California Access to Justice Commission
The California Access to Justice Commission is a public charity based in Carmichael, California. It supports civil legal aid and initiatives intended to improve access to justice for Californians, including grants to legal aid organizations for infrastructure, innovation, and services for vulnerable populations.
California Access to Justice Commission at a glance
In short: California Access to Justice Commission gave $6.1M across 101 grants in 2025 (avg $60K), mostly in California. 74% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,093,750
- -3.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 101
- +102.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $60,334
- -52.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $42,500
- Total assets
- $6,706,161
- +126.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 74% first-time grantees (75 of 101, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to California Access to Justice Commission
- How to Apply
-
The Year 6 Infrastructure & Innovation application is available through the Commission’s application process. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements stated in the funding notice and use funds for infrastructure or innovation needs related to civil legal services for indigent people. The Commission says grantees submit quarterly progress reports and that project modifications and budget variances are reviewed.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 645, Carmichael, CA 95609
Phone: (510) 629-1264
Website: https://calatj.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from California Access to Justice Commission
Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) for Legal Aid Lawyers
California Access to Justice Commission
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
State Legal Aid Infrastructure & Innovation Grants
California Access to Justice Commission
Amount
$5,000,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Supplemental Legal Aid for Vulnerable Populations
California Access to Justice Commission
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who California Access to Justice Commission funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was CA Collab for Immigrant Just ($350K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
272 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 147 grants of 272 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Commission’s Year 6 grant opportunity is statewide. In filing year 2025, all reported grant dollars went to California recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 101 itemized grants.
Cities
Is California Access to Justice Commission open to new grantees?
74%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 75 of 101 grantees (74%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $58K; repeat grants $67K. How we count
Medians: $41K first-time, $48K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.9M (2022) to $6.3M (2024). In 2025 it made 101 grants totaling $6.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CA Collab for Immigrant Just Oakland, CA | Program Support | $350,000 |
| CLSEPA East Palo Alto, CA | Program Support | $186,250 |
| Immigration Inst of Bay Area San Francisco, CA | Program Support | $183,250 |
| Mixteco Indigena Com Org Prj Oxnard, CA | Program Support | $172,000 |
| Immigrant Legal Defense QBO Oakland, CA | Program Support | $169,000 |
| Asian Americans Advancing Jus Los Angeles, CA | Program Support | $159,500 |
| Latin Advoc Network-Latinan Salinas, CA | Program Support | $158,500 |
| Legal Services for Children San Francisco, CA | Program Support | $157,500 |
| Immigration Project Inc Berkeley, CA | Program Support | $152,500 |
| Inland Counties Legal Srv Inc Riverside, CA | Program Support | $151,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,706,161 | $7,168,423 | $7,067,189 | $6,093,750 | 101 | $39,037 |
| 2024 | $2,958,046 | $7,175,557 | $7,174,069 | $6,280,000 | 50 | $29,808 |
| 2023 | $4,161,786 | $5,914,248 | $5,678,029 | $5,105,000 | 70 | $10,135 |
| 2022 | $3,947,529 | $2,316,106 | $2,385,506 | $1,875,000 | 51 | $142 |
| 2021 | $289,644 | $292,146 | $211,071 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Commission’s mission is to advance access to justice for all Californians by expanding resources, removing barriers, and developing innovations so people can effectively and efficiently resolve civil legal issues. Its stated goals include creating a continuum of service, improving existing systems, expanding representation, and promoting public awareness and trust.
Its Infrastructure & Innovation Grants support creative, collaborative, and technology-driven projects to improve legal-service delivery. For Year 6, the Commission says eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits providing civil legal aid to indigent people; IOLTA funding is not required. The funding notice gives special focus to projects serving rural or underserved immigrant communities and projects involving meaningful partnerships with community-based nonprofits. The Commission has also offered supplemental funding for civil legal services benefiting vulnerable populations, including immigrants and LGBTQ+ community members.
The Commission’s 2025 grantees included organizations serving a range of communities. For example, California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice describes its work as coordinating, advocating, and providing legal services for immigrants in detention in California. Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto says it provides legal services to help diverse communities achieve a secure and thriving future. Immigration Institute of the Bay Area says it helps immigrants, refugees, and their families join and contribute to the community.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Commission reported 101 grants totaling $6,093,750. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $350,000, with a median of $42,500. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in California. The largest awards listed were $350,000 to California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice; $186,250 to Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto; $183,250 to Immigration Institute of the Bay Area; $172,000 to Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project; and $169,000 to Immigrant Legal Defense. Each was designated for program support.
