Foundations that fund civil rights in California
These 25 foundations made grants to civil rights in California in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- $1,145,000 to National Immigration Law Center, Los Angeles: 82388 supporting the protecting immigrant families coalition in developing local,...
- $917,000 to American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, Berkeley: 79867 general operating support for the american nonsmokers' rights foundation, 2022-2025
- $750,000 to National Immigration Law Center, Los Angeles: 81529 supporting the protecting immigrant families coalition in advancing economic...
How to apply: Most of rwjf's grants are made through targeted grant programs and funding partnerships. Rwjf's funding priorities and calls for proposals are described on www.rwjf.org.
Deadlines: No deadlines, except when foundation issues a call for proposal (cfp) or request for proposal (rfp).
Restrictions: Rwjf is dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. We are a national philanthropy that advances transformative systems...
Weingart Foundation
- $250,000 to California Black Power Network, Long Beach: Unrestricted operating support
- $200,000 to California Immigrant Policy Center, Los Angeles: Capacity building support for cipcs integrated voter engagement program
- $200,000 to California Tribal Families Coalition, Sacramento: Support the legal counsel for tribes project in san bernardino and riverside counties
How to apply: Grants and other program support are designed to improve the capacity and sustainability of organizations to achieve their missions in the areas of health, human services, & education. We give the highest priority to activities that provide greater access to people who are...
Deadlines: Regular grant program and small grants program do not have deadlines.
Restrictions: Grants are not made to organizations that discriminate against certain groups or individuals in the delivery of programs and services on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation or disability; for...
Edwards Lifesciences Foundation
- $5,000 to Child Creativity Lab, Santa Ana: General operating support
- $5,000 to Child Creativity Lab, Santa Ana: Kids steam ahead
- $4,975 to Child Creativity Lab, Santa Ana: General operating support
How to apply: Online form, audited financial reports when available for grant applications coming through the annual grant cycle.
Deadlines: The application usually opens in mid-may and closes 30-days later (these dates vary).
Restrictions: Types of programs supported - every heartbeat matters programs: programs that educate, screen and/or treat underserved people to reduce the global burden of heart valve disease - other health-focused programs: programs that advance health...
The Sobrato Family Foundation
- $250,000 to Collective Impact Solutions, Vista: To provide general operating support. To an organization that works on systems...
- $225,000 to Californians for Justice Education Fund Inc, San Jose: To activate el youth advocate for state and local policy change.
- $150,000 to Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund, Oakland: To expand regional tenant organizing networks (rto) capacity to partner with grassroots...
How to apply: 2b. To apply for foundation funding a nonprofit should visit www.sobrato.org. A form is available online to fill out to then receive information from the foundation regarding funding opportunities.
Deadlines: 2c. See 2b above
Restrictions: 2d. The sobrato family foundation's investments are targeted toward strong community based organizations that promote self reliance and economic independence, and positively contribute to the quality of life for economically, physically...
Sierra Health Foundation
- $10,000 to Anti Police-Terror Project, Oakland: Responsive grants program
- $10,000 to Norcal Resist, Sacramento: Responsive grants program
- $10,000 to Mlk Committee, Sacramento: President's discretionary
How to apply: See online information at www.sierrahealth.org
Deadlines: See online information at www.sierrahealth.org
Restrictions: See online information at www.sierrahealth.org
The Kresge Foundation
- $300,000 to Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Fresno: General operating support
- $150,000 to Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Fresno: Project support grant to support the leadership counsel for justice and accountability as...
- $150,000 to Harness Community, Los Angeles: General operating support
How to apply: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Deadlines: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Restrictions: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Arcus Foundation
- $200,000 to Transgender Law Center, Oakland: Support for the border butterflies projects policy advocacy, community organizing, and...
- $150,000 to Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Los Angeles: Support for familia: trans queer liberation movement.
