California Calls Education Fund
California Calls Education Fund (CCEF) is a public charity based in Los Angeles, California, that files Form 990. It is an alliance of community-based organizations from across California. CCEF educates and engages communities of color and working-class neighborhoods about public policy, with the goal of involving communities in policy solutions addressing poverty and community needs.
California Calls Education Fund at a glance
In short: California Calls Education Fund gave $3.1M across 35 grants in 2024 (avg $90K), mostly in California. 60% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,143,969
- -10.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 35
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $89,828
- -10.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $83,333
- Total assets
- $27,249,345
- +4.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (21 of 35, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to California Calls Education Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: 4801 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016
Phone: (323) 735-9515
Website: https://cacalls.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who California Calls Education Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chinese Progressive Association ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($115,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 65 grants of 152 (43%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CCEF describes its alliance and work as statewide across California. All reported 2024 grant dollars went to California recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is California Calls Education Fund open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 21 of 35 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $87K; repeat grants $94K. How we count
Medians: $80K first-time, $84K repeat.
- 37% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−16%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.9M (2020) to $3.7M (2021). In 2024 it made 35 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Progressive Association San Francisco, CA | Civic Engagement | $200,000 |
| California Black Power Network Action Fund Long Beach, CA | Civic Engagement | $182,179 |
| Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF ) Bakersfield, CA | Civic Engagement | $179,529 |
| Innercity Struggle (ICS) Los Angeles, CA | Civic Engagement | $179,261 |
| Oc Action Buena Park, CA | Civic Engagement | $172,160 |
| Alliance San Diego San Diego, CA | Civic Engagement | $171,931 |
| Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (Scope) Los Angeles, CA | Civic Engagement | $156,517 |
| Communities for a New California Education Fund (CNC) Granite Bay, CA | Civic Engagement | $122,593 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $115,000 |
| La Community Action Network Los Angeles, CA | Civic Engagement | $115,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $27,249,345 | $8,859,108 | $7,833,037 | $3,143,969 | 35 | $971,827 |
| 2023 | $26,045,828 | $16,829,032 | $8,139,772 | $3,503,294 | 35 | $191,614 |
| 2022 | $18,486,702 | $8,182,392 | $8,360,346 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | $17,392,987 | $14,549,243 | $7,903,792 | $3,742,670 | 37 | $-2 |
| 2020 | $11,898,487 | $9,009,439 | $8,397,944 | $2,894,517 | 45 | $6,047 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CCEF states that it educates and engages communities of color and working-class neighborhoods about public policy, and engages communities to participate in policy solutions addressing poverty and community needs.
The Budget Power Project provides funding, technical assistance, budget training, and organizing training to help local organizations center residents in local budget decisions and participate in state and local budget and policy debates. The Million Voters Project, convened by CCEF in 2015, conducts collaborative statewide civic engagement, builds alignment around a long-term policy agenda, and supports narrative strategy, capacity building, and collaborative fundraising.
The grantees listed in 2024 include organizations whose own stated missions describe work such as organizing low-income and working-class immigrant communities, advancing progressive policy, empowering organizations serving historically disenfranchised communities, and building racial justice and community power. For example, the Chinese Progressive Association says it organizes San Francisco’s low-income and working-class immigrant Chinese community to build collective power; Catalyst California says it works with communities of color to build power and transform public systems; and the California Budget & Policy Center says it provides policy guidance and public education to expand economic opportunity and promote well-being.
Grantmaking
In 2024, CCEF made 35 grants totaling $3,143,969. Grant amounts ranged from $5,984 to $200,000, with a median grant of $83,333. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in California. The largest grants included:
The 2024 filing also reports 35 grants totaling $3,503,294 in 2023. No application process, materials, restrictions, or deadline are stated in the available information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Anthony Thigpenn as president; Sabrina A. Smith as chief executive officer; Malcom A. Uno as Million Voters Project director; Nelli Sarad as finance director; Lydia Avila-Hernandez as power building director; Karla Zombro as deputy director of MVP; Chris Wilson as chairman; Camila Chavez as chair; Sam Casey as vice-chair; and Derecka Mehrens as secretary.
California Calls Education Fund is led by Sabrina A. Smith, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2021; 6 of 20 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sabrina A. Smith
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$111K (2021) → $159K (2024)
Anthony Thigpenn
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$114K (2020) → $160K (2024)
Camila Chavez
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Malcom A. Uno
Million Voters Project Director
Director of Power Building → Million Voters Project Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$108K (2022) → $131K (2024)
Lydia Avila-Hernandez
Power Building Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$115K (2024)
Nelli Sarad
Finance Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$127K (2024)
Andrea Guerrero
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dolores Huerta
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gloria Medina
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry Perez
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hector Sanchez
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pablo Rodriguez
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Celi Tamayo-Lee
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Kim
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lucas Zucker
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pecolia Manigo
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karla B Zombro
Deputy Director of Mvp
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$108K (2022) → $108K (2024)
Derecka Mehrens
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Wilson
Chariman
Chair → Chairman, 2022
Chairman → Chariman, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Casey
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Emily Lee (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Liz Suk (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Veronica Carrizales (2022–2023) — Vice President Policy & External Affairs
- Former: Laiseng Saechao (2023) — Director of Policy & Campaign
- Former: Lydia Avila (2023) — Director of Mvp
- Former: Robyn Elliott (2022)
- Former: Lucas (2021) — Zucker
- Former: Alberto Retana (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Jessamyn Sabbag (2020) — Director
- Former: Maricela Morales (2020) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $160K, to Anthony Thigpenn (President). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about California Calls Education Fund
How much does California Calls Education Fund give each year?
California Calls Education Fund gave $3.1M across 35 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.5M across 35 grants.
What is California Calls Education Fund's typical grant size?
California Calls Education Fund's median grant in 2024 was $83,333, and its average grant was $89,828, across 35 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from California Calls Education Fund that year got $87K on average.
Where does California Calls Education Fund give grants?
California Calls Education Fund gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (12 grants), San Francisco, CA (3 grants), Sacramento, CA (2 grants) and San Diego, CA (2 grants).
Does California Calls Education Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 35 grants with a stated purpose on California Calls Education Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Civic Engagement" (35 grants).
Who are California Calls Education Fund's largest grantees?
California Calls Education Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Chinese Progressive Association ($200,000), California Black Power Network Action Fund ($182,179) and Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF ) ($179,529), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($115,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is California Calls Education Fund?
California Calls Education Fund reported $27.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.9M.
What does California Calls Education Fund fund?
CCEF states that it educates and engages communities of color and working-class neighborhoods about public policy, and engages communities to participate in policy solutions addressing poverty and community needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from California Calls Education Fund?
California Calls Education Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check cacalls.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is California Calls Education Fund's EIN?
California Calls Education Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2301623. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work California Calls Education Fund funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in California Calls Education Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). California Calls Education Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/california-calls-education-fund-morg_cfa5c9f651484caf8efc899009505f78
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_462301623_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{California Calls Education Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/california-calls-education-fund-morg_cfa5c9f651484caf8efc899009505f78},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Calls Education Fund'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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