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Funding search · EIN 954292101 · Los Angeles, CA

The California Wellness Foundation

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

2,068
grants reported
$161.9M
total given
2022–2024
filing years
$7,500
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 2022–2024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

corecaliforniahealthgiftmatchingwellnesscommunities

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is builtReport an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

  • Core operating support for California health-equity advocacy organizations
  • Racial justice organizing led by Black, Latine, and immigrant groups
  • Youth and criminal justice reform, reentry, violence prevention
  • Worker justice, guaranteed income, economic security for low-wage workers
  • Gun violence prevention policy and community safety
  • Health workforce pipelines for underrepresented minority clinicians

Typical grant

Median grant is $7,500 and half of all grants fall between roughly $2,000 and $100,000, so the file is full of small sponsorships and conference checks. The serious money moves in $250,000 to $1,000,000 multi-year core operating grants to advocacy and organizing groups, with $300,000 to $500,000 the most common size at the top. Large grantees look like sustained partners rather than one-time awards, and fiscal sponsors like Tides Center, Public Health Institute, and Community Initiatives appear repeatedly across different projects.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

  • “CORE OPERATING SUPPORT”
  • “to advance health equity”
  • “to improve the health and well-being of”
  • “organizing and civic engagement activities”
  • “strengthen organizational infrastructure and capacity”
  • “communities of color”

Positioning adjacent work

  • Tie your work to a named California region: Central Valley, Inland Empire, East Oakland, Coachella, Orange County.
  • Ask $250,000 to $500,000 if you can credibly request core operating support, not a project budget.
  • Frame research as feeding policy advocacy and community organizing, not as knowledge production alone.
  • Connect to a funded theme: Black worker centers, medical education equity, guaranteed income, or birth equity.

Worth knowing: This is overwhelmingly a California funder; the DC and NY grantees are national policy shops working on California-relevant gun violence, immigration, and justice issues. They fund advocacy and organizing infrastructure rather than research or direct services, and university money goes to entities like the UCLA Labor Center and UC Riverside School of Medicine that serve movement and workforce-pipeline goals.

1 grant matching “underresourced” · $500,000

  • $500,000

    Social Finance · Boston, MA · 2022

    For project support to pool philanthropic resources to provide matching funds for entities in rural, tribal and other underresourced communities selected to participate in the california department of social services gu… read all

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

  • Public Health Institute9 grants · $2.5M
  • Community Partners12 grants · $2.4M
  • California Community Foundation10 grants · $2.1M
  • Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science2 grants · $2.0M
  • Southern California Grantmakers17 grants · $1.8M
  • Sierra Health Foundation Center for Health Program Management3 grants · $1.6M
  • New Venture Fund6 grants · $1.5M
  • Tides Center6 grants · $1.3M
  • Foundation for California Community Colleges3 grants · $1.2M
  • Regents of the University of California Davis3 grants · $1.1M

Giving over time

$56.5M
2022
$57.0M
2023
$48.4M
2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 2,068 grants.

  • $2.0M

    Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to educate, train and support medical students, with attention to strengthening pathways for underrepresented racial minorities, including through the new medical degree program.

  • $1.3M

    Sierra Health Foundation Center for Health Program Management · Sacramento, CA · 2022

    For project support for the community economic mobilization initiative for regranting to community-based organizations to build their capacity for advocacy efforts to improve the health and well-being of their communiti… read all
  • $1.0M

    California Immigrant Policy Center · Los Angeles, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $1.0M

    California Budget & Policy Center · Sacramento, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to continue its fiscal and policy analysis and public education to inform health-related policy and budget decisions in california.

  • $1.0M

    Expecting Justice · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For project support for expecting justice to expand the abundant birth project to five counties in california and evaluate this innovative model linking birth justice with economic justice.

  • $1.0M

    Community Partners · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    For core operating support for the ca accountable communities for health initiative to become a statewide backbone to spread, scale, & sustain accountable communities for health, multi-sector collaboratives that center … read all
  • $1.0M

    Community Partners · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    For core operating support for the california native vote project to sustain and advance civic engagement and advocacy to improve the health of native american communities in california.

  • $1.0M

    Foundation for California Community Colleges · Sacramento, CA · 2022

    For core operating support for california medicine scholars program to implement pathways to and through medical schools across california for underrepresented racial minorities at community colleges.

  • $1.0M

    New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2022

    For core operating support for hope and heal fund to increase fiscal sustainability, build capacity and maximize efforts to reduce gun violence in california.

  • $1.0M

    University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    For core operating support to provide accessible data and analysis for community and advocacy organizations working to advance racial justice and health equity through movement building.

