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Common Counsel Foundation

Annual Giving
$48.0M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.1M
Decision Time
1mo

Common Counsel Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $48 million (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 453 grants awarded (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: ~$81,000 (varies significantly by program)
  • Grant Range: $300 - $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily California, with national reach for specific programs
  • Founded: 1988

Contact Details

Address: 1624 Franklin St Ste 1022, Oakland, CA 94612-2824
Phone: (510) 834-2995
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.commoncounsel.org
Grant Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=commoncounsel
Grant Inquiries: [email protected]

Overview

Founded in 1988, Common Counsel Foundation is a progressive social justice foundation based in Oakland, California, with over 35 years of experience supporting grassroots movements. In 2023, the foundation distributed $48 million in grants to 225 nonprofit partners through 453 awards. As both a direct grantmaker and fiscal sponsor, CCF advances equity and environmental health through multiple grant programs and strategic philanthropic advising for 25 foundation partners and 100 individual/family donors. The foundation prioritizes organizations led by low-income people, people of color (particularly Black-led organizing), women, and LGBTQ communities that incorporate intersectional analysis. Notably, 80% of CCF's grants provide general operating support rather than restricted project funding, reflecting their trust-based approach. The foundation has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 95%.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Fund for an Inclusive California (F4ICA)

  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $100,000
  • Focus: Housing justice and power-building efforts led by communities of color across California
  • Status: Active with ongoing application cycles
  • Notable: Since 2018, F4ICA has distributed $13.5 million for community-led housing solutions
  • Recent Awards: $1.7 million announced in December 2024 to organizations in Central Valley, Inland Region, Bay Area, Los Angeles, and statewide groups
  • Learn More: https://f4ica.commoncounsel.org/

Native Voices Rising

  • Grant Range: Typically $15,000 - $20,000
  • Focus: Indigenous and Native-led advocacy, organizing, and grassroots efforts nationally
  • Status: Transitioned to independent fiscal sponsorship; check nativevoicesrising.org for current status
  • Track Record: Over 11 years, awarded $16+ million to 380+ Native-led organizations
  • Recent Impact: $4 million to 145 Indigenous groups in 2024, including 16 multi-year awards
  • Priority Areas: Environmental/climate justice, water protection, food sovereignty, culture/language revitalization, women- and two-spirit-led activism

Community Ownership for Community Power Fund

  • Focus: Community ownership of real estate, land, and housing in California
  • Goal: Build capacity for community groups to acquire and govern spaces; developing toward $100M+ integrated capital acquisition fund
  • Approach: Governed by communities themselves
  • Learn More: https://communityownership.fund/

Grassroots Exchange Fund (GXF)

  • Grant Range: $300 - $800 (small discretionary grants)
  • Purpose: Build bridges between grassroots organizations through collaborative campaigns and cross-region movement building
  • Status: Paused in 2024; resuming in 2025
  • Application: Open process for qualifying organizations when active

Still We Rise Fund

  • Grant Amount: Typically $5,000
  • Focus: Organizations supporting racial and ethnic minorities with budgets under $3 million
  • Status: Currently not accepting applications
  • When Active: Monthly deployment with decisions within 4 weeks
  • Features: Grassroots leaders inform grantmaking decisions; minimal reporting requirements

Social and Economic Justice Fund

  • Focus: San Francisco Bay Area nonprofits fighting poverty, pollution, and discrimination
  • Process: Open, competitive granting process when active

Priority Areas

Common Counsel Foundation funds organizations working across nine intersecting issue areas:

  • Immigration: Path to citizenship advocacy, immigrant rights protection
  • Climate/Environmental Justice: Environmental racism, pollution prevention, climate advocacy
  • Housing Justice: Tenant protections, affordable housing, anti-displacement organizing
  • Racial Justice: Black-led organizing, communities of color empowerment
  • Democracy: Civic participation, voting rights, democratic access
  • Anti-War Activism: Peace movements, demilitarization efforts
  • Social Justice: Intersectional approaches to systemic change
  • Health: Health equity, environmental health
  • Philanthropy: Movement-aligned giving, donor education

Organization Characteristics They Prioritize:

  • Led by people with lived experience (low-income people, people of color, women, LGBTQ communities)
  • Grassroots and community-based organizations
  • Incorporate intersectional analysis
  • Focus on structural and systemic change rather than direct services
  • Community organizing and advocacy approaches
  • Organizations "closest to the ground" understanding cumulative impacts of oppression
  • 75% of funded partners are majority people of color; 50% led by people of color

What They Don't Fund

Based on Still We Rise Fund guidelines (other programs may vary):

  • Organizations located outside the United States
  • Direct social services
  • Government agencies and programs
  • Capital expenditures, endowments, construction, or renovation programs
  • Scholarship funds or aid to individuals
  • Schools, cultural institutions, medical institutions
  • Grantmaking institutions
  • Research or fellowships

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Sangeeta Chowdhry, Executive Director Chowdhry joined CCF in 2023 and has announced she will step down by end of October 2025. On joining, she stated: "I am thrilled to join Common Counsel Foundation, and build on the powerful work that is underway. My approach to creating transformative social change has centered on addressing the root causes of social inequity and systemic power imbalances by listening to, learning from, and supporting social justice movements." Reflecting on her tenure: "It's been an honor to lead an exceptional team in support of our community partners. I'm inspired by the courage and resilience of our partners and by CCF's demonstrated commitment to our north star of being accountable to grassroots movements and centering community priorities."

Board of Directors

Chandra Alexandre, Board Chair CEO of Community Action Marin

Garrett Collins, Treasurer Senior Director of Finance at BridgeBio Pharma

Carly Bad Heart Bull Executive Director of the Native Ways Federation

Vanessa Moses Program Director at Center for Empowered

Senior Staff

Allistair Mallillin Director of Strategy and Asset Building

Board Composition: The board comprises social justice movement leaders, progressive philanthropists, finance professionals, and attorneys rooted in social justice values.

