Chamberlin Education Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Chamberlin Education Foundation funds TK–5 math and literacy and education equity work for West Contra Costa public school students, delivered through school partnerships, talent pipelines, informed community leadership, youth development programmes and classroom grants to teachers, with its Community Giving Initiative aimed at organisations serving youth in West Contra Costa (including El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Hercules and five more cities in California), Contra Costa and Alameda county.
- Most grants are modest: about eight in ten fall between $2,250 and $90,000, the median grant is $5,750, and the largest is around $385,000, so a request in the lower part of that range is realistic for most applicants, while Gratitude Grants are set at $300 for a single programme.
- Apply online for the Community Giving Initiative, explaining how the funding will benefit the youth you serve, and watch the annual grant cycle closely, as its application period is time-limited and its timing can vary from year to year.
- A large share, 74%, of grant dollars went to organisations also funded in the two prior filings, so the foundation appears to favour continuing relationships, meaning new applicants may be competing for a smaller pool of funding.
- Schools (public or private), parent-teacher associations, booster clubs, alumni or other school-based fundraising groups, and faith-based organisations should not apply to the Community Giving Initiative, as these are excluded from that programme.
Overview
Chamberlin Education Foundation is a US private foundation based in Richmond, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Chamberlin Education Foundation co-develops and funds initiatives to promote academic achievement and education equity for students in West Contra Costa public schools, with grantmaking focused on improving TK–5 math and literacy. Its work is organised through school partnerships, talent pipelines and informed community leadership. It strengthens instructional leadership, curriculum implementation, educator preparation and leadership pathways, while supporting families, community leaders, educators and advocates to advance shared priorities. Through the Community Giving Initiative, it supports local, mission-aligned organisations running youth development programmes that directly serve West Contra Costa students, particularly those prioritising Black, Latinx and other underserved student populations. It also offers classroom grants to teachers. Its stated approach values authentic community partnerships and directs funding and programme support to those best positioned to achieve equitable student outcomes.
Themes
- TK–5 math and literacy
- Education equity
- School partnerships
- Educator talent pipelines
- Informed community leadership
- Youth development
Geographic Focus
West Contra Costa: El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Hercules and 5 more cities in California; Contra Costa; Alameda county.
What They Don't Fund
- Community Giving Initiative only: Schools (public or private); parent-teacher associations; booster clubs; alumni or other school-based fundraising groups; faith-based organizations
How to apply
For the Community Giving Initiative, organisations complete an online application from CEF’s page and explain how funding will benefit the youth they serve.
Deadlines: The Community Giving Initiative has an annual grant cycle; the application period is time-limited and its timing can vary.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 74% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 258 grants to organisations were $5,750 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It prioritises locally founded organisations with strong, targeted impact and programmes that meaningfully support most West Contra Costa youth and their families.
- Applications are assessed for eligibility, intended use for West Contra Costa youth, and the organisation’s qualifications under the CGI Rubric.
- It directs funding and programme support to partners best positioned to achieve equitable student outcomes.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 74% of grant dollars went to organisations Chamberlin Education Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 59 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- S2C Collective · Program support$383,9192024 tax year
- West Contra Costa Unified School District · Program support$300,0002024 tax year
- Tfa Bay Area · Program support$250,0002024 tax year
- Contra Costa County Charter Coalition · Program support$250,0002024 tax year
- EdSource · Program support$200,0002024 tax year
- GO Public Schools · Program support$200,0002024 tax year
- GO Public Schools · Program support$150,0002024 tax year
- California Charter Schools Association · Program support$125,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Stephen W Chamberlin — Chair
- Arun Ramanathan — Director
- Christine Castillo — Treasurer and Secretary
- Dr Stephanie Phillips — President
- Anne Hoffman — Director
- Melinda Erkelens — Director
- Susan C Chamberlin — Vice Chair
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,093,427 | $2,278,500 | $89,441,151 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $8,511,893 | $2,263,350 | $86,791,683 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $9,286,752 | $2,982,319 | $83,773,517 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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Applying to Chamberlin Education Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required