The California Endowment
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The California Endowment funds work across California that advances health equity, community power, public institutions, health systems, inclusive community development, justice reinvestment and schools, so check your work fits one of these themes before applying.
- Most grant opportunities are by invitation, so a cold approach is unlikely to succeed; the exception is Go!Gifts, which is open to eligible organisations via an online application with no proposal or budget required, reviewed first-come, first-served, offering grants of $25,000.
- For other funding, aim a request in the typical range of $10,000 to $385,000, bearing in mind that half of all its grants were $100,000 or less, so a modest request is realistic.
- Ninety-three per cent of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the previous two filings, suggesting relationships matter and that it can be competitive for organisations new to it outside Go!Gifts.
- Do not apply if you are an individual, an organisation that discriminates on the grounds listed by the foundation, one that requires membership in a particular religion or that advances a particular religious faith, or if your request is for a political campaign, voter registration drive or lobbying for specific legislation.
Overview
The California Endowment 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 Endowment supports community-based organisations and government entities across California to advance health equity, racial equity and belonging. Its priorities include building People Power, transforming public institutions, and ensuring prevention, community wellness and access to quality health care. It backs young and adult leaders and marginalised communities to build civic voice and advance equity. Its stated focus also encompasses health systems, inclusive community development, justice reinvestment and schools. The Endowment describes its approach as addressing broken systems and outdated policies, and working with citizens and elected leaders on lasting solutions rather than focusing on prescriptions or individuals.
Themes
- Health equity
- Community power
- Public institutions
- Health systems
- Inclusive community development
- Justice reinvestment
- Schools
Geographic Focus
California.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
- Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status
- Organizations that require membership in a certain religion or that advance a particular religious faith
- Political campaigns, voter registration drives or lobbying for specific legislation
How to apply
Most grant opportunities are by invitation. For Go!Gifts, eligible organisations apply through the application link on The California Endowment's website and follow the prompts; no proposal or budget is required.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 93% 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 3,000 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- For Go!Gifts, requests are reviewed in the order received, and eligible organisations receive funding on a first-come, first-served basis.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 3% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to organisations The California Endowment had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 23% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 845 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science · Promoting diversity and social consciousness within healthcare$2,815,0002024 tax year
- California Primary Care Association · Strengthening community health center infrastructure to advance health$2,600,0002024 tax year
- Amalgamated Charitable Foundation · Decolonizing wealth project - building resilience and health in california$2,391,1392024 tax year
- PICO California · General operating support$2,200,0002024 tax year
- Silicon Valley Community Foundation · California black freedom fund - advancing health equity$2,000,0002024 tax year
- California Community Foundation · Advancing health justice through civic engagement in california$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Sierra Health Foundation Center for Health Program · Advancing wellness by leveraging public funding for healing justice$2,000,0002024 tax year
- ACCE Institute · General operating support$1,900,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kate Kendell — Chief of Staff
- Dan Deleon — Vice President & CFO
- Martha Jimenez — Executive Vice President
- Kelli Washington — Incoming Chief Investment Officer
- Michael Wee — Departing Interim Chief Investment Officer
- Brenda Solorzano — Incoming President / CEO
- Robert K Ross — Departing President / CEO
- Edgar Ibarra — Director
- Donnell Ewert — Director
- Kiah Williams — Director
- Torie Weiston-Serdan — Director
- Ashley Monterrosa — Director
- Vien Truong — Director
- Vernita Todd — Director
- Michele Siqueiros — Director / Chair
- Karthick Ramakrishnan — Director
- Stacie Olivares — Director
- Kameiko Hostler — Director
- Marta Mckenzie — Director
- Leslie Kautz — Director / Chair
and 7 more
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $417,921,219 | $193,569,729 | $4,318,845,356 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $243,040,147 | $215,917,483 | $4,453,417,123 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $182,567,426 | $141,467,127 | $4,457,765,886 | 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
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to The California Endowment?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
Applying to The California Endowment?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required