Foundations that fund food programs in California
These 25 foundations made grants to food programs 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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Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund
- $51,000 to Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund, San Francisco: General operating support
- $50,000 to Ccof Foundation, Santa Cruz: Organic transition program
- $25,000 to Ccof Foundation, Santa Cruz: Organic transition program
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).
The Schmidt Family Foundation
- $350,000 to Oakland Institute, Oakland: Advancing sustainable agriculture in africa
- $225,000 to Civil Eats, Cotati: Capacity building, working towards a resilient and equitable food system
- $200,000 to Kitchen Table Advisors, Berkeley: Working towards a resilient and equitable food system
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/
Cs Fund
- $150,000 to Friends of Action Group on Erosion Technology and Concentration Inc, Oakland: Action group on erosion, technology and concentration
- $75,000 to Friends of Action Group on Erosion Technology and Concentration Inc, Oakland: Action group on erosion, technology and concentration
- $60,000 to Center for Food Safety, San Francisco: Nanoaction: ensuring strong regulations on emerging technologies
The Cushman Foundation
- $1,000,000 to Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, San Diego: General/unrestricted
- $100,000 to Producegood, Encinitas: General/unrestricted
- $50,000 to Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank, San Diego: General/unrestricted
How to apply: See online grant application available at www.cushmanfoundation.net
Deadlines: See submission deadlines at www.cushmanfoundation.net other than making a difference 3/20/21
Restrictions: See overview of the cushman foundation funding guidelines and applications, as published at www.cushmanfoundation.net. All grants to benefit qualifying charitable organizations in the greater san diego area.
The Ahmanson Foundation
- $150,000 to Foodbank of Southern California, Long Beach: Toward industrial cold storage units for the sharehouse
- $134,400 to Food Forward Inc, North Hollywood: For acquisition of an electric refrigerated trailer and electric pallet rider jack
- $75,000 to Food Finders Inc, Los Alamitos: Toward acquisition of a replacement refrigerated truck
How to apply: Https://theahmansonfoundation.org/letter-of-inquiry
Deadlines: Https://theahmansonfoundation.org/letter-of-inquiry/
Restrictions: Https://theahmansonfoundation.org/letter-of-inquiry/
Wells Fargo Foundation
- $35,000 to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, San Jose: Alleviating hunger in silicon valley (general operating support)
- $25,000 to Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara: 2024 food programs: fbsbc agricultores con buena salud
- $20,000 to Foodshare Inc, Oxnard: General operating support
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/
Ann Jackson Family Foundation
- $73,000 to Santa Barbara Agriculture & Farm Education Foundation, Summerland: General operating support
- $35,000 to Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara: General operating support
- $10,000 to California Rangeland Trust, Sacramento: General operating support
How to apply: Applications should be in letter form and be accompanied by photocopies of the most current federal and state ruling letters showing the applicant to be an organization declared to be a public charity under internal revenue section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3). The application should...
Restrictions: Awards are made in the sole and absolute discretion of the foundation trustees to public charities which foster religious, charitable, educational and scientific purposes and to organizations which promote the prevention of cruelty to...
The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment Inc
- $30,000 to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders, Santa Barbara: Membership dues - cbfn
- $20,000 to Telele Foundation, Groveland: Localizing ca waters student sponsorships
- $19,700 to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders, Santa Barbara: Membership dues - safsf
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.
Latkin Charitable Foundation
- $10,000 to Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara: General operating
- $10,000 to Organic Soup Kitchen, Santa Barbara: General operating
- $7,000 to Atterdag at Home Inc, Solvang: General operating
How to apply: A letter stating their name, purpose of their organization and how the grants will be used
Deadlines: April 1st & october 1st
Restrictions: Awards are restricted to santa barbara county
Wk Kellogg Foundation
- $225,000 to Agriculture and Land Based Training Association, Salinas: Food, Strong and Equitable Food Systems
- $200,000 to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders, Santa Barbara: Food, Strong and Equitable Food Systems
- $175,000 to San Diego Food System Alliance, San Diego: Food, Strong and Equitable Food Systems
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 Mcknight Foundation
- $100,000 to Living Through Giving Foundation, Los Angeles: to improve the mental and emotional health of incarcerated individuals
- $50,000 to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders, Santa Barbara: to continue to support funder education and engagement on policy development to reduce...
- $15,000 to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders, Santa Barbara: for 2024 membership
How to apply: Please see the end of the return for the additional attachments containing the information for Lines 2b - 2d.
The Gamble Foundation C/O Lj Trust Company LLC
- $60,000 to Agriculture and Land Based Training Association, Salinas: General purpose
- $60,000 to Kitchen Table Advisors, Berkeley: General purpose
- $15,000 to Kiss the Ground, Los Angeles: General purpose
How to apply: Letter of request
Deadlines: No
Restrictions: Charitable organizations
Bethlehem Foundation - Agy Main
- $80,000 to Redwood Empire Food Bank, Santa Rosa: General support
- $30,000 to Food for Thought, Forestville: General support
- $20,000 to Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano, Fairfield: General support
How to apply: Apply online at www.wellsfargo.com/privatefoundationgrants/bethlehem
Deadlines: February 28 and august 31
Restrictions: See footnote
Sierra Health Foundation
- $10,000 to Butte County Local Food Network, Chico: Responsive grants program
- $10,000 to Food Bank of El Dorado County, Cameron Park: Responsive grants program
- $10,000 to Yuba-Sutter Gleaners Food Bank Inc, Yuba City: Responsive grants program
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
Walter and Elise Haas Fund
- $5,000 to Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund, San Francisco: One year of general operating support
- $5,000 to Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund, San Francisco: One year of general operating support
- $2,000 to New Roots Institute, Los Angeles: One year of general operating support
How to apply: Sample form available upon request
Mosher Foundation
- $252,800 to Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara: In furtherance of section 501(c)(3) charitable purpose
- $3,000 to Kids in Nutrition, Sunnyvale: In furtherance of section 501(c)(3) charitable purpose
- $1,000 to Santa Barbara Meals on Wheels, Goleta: In furtherance of section 501(c)(3) charitable purpose
How to apply: Outline of the specific purpose and amount of grant applied for.
