California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
California CASA is a San Diego-based public charity that strengthens California’s network of local CASA programs. It supports programs serving children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems through grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources, and advocates for effective child welfare policies and practices.
California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association at a glance
In short: California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association gave $14.7M across 44 grants in 2025 (avg $334K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $14,702,361
- -11.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 44
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $334,145
- -11.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $173,597
- Total assets
- $13,023,360
- +24.6% 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 October 2026.
How to apply to California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
- Contact
Mailing address: 3525 Del Mar Heights Rd 243, San Diego, CA 92130
Phone: (510) 380-8569
Website: https://californiacasa.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was CASA of Los Angeles County ($2.6M). Together the top 10 received $9.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
135 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 36 grants of 135 (27%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
California CASA describes its network as 44 local programs in 52 counties. Its 2025 grant filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to California recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2019) to $16.6M (2024). In 2025 it made 44 grants totaling $14.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CASA of Los Angeles County Monterey Park, CA | State Appropriation | $2,565,020 |
| CASA of Orange County Santa Ana, CA | State Approp; Juvenile Justice | $1,986,474 |
| Voices for Children San Diego, CA | State Appropriation | $1,301,805 |
| Child ADV of Silicon Valley Milpitas, CA | State Appropriation | $580,060 |
| CASA of Fresno County Fresno, CA | State Appropriation | $572,338 |
| San Francisco CASA San Francisco, CA | State Approp; Youth Tax Support | $547,061 |
| Child ADV of Placer County Roseville, CA | State Appropriation | $501,778 |
| CASA of Sacramento County Sacramento, CA | State Appropriation | $477,349 |
| CASA of Santa Cruz County Watsonville, CA | State Appropriation | $443,873 |
| CASA of Solano County Fairfield, CA | State Appropriation | $409,791 |
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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 | $13,023,360 | $20,367,473 | $20,107,517 | $14,702,361 | 44 | $373,216 |
| 2024 | $10,453,724 | $21,934,045 | $22,015,221 | $16,587,045 | 44 | $455,449 |
| 2023 | $10,265,185 | $14,378,320 | $14,566,418 | $12,034,277 | 44 | $236,377 |
| 2022 | $3,083,055 | $3,176,291 | $1,619,652 | $45,000 | 2 | $2,351 |
| 2021 | $2,147,990 | $2,000,160 | $1,527,670 | $6,200 | 1 | $2,515 |
| 2020 | $1,599,310 | $1,924,155 | $1,582,566 | $21,150 | 4 | $11,041 |
| 2019 | $1,151,212 | $1,483,834 | $1,128,907 | $5,200 | 1 | $7,058 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
California CASA’s mission is to ensure that children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems have a voice and the services they need to thrive. It pursues this by strengthening and empowering local CASA programs and advocating for effective child welfare policies and practices.
Its stated priorities include supporting and expanding the core CASA model, expanding advocacy for youth in the juvenile justice system, and advocating for systemic change in child welfare. Its grants go to local CASA programs. For example, Voices for Children says its mission is to transform the lives of abused children by providing them with court-appointed special advocates; San Francisco CASA says it provides consistent volunteer advocates to children and youth in foster care and related systems; and CASA of Solano County says it advocates for abused, neglected, and other identified children within the court system.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, California CASA reported 44 grants totaling $14,702,361. Grant amounts ranged from $28,902 to $2,565,020, with a median grant of $173,596. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in California.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $2,565,020 to CASA of Los Angeles County, $1,986,474 to CASA of Orange County, $1,301,805 to Voices for Children, $580,060 to Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, and $572,338 to CASA of Fresno County. The listed grant purposes include state appropriations, with some also referencing juvenile justice or youth tax support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sharon M. Lawrence as CEO; Joan Reilly as CFO and COO; Kathryn Mathews as CPO; Lauren Bergquist as CPO (Philanth); Quinton Buckley as senior director of program operations; Jeannie Low as director of marketing; Shawn Noetzli as regional fundraiser; Kelly LeRossignol as director of philanthropy; Cynthia Featherson as DEI manager; and Michelle Griffin as chair.
California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association is led by Sharon M. Lawrence, CEO on every filing since 2019; 9 of 27 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sharon M. Lawrence
CEO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$167K (2019) → $269K (2025)
Michelle Griffin
Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Quinton Buckley
Senior Director Program Ops
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$122K (2024) → $129K (2025)
Jeannie Low
Director of Marketing
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$109K (2025)
Joan Reilly
CFO & COO
CFO → CFO & COO, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$45K (2019) → $186K (2025)
Kathryn Mathews
Cpo
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$80K (2022) → $187K (2025)
Cynthia Featherson
Dei Manager
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$102K (2025)
Kelly Lerossignol
Dr of Philanthropy
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$101K (2025)
Lauren Bergquist
Cpo
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$194K (2025)
Shawn Noetzli
Regional Fundraise
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$102K (2025)
Katy Carlsen
Member
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2020
Vice Chair → Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marie Kennedy
Member
Board Member → Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Delaney Rosendahl
Member
Member → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allyson Pfeifer
Vice Chair
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Howard Slayen
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Moore
Member
Board Member → Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George Sapp
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Renee Espinoza
Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tyrone Roderick Williams
Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clay Young
Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Yamamoto Trendacosta
Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Conor Taniguchi
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Davis-Spargo
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Connie Hwang
Cpo
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kate Stille
Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wende Julien To
Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Zachary Scott
Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (25)
- Former: Anne Farrell (2019–2024) — Senior Strategy Advisor
- Former: Kevin Gardner (2019–2024) — Past Chair
- Former: June Collison (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: George Lai (2022–2024) — Member
- Former: Wende Julien (2022–2024) — Member
- Former: Lauren Berqguist (2024) — Cpo
- Former: Elisa Mendel (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: Nancy Banning Doyle (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: Kim Moore (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Robert Smith (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Shelley Brown (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Arnold Rosenfield (2022) — Member
- Former: Lisa Spinali To (2022) — Member
- Former: Don Kleinfelder (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jan-Yu Weng (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Arnold Rosenfield ret (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Lisa Spinali (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Wendelyn Julien JD (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: James Hatter (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Tracy Fauver (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Adam Wallace (2019) — Treasurer
- Former: J Michael Hughes (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Karen Finan (2019) — Program Director
- Former: S Keating Rhoads (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Wendelyn Nichols-Julien (2019) — Board Member
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $269K, to Sharon M Lawrence (CEO). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
How much does California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association give each year?
California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association gave $14.7M across 44 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $16.6M across 44 grants.
What is California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association's typical grant size?
California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association's median grant in 2025 was $173,597, and its average grant was $334,145, across 44 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association give grants?
California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 44 grants with a stated purpose on California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "State Appropriation" (35 grants) and "State Approp; Far North Support" (7 grants).
Who are California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association's largest grantees?
California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association's largest 2025 grantees include CASA of Los Angeles County ($2,565,020), CASA of Orange County ($1,986,474) and Voices for Children ($1,301,805), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association?
California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association reported $13.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.4M.
What does California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association fund?
California CASA’s mission is to ensure that children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems have a voice and the services they need to thrive. It pursues this by strengthening and empowering local CASA programs and advocating for effective child welfare policies and practices. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association?
California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check californiacasa.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association's EIN?
California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0163010. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 31, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 4, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 25, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 25, 2022)
Live grants for the work California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/california-court-appointed-special-advocate-association-morg_c6376e6c5885444c8633ad34834be2bb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_680163010_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/california-court-appointed-special-advocate-association-morg_c6376e6c5885444c8633ad34834be2bb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-25. 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 Court Appointed Special Advocate Association'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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