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California Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$359.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $10.0M

California Community Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $359 million (FY 2023)
  • Total Assets: $2.3 billion
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $10,000,000
  • Number of Grants: 8,312 (FY 2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Los Angeles County
  • Founded: 1915

Contact Details

Address: 717 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2665

Phone: (213) 413-4130

Grants Team: (213) 239-2330

Email: grantsmanager@calfund.org

Website: www.calfund.org

Application Portal: calfund.smapply.org

Overview

Founded in 1915 by Joseph Sartori, the California Community Foundation (CCF) is one of the nation's oldest and largest community foundations, with $2.3 billion in assets and managing more than 1,900 charitable foundations, funds, and legacies. Since 2004, CCF has distributed more than $3.9 billion in grants to nonprofits serving Los Angeles County. In fiscal year 2023 alone, the foundation awarded $359 million through 8,312 grants, with more than half (over $183 million) designated for local nonprofits across Los Angeles County. CCF has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a perfect 100% score.

The foundation's mission is to fulfill the promise of Los Angeles County by addressing complex challenges facing the region with a focus on education, health, housing, and immigration. CCF is committed to changing systems, addressing root causes, and improving quality of life for all L.A. residents, especially the most vulnerable and historically marginalized populations. Since 2015, the foundation has awarded over $1.2 billion across Los Angeles County, including $403 million for education initiatives, $222 million for health investments, and $147 million for housing.

In October 2023, Miguel A. Santana assumed the role of President and CEO, succeeding Antonia Hernández after her nearly two-decade tenure. Santana, a native Angeleno and son of immigrants, is renowned as an advocate for systems change and making Southern California a more equitable place for all its residents.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

CCF's discretionary grantmaking focuses on four primary areas:

Education: Supporting pathways to college or workforce skill training, creating greater opportunities for careers and upward mobility. Past grantees include the Children's Bureau of Southern California, Los Angeles Universal Preschool, the Educare Foundation, Educating Young Minds, All People's Community Center, Occidental College, and the National College Resources Foundation.

Health: Focusing on Los Angeles County's un- and under-insured populations with interest areas including children's health insurance programs, physical and mental health care access, substance use prevention, advocacy, and community clinics.

Housing and Economic Justice: Combining grantmaking, lending, and advocacy to provide more affordable housing and better jobs for working L.A. families. CCF invested over $5 million toward the passage of Measure A for affordable housing and homelessness services.

Immigration: Protecting the rights and future of new Americans and helping to integrate immigrants into the civic fabric of Los Angeles, prioritizing services to support individuals and families who have been historically under-resourced.

Special Initiatives: CCF also supports additional focus areas including civic engagement (empowering communities to make their voices heard and influence policy decisions) and climate crisis response (confronting the climate crisis and empowering communities to withstand its impacts).

Grant amounts vary widely depending on the program and initiative. Examples include:

  • Ready to Rise program: $50,000 - $150,000 to 49 organizations in targeted L.A. communities
  • Voter engagement grants: $5,000 - $25,000 to 15 organizations (in collaboration with Weingart Foundation and Liberty Hill Foundation)
  • Visual artist grants: $15,000 - $20,000 with professional development support
  • Overall grant range: $1,000 - $10,000,000 (average approximately $43,000)

Priority Areas

  • Organizations serving Los Angeles County residents, especially historically marginalized communities
  • Programs that address root causes and create systemic change
  • Initiatives that focus on equity and inclusion
  • Work that aligns with CCF's four core priority areas (education, health, housing, immigration)
  • Civic engagement and community empowerment programs
  • Climate resilience initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

  • Sectarian purposes (programs that promote or require a religious doctrine)
  • Existing obligations or replenishment of resources used to pay for such expenses
  • Equipment other than what is integral to accomplishing a stated organizational objective
  • Private foundations
  • Organizations that discriminate in hiring staff or providing services based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability
  • Organizations outside Los Angeles County (except for regional, statewide, or national public policy efforts that may benefit a substantial portion of the local population)

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Miguel A. Santana (appointed October 16, 2023)

Board Chair: Thomas A. Saenz

Board of Directors: Silvia R. Argueta, Kristin J. Ceva, Robert A. Cherry, Alfred Fraijo Jr., Darline P. Robles, Thomas A. Saenz, Miguel A. Santana, and Daniel G. Weiss

Miguel Santana on his vision for CCF: "The California Community Foundation's mission of fulfilling the promise of Los Angeles County aligns deeply with my core values of unapologetically fighting for equity, justice, and for a Los Angeles region where everyone thrives. As a native Angeleno and the son of immigrants, it will be a privilege to work with the CCF team and the community on the tremendous legacy that my predecessor, colleague, and friend, Antonia Hernández has built."