Deadlines: Applications are accepted any time during business hours.
Restrictions: Grants to be used specifically for organizations which are described in sections 170(c) 501(c) and 2522(a) of the internal revenue code and which are organized and operated for charitable, educational, health care, including performing...
John and Marcia Goldman Foundation
- $75,000 to Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund, San Francisco: 2024 annual grant
- $20,000 to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, San Jose: 2024 annual grant
- $10,000 to Project Open Hand, San Francisco: General support
Hutton Foundation Dba Hutton Parker Foundation
- $50,000 to Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara: Capital/multi-year grants
- $15,000 to Syv Fruit & Vegetable Rescue, Santa Barbara: Core/general operating support
- $10,000 to Organic Soup Kitchen, Santa Barbara: Core/general operating support
How to apply: Organizations seeking grants should submit the information (see schedule o) as required on the copy of the application forms (grant application cover sheet) or (program related investment preliminary application) all applications are avilable on the website at...
Deadlines: Visit www.huttonfoundation.org for various deadlines.
Restrictions: Grants are limited to 501(c)(3)/509(a) public charities in california (see schedule o for continuation) (special consideration to orange, riverside and santa barbara counties) in the areas of education; health & human services; civic &...
The Bernard Osher Foundation
- $50,000 to Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund, San Francisco: Arts and humanities
- $16,000 to Alameda Emergency Food, Alameda: Arts and humanities
- $8,000 to Groceries for Seniors, San Francisco: Arts and humanities
How to apply: There is no required format, however, the applicant must show financial need and indicate that they are a qualified non-profit organization.
The Rudolph J & Daphne A Munzer Foundation
- $50,000 to Food Finders Inc, Los Alamitos: Food finders - general operating support
- $1,000 to Civil Eats, Cotati: Operating support
- $1,000 to 18 Reasons, San Francisco: Operating support
How to apply: Applications should be completed electronically through the following website: https://munzerfdn.org/how-to-apply/apply/
Deadlines: The application period is october 31 - november 4.
Restrictions: Organizations submitting requests must meet the following eligibility criteria: tax exempt under irs section 501(c)(3) provide services that address pressing needs at a community-based level programs and/or services must be provided within...
Kelly Foundation
- $25,000 to Yolo Food Bank, Woodland: Yolo food bank harvest
- $20,000 to Meals on Wheels Yolo County, Woodland: Eat well, age well yolo county
- $5,000 to Food Literacy Center, Sacramento: Hands on food literacy program
How to apply: Applications are processed through online submittals only at kellyfoundationsacramento.org. The applicants must review the guidelines available on the website prior to submitting a completed application.
Deadlines: The annual deadline dates for submission are october 15, january 15, april 15 and july 15.
Restrictions: Kelly foundation will consider grant requests in health and human services, education; and culture and civic improvment. The foundation will not consider grants to religious organization for explicit religious activities, as distinguished...
Land O'lakes Foundation
- $15,000 to Foodlink for Tulare County Inc, Exeter: West region hunger
- $12,500 to Central California Food Bank, Fresno: West region hunger
- $5,000 to Orland Pantry, Orland: West region hunger
How to apply: The organization has multiple grant programs. For more information please visit: https://foundation.landolakesinc.com/home#grant-donation-guidelines
Restrictions: See website
June G Outhwaite Charitable Trust Js Poucher Kl Englert & Cm Cooney Co-Tr
- $10,000 to Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara: Foodbank's Feed the Future: Children's Equitable Nutrition and Food Literacy Programs
- $10,000 to Santa Barbara Meals on Wheels, Santa Barbara: Affordable, Freshly Prepared Meals for Elderly, Disabled, and Homebound Individuals
- $5,000 to Organic Soup Kitchen, Santa Barbara: Basic Needs: Nutrition and Food Security
How to apply: See statement applications must be in writing and include: 1) mission statement indicating direct involvement in one or more of the designated categories. 2) the specific purpose to which the proposed grant will be devoted. 3) an indication of the direct benefit to the...
Deadlines: July 31 of each year
Restrictions: See statement trustees give consideration to organizations who function --------------------------------------------------------- in the following areas in santa barbara county ---------------------------------------------- 1) medical...
Codding Foundation
- $5,000 to Redwood Empire Food Bank, Santa Rosa: Provides hunger relief to those in need
- $1,000 to Food for Thought, Forestville: Provides food to people with serious illnesses in soco
- $1,000 to Redwood Empire Food Bank, Santa Rosa: Year-end campaign gift
How to apply: 990 pf
Deadlines: Last working day of march, june, september and december
Dermody Properties Foundation
- $3,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County Inc, Montclair: Grant will be used towards sourcing and distributing food.
- $1,500 to Redwood Empire Food Bank, Santa Rosa: Weekly distribution of healthy food to families in need at 20 schools in sonoma county
- $1,000 to Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Inc, Martinez: Meals to seniors in contra costa county
How to apply: Applications must be in writing. Include the name and description of the application organization and a determination letter.
Deadlines: October 1
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