Funding search · democracy and civic engagement · California
Who funds democracy and civic engagement work in California
15 funders have a record of paying for democracy and civic engagement work by California recipients: 891 grants totaling $148.4M, most recently in 2024 — mostly grantmaking charities, which often run real application cycles. The largest by matched giving are California Community Foundation ($66.4M), The California Endowment ($29.6M) and California Calls Education Fund ($6.6M).
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.
California Community FoundationLos Angeles, CACharity · may take applications
352 matching grants · $66.4M · through 2024Largest: $25,000 to ARAB AMERICAN CIVIC COUNCIL — civic engagement
Largest: $50,000 to COMMUNITY INITIATIVES — empowerment congress - fostering civic engagement for health equity: to educate, engage and empower community members in los angeles to bolster civic engagement and social equity, …
California Calls Education FundLos Angeles, CACharity · may take applications
70 matching grants · $6.6M · through 2024Largest: $37,545 to AAPIS FOR CIVIC EMPOWERMENT EDUCATION FUND — civic engagement
The San Diego Lesbian Gay BisexualSan Diego, CACharity · may take applications
75 matching grants · $2.0M · through 2024Largest: $78,750 to EQUALITY ALLIANCE OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY — funds for local civic engagement
California Black Power NetworkLos Angeles, CACharity · may take applications
46 matching grants · $2.0M · through 2024Largest: $146,929 to PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY — civic engagement
California Primary Care AssociationSacramento, CACharity · may take applications
36 matching grants · $4.9M · through 2024Largest: $739,786 to ALTAMED HEALTH SERVICES — the california endowment:civic engagement
Ccf Community Initiatives FundLos Angeles, CACharity · may take applications
34 matching grants · $5.0M · through 2024Largest: $1.6M to CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — philanthropic activity and civic engagement
Power CaliforniaLos Angeles, CACharity · may take applications
35 matching grants · $2.1M · through 2024Largest: $350,000 to POWERCA ACTION — civic engagement
Largest: $3.0M to KQED INC — strengthening civic engagement
Largest: $300,000 to FUND FOR SANTA BARBARA INC — for project support for central coast civic engagement table to strengthen civic engagement efforts to improve the health of communities in the central coast.
The San Francisco FoundationSan Francisco, CACharity · may take applications
21 matching grants · $5.5M · through 2023Largest: $1.0M to TIDES FOUNDATION — to support the orange county civic engagement table (oc action). to support the movement voter fund (2106f). to support the arab resource and organizing center. to support sister d…
Powerca ActionLos Angeles, CACharity · may take applications
23 matching grants · $830,729 · through 2024Largest: $97,984 to FUTURE LEADERS OF AMERICA — civic engagement
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Start with one paperBroader: democracy and civic engagement funders nationally · all California-based grantmakers