Historical Leadership Note

Peggy Saika served as interim executive director through 2022, bringing extensive background including leadership at Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (2002-2015), Asian Pacific Environmental Network (founding executive director), and Asian Law Caucus (1983-1991).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Grant Portal Access: Applications are submitted through Common Counsel Foundation's online grant portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=commoncounsel

Program-Specific Processes: Each grant program has its own guidelines and application cycles. Not all programs are open at all times. Organizations should check the grant portal or contact [email protected] for current opportunities.

Standard Application Deadlines: Member funds with open Letter of Inquiry (LOI) processes typically have deadlines on January 15 and June 15 annually.

Application Types:

  • Rolling Basis: Some programs accept applications on an ongoing basis
  • Fixed Deadlines: Semi-annual deadlines (January/June) for certain funds
  • Monthly Cycles: Still We Rise Fund (when active) reviews applications monthly, due first Monday of each month
  • Mixed/Invitation: Some programs operate by invitation or have varied schedules

Decision Timeline

Still We Rise Fund: 4-week turnaround from application deadline to decision (when active)

Standard Programs: Timeline varies by program; specific timelines not publicly available for most funds

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. However, the foundation's scale provides context:

  • 2023: 453 grants awarded
  • 2022: 461 grants awarded
  • 2021: 406 grants awarded
  • The foundation maintains relationships with 225 nonprofit partners

Reporting Requirements

Standard Requirement: Grantees submit a brief letter, report, or evaluation of funded activity 90 days after the event or activity. CCF emphasizes minimal reporting burdens as part of their trust-based approach.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Organizations should contact program staff directly with questions about reapplication after unsuccessful attempts.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with CCF's Values and Approach

Common Counsel Foundation seeks organizations that embody specific characteristics rooted in their movement-aligned philosophy:

Leadership and Lived Experience CCF prioritizes organizations "led by low income people, people of color (and are attentive to Black-led organizing specifically), women and LGBTQ people who incorporate an intersectional analysis and approach in their work." Organizations should demonstrate that leadership comes from communities directly affected by the issues they address.

Community-Led Solutions The foundation "believes in the power of communities and the right and ability of those communities to lead their own path to solutions to the challenges they confront." Applications should emphasize community ownership of strategy and decision-making.

Systems Change Focus CCF supports "community organizing and movement-aligned efforts focused on systems and policy change" rather than direct service provision. Successful applicants demonstrate how their work addresses root causes and structural barriers.

Intersectional Analysis Organizations should demonstrate understanding of how multiple forms of oppression intersect and incorporate this lens into their organizing strategies.

Track Record of Funded Organizations

Examining CCF's funded partners reveals what resonates:

Causa Justa :: Just Cause (CJJC) - Supported by CCF, CJJC led the charge to pass Oakland's Measure JJ in 2016 with 75% voter approval despite being significantly outspent, expanding rights for 15,000 Oakland renters through tenant protection legislation. CJJC offered tenant rights education to over 1,000 families.

Housing Now - F4ICA recipient featured in The New York Times for work on California lawmakers' deal preventing the state from falling off an "eviction cliff"

Workers Defense Project - Featured for hard-fought labor advocacy victories in Texas's 87th legislative session

North Carolina Environmental Justice Network - CCF Environmental Action Fund grantee celebrating 20 years fighting climate, environmental, racial, and social injustice

Movement for Justice in El Barrio - Grassroots Exchange Fund recipient demanding support for path to citizenship

Lowlander Center - Grassroots Exchange Fund recipient protecting ancestral burial sites of enslaved people against toxic petrochemical plant expansion

Strategic Positioning

Power-Building Approach: CCF explicitly funds "power-building" efforts. Applications should articulate how the organization builds community power to influence policy and systems.

Movement Alignment: The foundation "envisions a role for philanthropy that resets the power dynamic" and works "in allegiance to social movements that are the true drivers of transformative change." Show connection to broader movements.

Frontline Leadership: Demonstrate that the organization is "closest to the ground" and led by those with "direct connection to their work."

General Operating Support Priority: With 80% of grants providing general operating support, organizations can request unrestricted funding. This reflects CCF's trust in grantee partners to deploy resources where most needed.

What CCF Values in Applications

Based on their stated principles and practices:

  • Transparency and authenticity about challenges and approaches
  • Democratic participation in organizational governance
  • Cumulative impact understanding showing how multiple oppressions intersect
  • Multilayered solutions that address root causes
  • Organizations working to mitigate power imbalances in their own work
  • Connection to grassroots movements rather than top-down approaches

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Lead with community leadership: Emphasize that your organization is led by people directly affected by the issues you address, particularly people of color, low-income communities, women, and LGBTQ individuals
  • Focus on systems change: Frame your work as addressing root causes and structural barriers rather than providing direct services or band-aid solutions
  • Use movement language: CCF uses terms like "power-building," "frontline communities," "intersectional analysis," and "movement-aligned" - incorporate similar language authentically
  • Request general operating support: With 80% of CCF grants unrestricted, don't hesitate to request flexible funding that trusts your organization to deploy resources strategically
  • Demonstrate intersectionality: Show understanding of how racism, economic inequality, gender discrimination, and other oppressions interconnect in your work
  • Check program-specific deadlines: Each CCF fund operates differently - some rolling, some semi-annual (Jan 15/June 15), some monthly - verify current status in the grant portal
  • Minimal reporting burden: CCF's trust-based approach means simple reporting requirements (typically brief letter/report 90 days after activity), signaling their respect for grantee capacity

References

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