The California Wellness Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 95-4292101 · since 1991calwellness.org·California·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$48.8M
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$375 to $300k
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$7,500
Typical grant (median)
681 grants in the latest filing

Key takeaways

  • The California Wellness Foundation funds work across healthcare, environment and democracy themes benefiting people in California, so this is the geographic focus to bear in mind.
  • Most grants fall between $375 and $300,000, with a median grant of $7,500, so a modest request fits the pattern best, though the largest grant made was $2,000,000.
  • The foundation says it encourages requests for core operating support, which is worth building into any approach.
  • Around half of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the two previous filings, suggesting ongoing relationships matter, though this is a share of dollars rather than evidence that new applicants cannot succeed.
  • International work, organisations located outside the United States, and IRC Section 509(a)(3) Type III non-functionally integrated supporting organisations are excluded, so organisations in these categories should not apply.

Overview

The California Wellness Foundation is a US private foundation based in Los Angeles, 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

The California Wellness Foundation seeks to protect and improve the health and wellness of Californians by increasing access to health care, quality education, good jobs, healthy environments and safe neighborhoods. It funds work benefiting people in California and serves communities across the state, from large urban centres to small rural areas. It backs direct services addressing urgent community needs, particularly those of low-income people, people of colour, young people and rural residents. It also supports community organising and advocacy for accessible, preventive, culturally responsive care; work with communities affected by pollution, climate change and economic injustice; and civic participation that lets people influence decisions. It trusts and invests in nonprofit organisations and partners with community-led groups to build community voice and power.

Themes

  • Healthcare
  • Environment
  • Democracy

Geographic Focus

California.

What They Don't Fund

  • International work
  • Organizations located outside the United States
  • IRC SECTION 509(A)(3) TYPE III, NON-FUNCTIONALLY INTEGRATED SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 49% 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 2,091 grants to organisations were $7,500 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • The foundation encourages requests for core operating support.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

California86%
District of Columbia5%
New York3%
Massachusetts2%
Illinois<1%
Virginia<1%

6 other states: 2%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 1%

  • The largest single recipient received 2% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, 49% of grant dollars went to organisations The California Wellness Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • 15% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

681 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $7,500

How much do they typically give?

Share of 681 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k21%
$1k–$2.5k5%
$2.5k–$5k3%
$5k–$10k23%
$10k–$25k16%
$25k–$50k2%
$50k–$100k3%
$100k–$250k12%
$250k–$500k10%
$500k–$1M3%
$1M and over<1%

Median $7,500 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • California Immigrant Policy Center · Core operating support
    $1,000,0002024 tax year
  • Borealis Philanthropy · For project support of the disability inclusion fund to improve health equity in california.
    $500,0002024 tax year
  • Community Water Center · Core operating support
    $500,0002024 tax year
  • Southern California Grantmakers · For project support for the black equity collective to continue to build a regional, networked infrastructure of black-led social institutions in california.
    $500,0002024 tax year
  • Community Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment · Core operating support
    $500,0002024 tax year
  • Vera Institute of Justice · Core operating support
    $500,0002024 tax year
  • California Community Foundation · Core operating support
    $500,0002024 tax year
  • Roots Community Health Center · For project support for the 40x40 council to develop and implement the rise east 10-year plan to improve the health and well-being of residents of east oakland.
    $500,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Virginia Hedrick — Director
  • Irma Cota — Director
  • Katherine Katcher — Director
  • Geri Yang-Johnson — Director
  • Ernest Wilson III — Director
  • Debra Nakatomi — Director
  • Xochitl Castaneda — Director
  • Joseph Lumarda — Director, Past Chair
  • Arnold Perkins — Director, Audit Chair
  • Angelica Salas — Director, Board Secretary
  • Terence P Mulligan — Director, Treasurer
  • Pamela Simms-Mackey — Director, Board Chair
  • Alex Johnson — VP Of Public Affairs
  • Arun Baheti — VP Of Operations
  • Lori Cox — VP Of Programs
  • Rochelle Witharana — CFO
  • Richard Tate — CEO / President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$73,097,281$56,481,249$1,019,736,613Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$80,915,254$56,990,667$1,042,135,742Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$73,867,741$48,752,823$1,049,009,252Filing 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

Other sources

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