  • $750,000

    Advance Peace · Richmond, CA · 2023

    For core operating support for the peacemaker fellowship to reduce and prevent gun violence in the highest-need communities in california.

  • $750,000

    Alliance for Justice · Washington, DC · 2023

    For core operating support to sustain organizations engaging in advocacy efforts to improve health and advance equity in california.

  • $750,000

    Asian Pacific Environmental Network Action · Oakland, CA · 2022

    For core operating support of non-lobbying, non-partisan, social welfare activities to address the social determinants of health in california.

  • $750,000

    Connie Rice Institute for Urban Peace · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    For core operating support to increase community safety in los angeles and statewide through policy advocacy and narrative change efforts that address violence prevention and promote youth justice.

  • $750,000

    Jobs for the Future · Oakland, CA · 2022

    For project support for the high road training fund, to support efforts across the state selected by the ca workforce development board to improve access to quality jobs through high road training partnerships and high … read all
  • $750,000

    Powerca Action · Oakland, CA · 2022

    For core operating support of non-lobbying, non-partisan, social welfare activities to address the social determinants of health in california.

  • $725,000

    California Calls Action Fund · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    For core operating support of non-lobbying, non-partisan, social welfare activities to address the social determinants of health in california.

  • $700,000

    Young Womens Freedom Center · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to strengthen research, policy advocacy, and organizing efforts to improve the health and wellness of girls of color in california by disrupting violence and promoting healing.

  • $650,000

    UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    Project support for the ucla latino policy & politics inst. To advance the health & wellbeing of cas latino community through public policy efforts, w/ attention to economic mobility & opt., health care access & coverag… read all
  • $600,000

    Public Health Advocates · Davis, CA · 2022

    For core operating support for the california covid justice coalition and to increase access to parks and green space in underserved communities.

  • $500,000

    Alliance in Mentorship · Los Angeles, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $500,000

    Borealis Philanthropy · Minneapolis, MN · 2024

    For project support of the disability inclusion fund to improve health equity in california.

  • $500,000

    Brotherhood of Elders Network · Oakland, CA · 2024

    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.

  • $500,000

    California Community Foundation · Los Angeles, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $500,000

    Center On Race Poverty & Environment · Delano, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $500,000

    Community Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment · Los Angeles, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $500,000

    Community Water Center · Visalia, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $500,000

    Csu Fullerton Auxiliary Services Corporation · Fullerton, CA · 2024

    For project support and efforts for project rebound at csu fullerton to support postsecondary educational pathways in orange county for youth involved with the juvenile justice system.

  • $500,000

    Health Leads · Boston, MA · 2024

    For project support to develop a pilot for a community referral network in the bay area to connect individuals with needed health and social services.

  • $500,000

    Kee Cha-E-Nar Corporation · Klamath, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $500,000

    Research Action Design Llc · Covina, CA · 2024

    For project support to engage and support medical school community stakeholders in california about strategies and actions for advancing racial equity in medical education.

  • $500,000

    Roots Community Health Center · Oakland, CA · 2024

    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.

  • $500,000

    Southern California Grantmakers · Los Angeles, CA · 2024

    For project support for the black equity collective to continue to build a regional, networked infrastructure of black-led social institutions in california.

  • $500,000

    Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education · Los Angeles, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $500,000

    The Regents of the University of California Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA · 2024

    For project support for ucla labor center's center to sustain and strengthen the black worker center movement in southern california to advance quality jobs, equitable hiring, and worker justice.

  • $500,000

    Tides Center · Sacramento, CA · 2024

    For project support for move the valley to enhance integrated voter engagement efforts for the improvement of health among low-income, communities of color in nine counties in the central valley.

  • $500,000

    Tides Center · Sacramento, CA · 2024

    For project support for latino coalition for a healthy california to help launch a statewide multi-year, multi-sectoral action plan to address the latine physician shortage in california, including pathways to & through… read all
  • $500,000

    University of California San Francisco Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $500,000

    Vera Institute of Justice · Brooklyn, NY · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $500,000

    Youth Law Center · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $500,000

    Asian American Futures · Irvine, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to support active ca and sustain movement building efforts to ensure asian americans and pacific islanders are empowered in california.

  • $500,000

    Black & Brown Collective · Sacramento, CA · 2023

    For project support for the black and brown researchers collective association to advance the field of community gun violence research to center the experiences of those most impacted by violence and increase public saf… read all
  • $500,000

    California Accountable Communities for Health Initiative · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    Core operating support to ca accountable communities for health initiative to bcom a statewide backbone to spread, scale, & sustain accountable communities for health, multi-sector collabs that center comm voice in impr… read all
  • $500,000

    California Black Power Network · Long Beach, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to build power to advance racial and health equity through integrated civic engagement efforts in california.