- $125,000 to The Source Lgbt Center Inc, Visalia: General operating support
How to apply: Statement 24
Deadlines: Statement 24
Restrictions: Statement 24
The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment Inc
- $100,000 to Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Fresno: General support
- $25,000 to Chinese for Affirmative Action, San Francisco: Hmong innovating politics
- $25,000 to Central Valley Partnership, Fresno: General support
How to apply: Refer to the foundation's website, www.campbellfoundation.org, for guidance.
Deadlines: Ongoing
Restrictions: Refer to the foundation's website, www.campbellfoundation.org, for guidance.
The Mccune Foundation
- $35,000 to Buen Vecino, Westlake Village: Social capital building project in simi valley
- $32,500 to Social Justice Fund for Ventura County, Camarillo: Social justice fellowship program
- $5,000 to Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara: Housing and criminal justice advocacy
How to apply: Two-page letter of inquiry and copy of irs tax-exempt status letter
Deadlines: January and july
Restrictions: Grants are limited to organizations with 501(c)3 status operating in santa barbara and ventura counties, california and areas of interest to the board. Grants are made for projects that mobilize residents for economic and social justice...
Wk Kellogg Foundation
- $675,000 to California Calls Education Fund, Los Angeles: Promise of an Equitable Future
- $250,000 to Equal Justice Society, Oakland: Promise of an Equitable Future
- $250,000 to Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Los Angeles: Promise of an Equitable Future
How to apply: See "how to apply" at www.wkkf.org/grantseekers/#how-to-apply
Deadlines: Proposals for grants may be submitted at any time through the website, www.wkkf.org
Restrictions: See "our priorities" (what we fund) on our website, www.wkkf.org/what-we-fund/
The Schmidt Family Foundation
- $500,000 to Justice Action Center, Los Angeles: Protecting human rights (us or general)
- $310,000 to Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Fresno: Working towards a resilient and equitable food system
- $300,000 to Nextgen Education Fund, San Francisco: Strengthening civic engagement
How to apply: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Deadlines: Online process, please see details at: https://tsffoundation.org/. Https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Restrictions: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Walter and Elise Haas Fund
- $100,000 to Anti Police-Terror Project Inc, Oakland: One year of general operating support for an organization that is essential to building a...
- $60,000 to Jews of Color Initiative, Berkeley: One year of general operating support for the leadership and full participation of jews...
- $50,000 to Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in California, Oakland: One year of general operating support to advance initiatives for racial and economic...
How to apply: Sample form available upon request
John S and James L Knight Foundation
- $600,000 to Calmatters, Sacramento: Increase the amount of government accountability journalism in local outlets by making it...
- $10,000 to Vcfamilia, San Francisco: To create a vibrant environment for current and future investors and founders to thrive
- $10,000 to Blck Vc, Palo Alto: To support the mission of blck vc to connect, engage, empower, and advance black venture...
How to apply: Throughout the year, knight foundation issues open challenges or calls for proposals focused on specific funding priorities. You can receive updates and notifications about upcoming opportunities by going to our website, www.kf.org, and subscribing to our newsletter.
Deadlines: Each funding opportunity will have its own application criteria and deadlines.
Restrictions: Any restrictions or limitations on awards, such as by geographical areas, charitable fields, kind of institutions or other factors: -medical research, organizations or projects whose mission is to prevent, eradicate and/or alleviate the...
American Express Foundation
- $50,000 to National Diversity Coalition Inc, Marina Del Rey: Youth financial literacy storytelling
- $25,000 to The Trevor Project Inc, West Hollywood: General operating support
- $1,568 to The Trevor Project Inc, West Hollywood: General support
How to apply: - name and address of organization - contact person, title, phone number - geographic area served by organization - history of previous support from the american express philanthropic program, foundation or an american express subsidiary - amount of funds requested - description...
Bay Area Physicians for Human Rights
- $10,000 to Gapa Fund, San Francisco: Empower & advance queer and transgender asian american & pacific islander voices through...
- $7,000 to Alwan Foundation, San Francisco: Foundation hopes to advance lgbt rights in the middle east with focus on the gulf region
- $3,000 to Chinese for Affirmative Action, San Francisco: Mission to protect the civil & political rights of chinese americans & to advance...