The Commission’s Year 6 Infrastructure & Innovation Grants notice describes $9.7 million available, with an expected 40–60 awards of $25,000–$200,000 per project. The stated grant period is 12 months beginning April 1, 2027. The Commission’s website says the Year 6 application is open. The supplemental funding opportunity for vulnerable populations had a May 1, 2025–April 30, 2026 grant period and is marked closed.
The Commission also administers a Loan Repayment Assistance Program for legal aid lawyers. Its filing describes contributions from legal aid organizations and nominations of individual recipients; this is assistance to participants, not an outside-organization grant program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Catherine Blakemore as Chair; Judge Mark Juhas as Past Chair; Justice Gail Ruderman Feuer as Vice-Chair; Judge Lisa Jaskol as Secretary; and Janis R. Hirohama as CFO. Directors listed are Judge Maria Lucy Armendariz, Diego Cartagena, David R. Daniels, Hon. Timothy P. Dillon, and Justice Kelli Evans.
California Access to Justice Commission is led by Jack W Londen, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2021); none of the 30 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jack W Londen
Executive Director
Volunteer Executive Director → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Blakemore
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amos E Hartston
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David R Daniels
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elica Vafaie
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Meeker
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Johanna Valle Sobalvarro
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan D Libby
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judge Maria Lucy Armendariz
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justice Jon Streeter
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Panida M Rzonca
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rosa M Fregoso
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diego Cartagena
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael J Levy
Director
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Levin
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justice Kelli Evans
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew F Kirtley
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erica R Yew
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janice Schmidt
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monica F Wiley
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Wasylkiw
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan M Harrison Sr.
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy P Dillon
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Victoria S Kolakowski
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Marticorena
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Crystal Miller-O'Brien
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janis R Hirohama
CFO
Director → CFO, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judge Lisa R Jaskol
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judge Mark Juhas
Past Chair
Chair → Past Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justice Gail Ruderman Feuer
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Erika C Frank (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Crystal Miller - O'Brien (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Judge Gail Ruderman Feuer (2023–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: HonRosa M Fregoso (2024) — Director
- Former: Anne Marie Murphy (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Emilio Varanini (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Juan JOSE Gutierrez (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Judge Erica R Yew (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Judge Timothy P Dillon (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Judge Victoria S Kolakowski (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Angelica Millan (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: JUDGE Rosa M Fregoso (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Judge Monica F. Wiley (2023) — Director
- Former: Ellen Miller (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: John Adkins (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Judge James Herman (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Mike Levy (2021) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about California Access to Justice Commission
How much does California Access to Justice Commission give each year?
California Access to Justice Commission gave $6.1M across 101 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $6.3M across 50 grants.
What is California Access to Justice Commission's typical grant size?
California Access to Justice Commission's median grant in 2025 was $42,500, and its average grant was $60,334, across 101 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from California Access to Justice Commission that year got $58K on average.
Where does California Access to Justice Commission give grants?
California Access to Justice Commission gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (17 grants), Los Angeles, CA (13 grants), Oakland, CA (10 grants) and Berkeley, CA (8 grants).
Does California Access to Justice Commission give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 101 grants with a stated purpose on California Access to Justice Commission's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (101 grants).
Who are California Access to Justice Commission's largest grantees?
California Access to Justice Commission's largest 2025 grantees include CA Collab for Immigrant Just ($350,000), CLSEPA ($186,250) and Immigration Inst of Bay Area ($183,250), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is California Access to Justice Commission?
California Access to Justice Commission reported $6.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.2M.
What does California Access to Justice Commission fund?
The Commission’s mission is to advance access to justice for all Californians by expanding resources, removing barriers, and developing innovations so people can effectively and efficiently resolve civil legal issues. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from California Access to Justice Commission?
The Year 6 Infrastructure & Innovation application is available through the Commission’s application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is California Access to Justice Commission's EIN?
California Access to Justice Commission's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3344697. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 19, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). California Access to Justice Commission funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/california-access-to-justice-commission-morg_1cd5204ad40b4f3c91c4e56282379f81
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_843344697_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{California Access to Justice Commission funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/california-access-to-justice-commission-morg_1cd5204ad40b4f3c91c4e56282379f81},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from California Access to Justice Commission's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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