Foundation For California Community Colleges

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $145,948,196 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by programme
• Grant Range: $500 - $21,500,000+ (varies significantly by programme)
• Geographic Focus: California (statewide, with some programmes targeting specific regions)

Contact Details

Address: 1102 Q Street, Suite 4800, Sacramento, CA 95811

Phone: (916) 325-1880 | Toll Free: 866.325.3222

Website: https://foundationccc.org

Email: Contact varies by programme

Overview

Founded in 1998, the Foundation For California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC) serves as the official nonprofit partner to California's Community Colleges system—the largest and most diverse system of higher education in the nation, serving over 2 million students across 116 colleges. With total assets of $325,970,629 and annual expenses of $145,948,196 (2023), the Foundation operates over 60 programmes across six priority areas: Student Success, Workforce Development, Equity, Community Impact, Climate Action, and System Support. Led by President and CEO Keetha Mills, the Foundation positions itself as "connectors, accelerators, problem-solvers, and trusted partners," serving as a hub for innovation and transformative change at scale. The organisation is currently pursuing its "Double Impact Plan," a growth-focused strategy to amplify organisational reach. In recent years, the Foundation received a historic $100 million pledge from the Jay Pritzker Foundation for student scholarships and emergency aid, and a $21.5 million federal Good Jobs Challenge grant for forestry workforce development.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Foundation operates as an intermediary, administering grants primarily to California Community Colleges, community-based organisations in partnership with colleges, and system-wide initiatives. Major programmes include:

Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives Grant Program: $108.6 million distributed to six regional grantees in the first phase (2022) to strengthen education-to-workforce pathways. Administered in partnership with California Department of General Services and Office of Public School Construction.

Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative: $4.2 million awarded in second round (May 2024) to 11 statewide grantees. Funded by Assembly Bill 628. Small community-based organisations (annual budgets ≤$1.5M) may request up to $300,000. Requires partnerships between community-based organisations and Local Workforce Development Boards. Application via competitive RFP process managed with California Workforce Development Board.

Wellness Coach Behavioral Health Program: $2,017,717 awarded to 20 California community colleges (April 2025) to expand behavioural health education. Supported by Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI).

California Resilient Careers in Forestry: $21.5 million US Economic Development Administration Good Jobs Challenge grant (2022) for workforce development in forestry sector.

Finish Line Scholars Program: Funded by $100 million pledge from Jay Pritzker Foundation. Provides scholarships and emergency financial aid to students at 34 colleges in regions with lowest college completion rates (Inland Empire, Central Valley, Far North). Students must be California College Promise Grant recipients, enrolled full-time (12+ units), have completed 50% of programme credits, and have realistic plan to finish within one year. Applications handled at individual college level.

Nursing Education Investment Grants: Competitive grants to community colleges for nursing programme development and expansion.

Film Internship Fund: Part of Career Catalyst programme supporting workforce development in film industry.

Priority Areas

The Foundation organises its work around six strategic impact areas:

1. Student Success: Accelerating student completion and transfer rates through scholarships, emergency financial aid (grants as small as $500 can help students experiencing unexpected expenses), and support services

2. Workforce Development: Developing well-prepared workforce for California economy through apprenticeships, career technical education, and industry partnerships serving historically underrepresented populations (veterans, refugees, formerly incarcerated individuals, women of colour, immigrants)

3. Equity: Reducing barriers to opportunity through basic needs support including CalFresh Outreach, California Earned Income Tax Credit Outreach, and California Low-Cost Auto Insurance Outreach

4. Community Impact: Connecting communities with resources and benefits through the community college network

5. Climate Action: Programmes addressing local climate change effects, including environmental workforce development

6. System Support: Providing procurement services (CollegeBuys), fiscal sponsorship, and programme management to the California Community Colleges system

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations or projects outside California
• Grants to individual students (student aid is distributed through participating colleges)
• Organisations not affiliated with or partnered with California Community Colleges
• Projects that don't align with one of their six strategic priority areas
• The Foundation does not operate as a traditional community foundation making grants to general nonprofit organisations

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Keetha Mills - President and Chief Executive Officer

Melissa Conner - Chief Advancement Officer

Andrea Meyer - Chief Legal Officer

Joseph Quintana - Chief Operating Officer

Brian Caughell - Executive Vice President, Finance

Bryan Miller - Executive Vice President, Communications and Technology

Elaine Reodica Shyu - Executive Chief of Staff

Jorge J.C. Sales - Executive Vice President, Enterprise and Institutional Partnerships

