California Children and Families Foundation Inc logo

California Children and Families Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Alameda, CA EIN: 77-0561803 Website

The mission of the California Children and Families Foundation is to promote, support, and improve the health and early development of children, from the prenatal stage through five years of age.

California Children and Families Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: California Children and Families Foundation Inc gave $129K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $65K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$129,000
Grants made (2025)
2
Average grant
$64,500
Median grant
$64,500
Total assets
$1,897,662
-4.9% vs 2024
Primary geography
California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who California Children and Families Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 2 recipients in 2025

First 5 Alameda County: $99KFirst 5 Alameda County$99KFirst 5 Association of CA: $30KFirst 5 Association of CA$30K

The largest 2025 recipient was First 5 Alameda County ($99K). Together the top 2 received $129K.

Grant Size Distribution

2 grants across all recorded years

1<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 2 (50%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.

States

Cities

Alameda

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K0 grants2019 0 grants2020 0 grants2021 0 grants2022 0 grants2023 0 grants2024 2 grants2025

In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $129K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
First 5 Alameda County Alameda, CAHellman Fonda. grant passthrough$99,000
First 5 Association of CA Alameda, CASubgrant to F5AC$30,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with California Children and Families Foundation Inc?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$1,897,662$1,701,041$1,345,185$129,0002$25
2024$1,995,284$2,142,719$1,533,513——$37
2023$2,175,354$1,420,693$2,078,562——$124
2022$2,122,125$2,924,861$2,416,697——$124
2021$3,206,680$2,197,818$2,185,618——$124
2020$2,158,033$2,382,129$3,432,287——$262
2019$2,598,055$2,296,497$1,538,690——$102

About California Children and Families Foundation Inc

Based on IRS filings

California Children and Families Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Alameda, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $129K. Net investment income was $25.

Focus Areas

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

California Children and Families Foundation Inc is led by Avo Makdessian, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Avo Makdessian

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2023

    6 hrs/week

    $12K (2023) → $95K (2025)

  • Fabiola Gonzlez

    President

    Vice President → President, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alethea Arguilez

    Advocacy Chair

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kitty Lopez

    Secretary

    President → Past President, 2024

    Past President → Secretary, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ericka Summers

    Member

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Wendy Sims-Moten

    Vice President

    Treasurer → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Karla Pleitez-Howell

    Member

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Heidi Mendenhall

    Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Cloyd

    Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Julio Rodriguez

    Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Karen Pautz

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Melody Easton

    Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Scott Waite

    Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (21)
  • Former: Karen Scott (2019–2023) — Member
  • Former: Kim Goll (2019–2023) — Member
  • Former: Molly DesBaillets (2019–2023) — Member
  • Former: Wendy Dickens (2020–2023) — Member
  • Former: Deborah Kelch (2022–2023) — Executive Director
  • Former: Ruth Fernandez (2022–2023) — Member
  • Former: Wendy Wendt (2022–2023) — Member
  • Former: Kim Belsh (2019–2022) — Member
  • Former: Melissa Stafford-Jones (2021–2022) — Executive Director
  • Former: David Brody (2019–2021) — Member
  • Former: Janice LeRoux (2019–2021) — Past President
  • Former: Mary Ann Hansen (2019–2021) — Member
  • Former: Moira Kenny (2019–2021) — Former Executive Director
  • Former: Francine Rodd (2020–2021) — Treasurer
  • Former: Gina Daleiden (2020–2021) — Member
  • Former: Michael Eaton (2020–2021) — Member
  • Former: John Sims (2020) — Interim CEO
  • Former: Julie Gallelo (2019) — Member
  • Former: Martha Hermosillo (2019) — Treasurer
  • Former: Roland Maier (2019) — Member
  • Former: Sean Casey (2019) — Past President

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Avo Makdessian — Executive Dir.: $95KAvo MakdessianExecutive Dir.$95K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $95K, to Avo Makdessian (Executive Dir.).

Frequently asked questions about California Children and Families Foundation Inc

How much does California Children and Families Foundation Inc give each year?

California Children and Families Foundation Inc gave $129K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.

How large is California Children and Families Foundation Inc?

California Children and Families Foundation Inc reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.7M.

What is California Children and Families Foundation Inc?

California Children and Families Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Alameda, CA. It holds $1.9M in total assets as of 2025.

Where does California Children and Families Foundation Inc operate?

California Children and Families Foundation Inc has awarded grants in California.

What is California Children and Families Foundation Inc's EIN?

California Children and Families Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0561803. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(3)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 6, 2026)
  2. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 6, 2021)
  3. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in California Children and Families Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Similar funders in California

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Mountain View, CA

Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$12.3B

Grants

3,576

Total Given

$3.2B

California Community Foundation

Los Angeles, CA

The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.

Assets

$2.3B

Grants

2,174

Total Given

$326.6M

The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

Menlo Park, CA

The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$14.2B

Grants

2,001

Total Given

$625.0M

Marin Community Foundation

Novato, CA

Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$1.3B

Grants

1,573

Total Given

$186.1M

Conrad N Hilton Foundation

Westlake Village, CA

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation funds nonprofits working to improve lives and alleviate poverty, with initiatives including early childhood development, homelessness, refugees, safe water, and support for foster and opportunity youth. Its work is global, and its 2024 grants had a median award of $76,000. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, except through its Good Neighbor Program for eligible local nonprofits and Title 1 schools.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$7.4B

Grants

1,339

Total Given

$287.7M

The San Diego Foundation

San Diego, CA

The San Diego Foundation funds nonprofit work in family well-being, education, the environment, and housing, including projects, capacity building, and general support that advance equity and resilient communities. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely; applicants generally must be located in San Diego County and primarily serve county residents. It offers competitive grant opportunities through its online portal, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$1.7B

Grants

1,158

Total Given

$94.3M

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 Children and Families Foundation Inc'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 Children and Families Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?