Funding search · criminal justice reform · California
Who funds criminal justice reform work in California
15 funders have a record of paying for criminal justice reform work by California recipients: 301 grants totaling $41.3M, most recently in 2024 — mostly private foundations, plus grantmaking charities. The largest by matched giving are The California Endowment ($16.2M), The California Wellness Foundation ($3.1M) and The Ford Foundation ($4.3M).
From IRS Form 990-PF and 990 Schedule I filings, 2019–2025. Grants already paid to California recipients — evidence of what these funders back, not open calls.
Largest: $125,000 to NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM — advancing health, community safety and justice: to improve health and safety by providing leadership development to the next generation of social justice advocates, developing rese…
Largest: $5,000 to A NEW WAY OF LIFE REENTRY PROJECT — for core operating support & for continued efforts to promote healing, power, & opportunity for formerly incarcerated people by taking a multifaceted approach to mitigating the eff…
Largest: $300,000 to SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS INC — core support for the formerly incarcerated and convicted people and families movement to help dismantle mass incarceration and restore the civil and human rights of people most imp…
East Bay Community FoundationOakland, CACharity · may take applications
23 matching grants · $1.3M · through 2024Largest: $40,000 to AHIMSA COLLECTIVE — project support for supporting fellowships for formerly incarcerated women and supporting women's re-entry, support for fellowships for formerly incarcerated women and programming …
The San Francisco FoundationSan Francisco, CACharity · may take applications
19 matching grants · $3.2M · through 2023Largest: $190,000 to MOVEMENT STRATEGY CENTER — program - for general operating support to develop the leadership and economic security of lgtbq young people through holding lending circles to improve their financial status and …
John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (Consolidated)Chicago, IL
11 matching grants · $5.3M · through 2024Largest: $1.0M to City & County of San Francisco dba San Francisco District Attorney Office — to support san francisco's participation as an implementation site in the safety and justice challenge, the foundation's criminal justice reform initiative to reduce over-incarcera…
Largest: $357,410 to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE — to support a study exploring the relationship between family engagement and the well-being of incarcerated persons.
Largest: $127,500 to COMMUNITY PARTNERS — resources for people impacted by mass incarceration community projects for public good education access & affordability intellectual property education/support
Largest: $80,000 to SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS — formerly incarcerated, convicted people and families movement - national network of civil and human rights organizations working to end mass incarceration.
Largest: $500,000 to CREATING RESTORATIVE OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS FUND — to create integrated pathways to economic mobility for formerly incarcerated individuals
Liberty Hill FoundationLos Angeles, CACharity · may take applications
7 matching grants · $351,000 · through 2022Largest: $30,000 to A NEW WAY OF LIFE REENTRY — to grow aouon-sc and strengthen the movement of formerly incarcerated people who are fighting against discrimination and for their civil rights and advocate for criminal justice re…
Largest: $100,000 to THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM — support sites in implementing probation practices that are consistent with probation transformation
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Start with one paperBroader: criminal justice reform funders nationally · all California-based grantmakers