  • $500,000

    California Community Foundation · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    For project support for the narrative infrastructure project to strengthen the narrative capacity and infrastructure of advocacy organizations in california working to advance health, racial and economic equity.

  • $500,000

    California Primary Care Association · Sacramento, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to sustain training and technical assistance for community clinics, efforts to inform policymakers about the needs of californias community clinics, and organizational capacity building.

  • $500,000

    Changelab Solutions · Oakland, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to conduct legal and policy research and strengthen alignment between government entities and community partners in california as part of an equitable covid recovery.

  • $500,000

    Community Based Public Safety Collective · East Orange, NJ · 2023

    For core operating support to provide training and technical assistance to grassroots, bipoc-led community violence intervention organizations in california.

  • $500,000

    Decolonizing Wealth Project · New York, NY · 2023

    For project support for decolonizing wealths california truth and healing fund to advance wellness and social justice for tribal communities in california.

  • $500,000

    Democracy at Work Institute · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to build a more equitable economy in california, particularly for immigrants, people of color and low-wage workers, through advancing the field of worker ownership, with attention to worker co… read all
  • $500,000

    East Bay Community Foundation · Oakland, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to advance health and racial equity in alameda and contra costa counties through programs and policy advocacy efforts.

  • $500,000

    Economic Security Project · New York, NY · 2023

    For core operating support for efforts to strengthen the economic safety net for californians, with attention to guaranteed income and other cash-centered income supports.

  • $500,000

    End Poverty in California · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For project support for end poverty in california to sustain and strengthen efforts to eradicate poverty and promote economic inclusion through narrative change, power-building, and policy advocacy.

  • $500,000

    Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission · Fresno, CA · 2023

    For project support for a one-year guaranteed income pilot program to explore ideas for improving the economic wellbeing of low-income residents of urban and rural fresno county.

  • $500,000

    Health Alliance for Violence Intervention · Boston, MA · 2023

    For project support for the health alliance for violence intervention to continue to engage in technical assistance for hospital-based violence intervention organizations in california and policy advocacy to prevent com… read all
  • $500,000

    Inland Empire Community Foundation · Riverside, CA · 2023

    For project support for the black equity initiative fund, which supports building the resiliency of black-led organizations in the inland empire.

  • $500,000

    Latino Coalition for a Healthy California · Sacramento, CA · 2023

    For core operating support for latino coalition for a health california to advance policy advocacy, power building, and systems transformation to improve the health and well-being of latinxs in california.

  • $500,000

    Latino Community Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For project support for the latino power fund to advance california latino-led grassroot organizations that are engaged in advocacy and power building.

  • $500,000

    Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability · Fresno, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to sustain public policy efforts to create healthier communities in the san joaquin and eastern coachella valleys.

  • $500,000

    Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion · Long Beach, CA · 2023

    For project support to build community and organizational capacity to decrease community violence and improve safety and well-being in north long beach.

  • $500,000

    Los Angeles Black Worker Center · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to sustain and strengthen the economic wellbeing of black workers in los angeles through comprehensive workforce development, leadership development, organizing and public policy efforts.

  • $500,000

    Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade - Black United Fund · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to strengthen organizational infrastructure and capacity to engage youth in civic engagement activities to advance health equity and racial justice in south los angeles.

  • $500,000

    Orange County Civic Engagement Table · Buena Park, CA · 2023

    For project support for the orange county civic engagement table to expand its organizational capacity to increase civic participation among residents and improve the health of communities of color in orange county.

  • $500,000

    Prevention Institute · Oakland, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to strengthen the capacity to advance prevention and health equity policies, practices, and actions to reduce community violence and increase well-being for vulnerable communities in californi… read all
  • $500,000

    Public Health Institute · Oakland, CA · 2023

    For project support for the california coalition for black birth justice to strategically coordinate various efforts to accelerate birth justice for black families across california.

  • $500,000

    The Maven Collaborative · Washington, DC · 2023

    For project support for the maven collaboratives efforts to strengthen economic security and justice for black and brown communities across california, with attention to occupational segregation.

  • $500,000

    Ucsf Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    Core operating support for fresno latino center for medical education & research to provide comprehensive health professions pipeline programming to underrep minority high school & college students in central valley int… read all
  • $500,000

    California Community Foundation · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    For project support of california community foundation's powerful innovations for voter organizing and transformation (pivot)s power building fund.

  • $500,000

    John Burton Advocates for Youth · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    For core operating support to improve the health, well-being, income security, and postsecondary educational outcomes of california foster youth through an array of public policy and technical assistance efforts.

