: Establish connections with program officers before funding opportunities arise. Attend community convenings and participate in coalitions where TCE staff are present.

  2. Form Strategic Alliances: The foundation embraces collaborative funding models. Partner with other nonprofits, community organizations, and public agencies to demonstrate collective commitment to addressing health disparities.

  3. Demonstrate Community Leadership: Show that your organization is community-led, culturally rooted, and accountable to the populations you serve. TCE prioritizes grassroots organizations and those led by people with lived experience.

  4. Emphasize Systems Change: Focus proposals on changing policies, institutions, and structural conditions rather than solely providing services. Show how your work shifts power dynamics.

  5. Align with Geographic Priorities: While statewide, TCE has historic ties to the 14 Building Healthy Communities sites and maintains regional offices. Consider how your work connects to regional strategies.

  6. Show Long-Term Vision: Multi-year commitments are common. Demonstrate sustainability beyond grant funding and how you're building lasting community power.

  7. Reflect Equity Values: Articulate your organization's diversity goals, leadership development efforts, and commitment to racial and health justice.

Common Reasons for Misalignment

While rejection reasons aren't published, potential gaps include:

  • Work focused outside California
  • Service delivery without systems change component
  • Lack of community organizing or power-building elements
  • Misalignment with current strategic priorities
  • Insufficient connection to health equity outcomes
  • Organizations that discriminate or require religious affiliation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-Only Model: You cannot submit unsolicited proposals. Invest in relationship-building with program officers and demonstrate alignment through community engagement and coalition participation before seeking funding.

  • Power-Building is Central: The foundation views community organizing and power infrastructure as core to health equity, not supplementary. Your work must show how you're shifting power dynamics, not just delivering services.

  • Trust-Based Partnership: TCE waives most reporting requirements and provides multi-year general operating support, seeking partners who are accountable to communities rather than funders. Demonstrate community governance and lived experience leadership.

  • Systems Change Focus: Successful grants target "the rules"—policies, institutions, and structural conditions creating health inequities. Show how your work transforms systems, not just treats symptoms.

  • Strategic Alignment is Essential: With a new strategic plan launching in 2027 and current Bridge Strategy priorities, stay informed about evolving focus areas. The foundation is in listening mode through 2026, creating opportunities to shape future directions.

  • Think Big and Long-Term: Grant amounts range dramatically from $15,000 to $13+ million. Don't self-limit—if your work has significant systems change potential and you can demonstrate capacity, larger multi-year investments are possible.

  • Geographic Strategy Matters: With five regional offices and historic investment in 14 Building Healthy Communities sites, location and regional connections influence funding. Consider how your work connects to statewide movements while remaining locally rooted.

References

  1. The California Endowment official website: https://www.calendow.org/ (Accessed November 2025)
  2. "Our Story" - The California Endowment: https://www.calendow.org/our-story/ (Accessed November 2025)
  3. "Grants" - The California Endowment: https://www.calendow.org/grants/ (Accessed November 2025)
  4. "Strategic Planning" - The California Endowment: https://www.calendow.org/strategic-planning/ (Accessed November 2025)
  5. "Leadership" - The California Endowment: https://www.calendow.org/leadership/ (Accessed November 2025)
  6. "Contact" - The California Endowment: https://www.calendow.org/contact/ (Accessed November 2025)
  7. "All Grantees" - The California Endowment: https://www.calendow.org/all-grantees/ (Accessed November 2025)
  8. "Social Justice Bond" - The California Endowment: https://www.calendow.org/bonds/ (Accessed November 2025)
  9. "Building Healthy Communities: A Decade in Review" - The California Endowment: https://www.calendow.org/learning/executive-summary/ (Accessed November 2025)
  10. "Brenda Solórzano Named CEO of The California Endowment": https://www.calendow.org/brenda-solorzano-named-president-ceo-of-the-california-endowment/ (Accessed November 2025)
  11. The California Endowment - Foundation Directory, Candid: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=CALI071 (Accessed November 2025)
  12. The California Endowment - Inside Philanthropy: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/southern-california-grants/the-california-endowment (Accessed November 2025)
  13. The California Endowment 990 Report - Instrumentl: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-california-endowment (Accessed November 2025)
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