Vice Presidents

Iris Aguilar - Vice President, Equity and Community Impact

Tim Aldinger - Vice President, Workforce and Climate Innovation

Adam DeBow - Vice President, Legal Affairs

Barbara Webster-Hawkins - Vice President, Resource Development

Board of Directors

Patrick Mulvaney - Chair

Jennifer Perry - Vice Chair

Kwesi Edwards - Secretary/Treasurer

Directors: Manuel Baca, Elmy Bermejo, Stephan Castellanos, Yasmin Davidds, Harry Le Grande, Nitasha Sawhney, Geneve Villacres, Kate Wright

Board members serve four-year terms with a limit of three consecutive terms (maximum 12 consecutive years).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: The Foundation For California Community Colleges does not operate a standard open application process for most programmes. Grant opportunities are released through competitive Request for Applications (RFA) or Request for Proposals (RFP) processes on a programme-by-programme basis.

Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative:

• Applications released through competitive RFP process
• Past deadlines: September 2, 2022 (first cycle); December 8, 2023 (Breaking Barriers 2.0)
• Contact: [email protected]
• Requires partnership between community-based organisation and Local Workforce Development Board

Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives:

• Large-scale competitive grant programme
• Applications coordinated through state agencies (California Department of General Services, Office of Public School Construction)

College-Specific Programs (Finish Line Scholars, Nursing Education Investment Grants):

• Applications handled at individual California Community College level
• Contact your college's financial aid, grants office, or institutional advancement office

Workforce and Programme Grants:

• Monitor the Foundation's website (foundationccc.org) and subscribe to announcements
• Many programmes are invitation-only or require college/institutional partnership

Getting on Their Radar

The Foundation operates as an auxiliary organisation to the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and Board of Governors. For organisations seeking to partner:

For Community-Based Organisations:

• Build relationships with Local Workforce Development Boards, as many grant programmes require these partnerships
• Connect with California Community College presidents, grant offices, or workforce development departments to explore collaboration opportunities
• The Foundation seeks partnerships with organisations serving historically underrepresented populations (veterans, refugees, formerly incarcerated individuals, women of colour, immigrants)

For California Community Colleges:

• Work through your college's grants office or institutional advancement office
• The Foundation provides fiscal sponsorship and programme management services to mission-aligned partners
• Contact Jorge J.C. Sales, Executive Vice President, Enterprise and Institutional Partnerships, to explore collaboration opportunities

Strategic Networking:

• Attend California Community Colleges system events and conferences
• Engage with the California Workforce Development Board (cwdb.ca.gov) for workforce-related initiatives
• Monitor announcements from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary significantly by programme:

• Competitive RFP processes: Typically 2-6 months from application deadline to award announcement
• Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative: Awards announced approximately 3-4 months after application deadline
• College-administered programmes: Varies by individual college processes

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publish overall success rates for grant applications. Given the competitive nature of large-scale programmes like the Regional K-16 Collaboratives (which had only 6 grantees in first phase) and Breaking Barriers (11 grantees in second round), success rates for major competitive programmes appear to be selective.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies vary by programme. For Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative, new funding rounds are announced periodically, and unsuccessful applicants may apply in subsequent cycles. Check specific programme guidelines for reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with California Community Colleges System: The Foundation operates as the official nonprofit partner to the California Community Colleges. Successful applications demonstrate clear benefits to California community college students, institutions, or the broader system. Projects should align with the system's strategic priorities around equity, student success, and workforce development.

Partnership Approach: Many programmes explicitly require partnerships. For Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative, applications must include partnerships between community-based organisations and Local Workforce Development Boards. Strong applications demonstrate how partners' complementary expertise will enhance programme delivery.

Focus on Equity and Underserved Populations: The Foundation emphasises serving historically underrepresented and economically overlooked populations. Successful applications demonstrate cultural competence and specific strategies for reaching veterans, refugees, formerly incarcerated individuals, women of colour, and immigrants.

Regional Impact and Scalability: Programmes like the Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives demonstrate the Foundation's interest in large-scale, regional approaches. The Foundation positions itself as an intermediary for "transformative change at scale," suggesting preference for programmes with potential for significant, measurable impact.