  • $500,000

    Multiplier · Oakland, CA · 2022

    For core operating support for project equity's efforts to transition small businesses in california to employee ownership, and build towards greater scale potential for employee ownership, with attention to black and l… read all
  • $500,000

    Regents of the University of California Davis · Sacramento, CA · 2022

    For core operating support to sustain the violence prevention research program and produce and disseminate research to advance gun violence prevention efforts in california.

  • $500,000

    Regents of the University of California Davis · Sacramento, CA · 2022

    For core operating support to the university of california davis school of medicine to strengthen the pipeline of underrepresented minority students in admission and completion of medical school in california.

  • $500,000

    Social Finance · Boston, MA · 2022

    For project support to pool philanthropic resources to provide matching funds for entities in rural, tribal and other underresourced communities selected to participate in the california department of social services gu… read all
  • $500,000

    Southern California Grantmakers · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    For project support for the center for strategic partnerships for a three-year guaranteed income pilot program to explore ideas for improving the economic wellbeing of low-income residents of los angeles county.

  • $500,000

    Southern Sudanese Community Center of San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2022

    For core operating support to improve the economic wellbeing of refugees & immigrants in san diego county through a multiethnic coalition that provides entrepreneurs with tailored business development training, tech ass… read all
  • $500,000

    Todec Legal Center Perris · Perris, CA · 2022

    For core operating support to sustain direct service, community organizing, civic engagement and public policy efforts to improve the health and well-being of immigrants in riverside and san bernardino counties.

  • $500,000

    University of California Merced Foundation · Merced, CA · 2022

    For project support for a planning process to inform the development of a medical education program at the university of california, merced, with attention to equity for racial and ethnic minority communities that are u… read all
  • $500,000

    Western Center On Law and Poverty · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    For core operating support for public policy efforts to improve the social safety net for low-income californians, with attention to health care and public benefit systems.

  • $475,000

    Working World · New York, NY · 2022

    For core operating support to sustain and grow a network of cooperatives across california to catalyze community ownership and promote wellness for workers, producers, consumers, and the community.

  • $455,000

    Equality Alliance of San Diego County · San Diego, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $450,000

    Center for Juvenile Law & Policy Loyola Law School · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    For project support for the center for juvenile law & policy's independent forensic gang expert training program to strengthen the capacity of gang intervention and prevention workers in los angeles county.

  • $450,000

    Center On Juvenile and Criminal Justice · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to continue research, local and statewide policy advocacy, and public education to advance violence prevention and youth justice system transformation in california.

  • $450,000

    Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to continue to improve the health and wellbeing of immigrants and asylum seekers across california, through community education and outreach, immigration legal services, policy advocacy, commu… read all
  • $450,000

    Environmental Health Coalition · National City, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to sustain community organizing and public policy efforts to create healthier communities for low-income residents of san diego county.

  • $450,000

    One Degree · Oakland, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to develop technological solutions to help low-income individuals in california find and apply for government benefits, community programs and resources to improve their health and economic se… read all
  • $450,000

    Ufw Foundation · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    For core operating support for policy, communications and leadership training efforts to advance the health, well-being and rights of immigrants in california and the nation.

  • $450,000

    Americares Foundation · Stamford, CT · 2022

    For project support to launch the california thriving local health center institute, a program to build capacity of free and charitable clinics statewide to ensure access to high quality health care for all californians.

  • $450,000

    Asian Americans Advancing Justice Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    For core operating support to improve the health and well-being of underserved asian americans, native hawaiians and pacific islanders in california.

  • $450,000

    Insure the Uninsured Project · Sacramento, CA · 2022

    For core operating support to sustain public policy efforts to expand health care access and improve the health of californians.

  • $450,000

    Justice in Aging · Washington, DC · 2022

    For core operating support for training, policy, and litigation efforts to improve the health care and economic security safety net for low-income older adults in california.

  • $450,000

    Regents of the University of California at Berkeley · Berkeley, CA · 2022

    For core operating support for the center for labor research and education to improve health outcomes by conducting research and analysis on health coverage programs, low-wage work, and retirement security in california.

  • $405,000

    Horizons Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For core operating support to bring wellness and critical resources to underserved and marginalized lgbtq+ populations in the bay area.

  • $400,000

    Alianza Coachella Valley · Coachella, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $400,000

    California Black Women'S Health Project · Inglewood, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $400,000

    Comite Civico Del Valle · Brawley, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $400,000

    East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy · Oakland, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $400,000

    Essential Access Health · Los Angeles, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $400,000

    Giffords Law Center To Prevent Gun Violence · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $400,000

    Public Health Institute · Oakland, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

  • $400,000

    Southern Sudanese Community Center of San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2024

    Core operating support

View all 2,068 grants →

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Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.