How to apply: Written requests from 501(c)(3) qualifying charities, health and well-being of the lgbtq community
Restrictions: Written requests from 501(c)(3) qualifying charities, health and well-being of the lgbtq community
Ploughshares Foundation
- $8,000 to Giffords Law Center To Prevent Gun Violence, San Francisco: General
- $6,000 to Death Penalty Focus, Sacramento: General
- $4,000 to Freedom for Immigrants, Covina: General
How to apply: All applications must be in written form. They must include a description of the organization which is submitting the application, the grant amount(s) requested by such organization and the use which the submitting organization intends to make of any grant(s) that may be...
Deadlines: No
Restrictions: No
The Andrew W Mellon Foundation
- $750,000 to Women's Center for Creative Work, Glendale: To continue support of a shared leadership model
- $380,000 to The Outwords Archive Inc, Glendale: To support general operations
Restrictions: Activities supported by foundation grants must be charitable, educational or scientific under the provisions of the u.s. Internal revenue code and the treasury regulations.
Wells Fargo Foundation
- $300,000 to Impact Justice, Oakland: Impact justice's national housing incubator
- $125,000 to Trevor Project Inc, West Hollywood: The trevor project's life-saving crisis services
How to apply: https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate-responsibility/community-giving/grant-process/
Deadlines: Applications are accepted from february 1 through october 1.
Restrictions: https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate-responsibility/community-giving/grant-process/
Park Foundation Inc
- $150,000 to Maldef, Los Angeles: General operating support
- $150,000 to Nextgen Education Fund, San Francisco: General operating support
How to apply: Written request identifying organzation and purpose of funds
Deadlines: Quarterly deadlines - vary year to year date is first friday of every quarter
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc
- $150,000 to Brightline Defense Project, San Francisco: For general support
- $50,000 to Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund, Oakland: For its project the chinese narrative hub
The Skadden Foundation
- $77,900 to Justice Action Center, Los Angeles: Payment for fellows
- $68,896 to Disability Rights California, Sacramento: Payment for fellows
How to apply: See attached application
Deadlines: SEE FAQ ENTRIES UNDER "THE APPLICATION PROCESS" AT https://www.skaddenfellowships.org/applicant
Restrictions: SEE FAQ ENTRIES UNDER "ELIGIBILITY" AT https://www.skaddenfellowships.org/applicant and "Information for Prospective Host Organizations" at https://www.skaddenfellowships.org/host
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund
- $100,000 to Nextgen Education Fund, San Francisco: General operating support
- $25,000 to Register Her, Los Angeles: General operating support
How to apply: After reviewing the fund's current priorities and limitations, interested applicants should submit an initial letter of inquiry for review. Applicants who receive a favorable response to their initial inquiry will be invited to submit a formal proposal with supporting materials...
Deadlines: There are no deadlines for submission; applications all year
Restrictions: Organizations must qualify under the provisions of internal revenue code section 501(c)(3).
Banc of California Charitable Foundation
- $100,000 to National Diversity Coalition, Los Angeles: The purpose of this grant is to support economic development programs
- $12,500 to Blck Vc, San Francisco: The purpose of this grant is to support economic development programs
How to apply: Grant agreement
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation Inc
- $75,000 to Jews of Color Initiative, Los Angeles: general support
- $25,000 to Jews of Color Initiative, Los Angeles: general support
How to apply: Letter
Restrictions: This organization does not make gifts or contributions to individuals.
Carestar Foundation
- $75,000 to Exhaling Injustice, San Diego: Exhaling injustice
- $20,000 to Anti Police-Terror Project, Oakland: Anti police-terror project and mental health first
How to apply: The application is located on the website
Deadlines: Rolling grant award schedule (though deadlines for specific grants such as tii)
Restrictions: Grants awards focused on northern california in racial equity in the field of prehospital care. Grant awards vary is size and duration
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