California Association of Criminalists
California Association of Criminalists is a private foundation, based in Oakland, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $25K. Net investment income was $61K.
California Association of Criminalists at a glance
In short: California Association of Criminalists gave $25K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $25,137
- -18.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -37.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,027
- +30.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,993,091
- +16.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who California Association of Criminalists funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was CA Department of Justice ($10K). Together the top 3 received $17K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($8,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 23 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How California Association of Criminalists gives
- Giving grew 357% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2022) to $31K (2024). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $25K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CA Department of Justice Richmond, CA | Research Grant | $10,137 |
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $8,500 |
| University of California Davis Davis, CA | Scholarship | $5,000 |
| CAC Annual Seminar Oakland, CA | Grant money awarded to the annual seminar for coming out at a deficit | $1,500 |
Ready to take the next step with California Association of Criminalists?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,993,091 | $225,598 | $208,828 | $25,137 | 5 | $25,137 | $60,632 |
| 2024 | $2,578,107 | $277,923 | $262,441 | $30,800 | 8 | $30,800 | $45,885 |
| 2023 | $2,014,946 | $176,099 | $203,838 | $18,500 | 5 | $18,500 | $43,875 |
| 2022 | $1,699,860 | $215,307 | $168,874 | $5,500 | 2 | $37,922 | $19,753 |
| 2021 | $1,820,459 | $127,624 | $53,549 | $19,500 | 3 | — | $41,301 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
California Association of Criminalists is led by Gunther Scharnhorst, President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gunther Scharnhorst
President
Recording Secretary → President-Elect, 2024
President-Elect → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Sautkulis
Regional Director-South
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie James
Regional Director-North
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helena Wong
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Charron
Editorial Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan Caulder
Membership Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheltri Gresham
Immediate Past President
President-Elect → President, 2024
President → Immediate Past President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darlene Espejo
Recording Secretary
Interim Recording Secretary → Recording Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Dutra
President-Elect
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Meiling Robinson (2022–2024) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Catherine Currier (2021–2023) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Cindy Fung Anzalone (2021–2022) — Regional Director-North
- Former: Jamie Lajoie (2021–2022) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Alice Neumann Hilker (2021) — Immediate Past President
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 Association of Criminalists
How much does California Association of Criminalists give each year?
California Association of Criminalists gave $25K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $31K across 8 grants.
What is California Association of Criminalists's typical grant size?
California Association of Criminalists's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,027, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does California Association of Criminalists give grants?
California Association of Criminalists gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does California Association of Criminalists give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on California Association of Criminalists's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (3 grants).
Who are California Association of Criminalists's largest grantees?
California Association of Criminalists's largest 2025 grantees include CA Department of Justice ($10,137), University of California Davis ($5,000) and CAC Annual Seminar ($1,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($8,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is California Association of Criminalists?
California Association of Criminalists reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $226K.
What is California Association of Criminalists's EIN?
California Association of Criminalists's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3245268. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in California Association of Criminalists's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Kern Community Foundation
Bakersfield, CA
Kern Community Foundation funds charitable work in Kern County, California, including college access, nonprofit strengthening, conservation, education, health, and community prosperity. Its 2024 grants ranged from $7,000 to $2.9 million, with a median of about $39,000. It accepts applications for available competitive grants through its online portal; organizations must register before applying.
Assets
$46.0M
Grants
34
Total Given
$5.1M
Spartan Shops Inc
San Jose, CA
The organization's mission is to provide and manage the campus bookstore, dining services and certain real estate properties. Spartan Shops has an agreement with barnes & noble college booksellers ("barnes & noble") for the daily operation of the spartan bookstore and with chartwells higher education ("chartwells") to provide all dining services to the san jose state university ("sjsu") campus. Spartan Shops holds and administers assets for the organization's other post-employment benefits ("opeb") plan in a fiduciary fund.
Assets
$21.8M
Grants
1
Total Given
$152K
The Tower Foundation of San Jose State University
San Jose, CA
The tower foundation's mission is to encourage philanthropy among sjsu alumni and friends by providing high-quality, reliable, and responsive charitable giving services, donor stewardship, and accurate accounting for all gifts.
Assets
$364.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$5.8M
The Maley-Thawley Family Foundation
Woodbridge, CA
Assets
$173K
Grants
3
Total Given
$70K
A Lifetime Adoption Foundation
Penn Valley, CA
Assets
$12K
Grants
3
Total Given
$14K
Xu and Yeung Foundation
Palo Alto, CA
Assets
$60K
Grants
3
Total Given
$3K
More similar funders
More Funders in California
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from California Association of Criminalists'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.
California Association of Criminalists down — hundreds of funders to go?