Santana emphasizes "the values of perseverance, leading with excellence, and the importance of measuring success by the impact and benefits we bring to the community" as he seeks "to build upon this solid foundation and ensure that CCF leads the civic agenda in Los Angeles."

CCF's leadership team and staff are among the most diverse of any foundation in the country, reflecting the communities they serve.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements:

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (not a private foundation)
  • Located within and primarily serving residents of Los Angeles County (except for regional, statewide, or national public policy efforts)
  • Non-discriminatory practices in hiring and service delivery

Application Process for New Applicants:

  1. Initial Research: Thoroughly review all available information on CCF's website, including the interactive eligibility test at www.calfund.org/interactive-eligibility-test/

  2. Program Officer Contact: Contact the appropriate program officer to arrange a phone meeting to discuss your organization and programs. Do not submit a letter of intent (LOI) without first having a conversation with a program officer.

  3. Focus Selection: Limit your inquiry to one priority area or initiative. If your work covers multiple priority areas, identify the one area where your organization's work is strongest.

  4. Application Submission: Register using the application portal at calfund.smapply.org or applyforgrants.calfund.org, then select the program you are applying for.

Contact Information: For questions, contact grants specialists at (213) 239-2330 or grantsmanager@calfund.org.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines vary by program and are not publicly disclosed. Applicants are encouraged to contact program officers for program-specific timelines. With 8,312 grants awarded in FY 2023, CCF maintains an active and ongoing grantmaking process.

Success Rates

CCF does not publicly disclose success rates or acceptance percentages. However, the foundation receives hundreds of applications, and the grantmaking process is described as competitive, with the volume of applications exceeding available funds. Organizations should expect a selective process.

Reapplication Policy

CCF does not publicly specify a reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations interested in reapplying should contact grants specialists at (213) 239-2330 or grantsmanager@calfund.org for specific guidance.

Application Success Factors

Based on CCF's published guidance and leadership priorities, the following factors are critical for successful applications:

Read and Follow Instructions: Start by thoroughly reading through all online information. CCF staff emphasize: "Provide all – and only – the information requested while strictly adhering to the deadlines provided."

Focus on Outcomes: CCF looks for applications that "focus on the outcomes you aim to achieve with a grant rather than on current challenges or statistics." Demonstrate the impact your work will have, not just the problems you're addressing.

Differentiate Your Approach: "Describe what your organization does, and how it differs, adds to or improves upon other approaches in the space, while being respectful to the hard work and contributions of others." Show what makes your work unique in the Los Angeles landscape.

Submit Early: "Be early in your submission. Waiting until the last minute can be risky, as tech challenges may occasionally arise. The grantmaking is a competitive process, and they're unable to provide extensions to the deadline."

Establish Relationships: For new applicants, establishing a relationship with a program officer before applying is essential. The foundation explicitly states not to submit an LOI without first having a phone conversation with the appropriate program officer.

Demonstrate Systems Change: Under Miguel Santana's leadership, CCF emphasizes "systems change and making Southern California a more equitable place for all its residents, especially those who have been historically marginalized." Applications should show how your work addresses root causes, not just symptoms.

Align with Equity and Inclusion Values: The foundation prioritizes "the values of equity and inclusion" and organizations that serve historically marginalized communities. Demonstrate how your work advances these values.

Serve Los Angeles County: More than half of CCF's grants go to local L.A. County nonprofits. Strong applications demonstrate deep understanding of and commitment to Los Angeles communities.

Specify Priority Area Alignment: Choose one priority area (education, health, housing, or immigration) where your organization's work is strongest, even if your work spans multiple areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Relationship First, Application Second: Do not submit an LOI or application without first speaking to a program officer. This is an explicit requirement for new applicants and demonstrates CCF's preference for relationship-based grantmaking.

  • Focus Your Ask: Limit your application to one priority area where your work is strongest, even if your organization works across multiple CCF focus areas. Trying to fit into multiple categories may dilute your application.

  • Outcomes Over Problems: Frame your proposal around the outcomes and impact you'll achieve, not just the challenges you're addressing. CCF wants to fund solutions and results.

  • Systems Change Matters: Applications that demonstrate how your work addresses root causes and creates systemic change rather than temporary fixes will be more competitive, particularly given CEO Miguel Santana's emphasis on "systems change."

  • Serve the Marginalized: CCF allocates the majority of its grantmaking to organizations serving historically marginalized communities in L.A. County. Clearly articulate how your work serves these populations.

  • Submit Early and Follow Instructions Exactly: Provide "all – and only" the information requested, adhere strictly to deadlines, and submit early. Technical issues near deadlines will not result in extensions.

  • Demonstrate What Makes You Different: Explain how your approach differs from or improves upon other work in the field, while being respectful of others' contributions. CCF wants to fund innovative and distinctive approaches.

References

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