Evidence-Based Approaches: Whilst not explicitly stated in available materials, the Foundation's emphasis on being "problem-solvers" and operating programmes with "experienced programme staff managing complex philanthropic, state, and federally funded projects" suggests value placed on data-driven, evidence-based programme design.

Institutional Capacity: For Breaking Barriers Initiative, the Foundation distinguishes between small community-based organisations (annual budgets ≤$1.5M, eligible for up to $300,000) and larger organisations, suggesting they assess organisational capacity relative to grant size. Applications should demonstrate appropriate fiscal and programmatic capacity.

Connection to California's Economic Needs: Workforce development programmes align with state economic priorities—forestry careers address climate resilience, behavioural health addresses healthcare workforce shortages, K-16 collaboratives address education-to-workforce pipeline gaps.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not a traditional community foundation: The Foundation primarily serves as an intermediary for California Community Colleges. Most funding opportunities require direct affiliation with or partnership with California community colleges or system institutions.

• Partnership is essential: Multiple programmes require formal partnerships with California Community Colleges, Local Workforce Development Boards, or other system entities. Build these relationships before applications open.

• Monitor for competitive RFPs: Grant opportunities are released periodically through formal RFP processes with specific deadlines. Subscribe to Foundation announcements and California Workforce Development Board notifications.

• Geographic focus is statewide but strategic: Whilst serving all California, some programmes (like Finish Line Scholars) specifically target regions with lowest college completion rates—Inland Empire, Central Valley, and Far North.

• Equity lens is critical: Successful applications demonstrate commitment to serving historically underrepresented populations and reducing barriers to economic and social mobility.

• Scale matters: The Foundation makes both small emergency grants ($500 to students) and massive institutional grants ($21.5M+ for forestry programme). Match your project scope to appropriate funding mechanisms.

• For colleges seeking support: Work through your institutional grants office and leverage the Foundation's role as official partner to the Chancellor's Office and Board of Governors. The Foundation offers procurement services, fiscal sponsorship, and programme management beyond traditional grant making.

References

• Foundation for California Community Colleges official website: https://foundationccc.org (Accessed December 2025)
• Foundation for California Community Colleges, "About Us": https://foundationccc.org/about-us/ (Accessed December 2025)
• Foundation for California Community Colleges, "Our Leadership": https://foundationccc.org/about-us/our-leadership/ (Accessed December 2025)
• Foundation for California Community Colleges, "Program Directory": https://foundationccc.org/program-directory/ (Accessed December 2025)
• Cause IQ, "Foundation for California Community Colleges": https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/foundation-for-california-community-colleges,680412350/ (Accessed December 2025)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, "Foundation For California Community Colleges": https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/680412350 (Accessed December 2025)
• Foundation for California Community Colleges, "Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative": https://foundationccc.org/our-work/workforce-development/diversifying-our-states-workforce/breaking-barriers-to-employment-initiative/ (Accessed December 2025)
• California Workforce Development Board, "Breaking Barriers": https://cwdb.ca.gov/initiatives/breakingbarriers/ (Accessed December 2025)
• Foundation for California Community Colleges, "$2 Million Awarded to Expand Behavioral Health Curriculum": https://foundationccc.org/2-million-awarded-to-california-community-colleges-to-expand-behavioral-health-career-curriculum/ (Accessed December 2025)
• Foundation for California Community Colleges, "Foundation for California Community Colleges and State Workforce Board Award $4.2M to Develop Essential Workforce Skills": https://foundationccc.org/foundation-for-california-community-colleges-and-state-workforce-board-award-4-2m-to-develop-essential-workforce-skills/ (Accessed December 2025)
• California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, "Foundation for California Community Colleges Receives Historic $100 Million Pledge": https://www.cccco.edu/About-Us/News-and-Media/ccc-outlook-newsletter-archive/100-million-pledge (Accessed December 2025)
• Foundation for California Community Colleges, "Finish Line Scholars – For Students": https://foundationccc.org/our-work/system-support/providing-financial-assistance-and-scholarships/finish-line-scholars-program/finish-line-scholars-for-students/ (Accessed December 2025)
• U.S. Economic Development Administration, "Foundation for California Community Colleges": https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/good-jobs-challenge/2023/Foundation-for-California-Community-Colleges (Accessed December 2025)