College Futures Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- College Futures Foundation funds postsecondary economic mobility and educational equity work, with a priority on California, so fit matters most for organisations working in that space and in that state.
- Grantmaking is by invitation only and it does not accept unsolicited requests, so the realistic path in is to be identified or approached as a partner rather than to submit a cold application; once invited, applicants use the foundation's online grant portal, and delegated grants roll throughout the year rather than to fixed deadlines.
- For sizing a request, about 8 in 10 of its 570 grants fall between $300 and $250,000, with a median grant of $25,000, so a modest request fits most applicants, though the largest grant made was $1,050,000.
- The foundation looks relationship-led rather than open-competition: 83% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded before.
- It does not fund scholarships or grants to individuals.
Overview
College Futures Foundation is a US private foundation based in Oakland, 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
College Futures Foundation channels grant funding, its voice and staff capacity through strategic initiatives to make postsecondary education a more equitable route to economic mobility. It partners with organisations and institutions working across education technology, postsecondary innovation, policy, advocacy and workforce systems. Its support centres on research and communications about postsecondary value; learner-centred policies, practices and experiences that advance access, completion and upward mobility; and more affordable, flexible learning, including upskilling for working adults. The foundation works with partners advancing economic mobility and educational equity, with particular attention to underserved learners, including first-generation students, learners of colour, adults and people from low-income communities. Its focus is on California and its learners.
Themes
- Postsecondary economic mobility
- Equitable access and completion
- Postsecondary affordability
- Adult learner education
- Higher education policy
- Workforce upskilling
Geographic Focus
Priority: California.
What They Don't Fund
- Grants for scholarships or to individuals
How to apply
Grantmaking is by invitation only; invited applicants submit through the foundation’s online grant portal.
Deadlines: Delegated grants roll throughout the year.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 83% 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 570 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Requests are aligned with the foundation’s strategic initiatives.
- The foundation works with organisations advancing ideas and solutions in service of economic mobility and educational equity.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 83% of grant dollars went to organisations College Futures Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 7% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 181 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- The RP Group · Program grant$600,0002024 tax year
- Foundation for California Community Colleges · Program grant$550,0002024 tax year
- American Association of Community Colleges · Program grant$500,0002024 tax year
- California State University, Fresno Foundation · Program grant$500,0002024 tax year
- CalMatters · Program grant$500,0002024 tax year
- Foundation for California Community Colleges · Program grant$469,0002024 tax year
- Sova Solutions · Program grant$407,0002024 tax year
- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges · Program grant$400,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Wallace Phillippe — CFO / COO
- Ortiz-Oakley Eloy — President / CEO, Board Member Ex-Officio
- Yee Betty — Board Member
- Yamauchi Timothy — Board Member
- Whitmore Richard — Board Member
- Swearengin Ashley — Board Member, Vice Chair
- Seldon Willa — Board Member
- Oubre Linda — Board Member
- Mendonca Lenny — Board Member
- Karavadra Kailesh — Board Member
- Escutia Martha — Board Member
- Avalos Arnoldo — Board Member
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $29,852,744 | $21,135,893 | $503,807,368 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $40,940,966 | $16,019,913 | $534,222,530 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $38,109,372 | $16,683,989 | $559,996,651 | 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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At a glance
Applying to College Futures Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (415) 287-1800
- SUPPORT@COLLEGEFUTURES.ORG
- Oakland, CA
- collegefutures.org
Applying to College Futures Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (415) 287-1800
- SUPPORT@COLLEGEFUTURES.ORG
- Oakland, CA
- collegefutures.org