California Emerging Technology Fund
The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) is a public charity based in Concord, California. It provides statewide leadership and funding to close the Digital Divide by accelerating broadband deployment and adoption in unserved and underserved communities.
California Emerging Technology Fund at a glance
In short: California Emerging Technology Fund gave $4.1M across 55 grants in 2025 (avg $74K), mostly in California. 76% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,070,795
- +73.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 55
- +139.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $74,014
- -27.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $12,139,308
- -35.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 76% first-time grantees (42 of 55, 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 September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to California Emerging Technology Fund
- How to Apply
-
For Access Broadband Connect grants, eligible applicants include qualifying community-based organizations, schools, libraries, local governments, and other public agencies. CETF’s guidance describes application evaluation criteria but does not specify application materials or a current application process.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 5897, Concord, CA 94524
Phone: (415) 744-2383
Website: https://cetfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who California Emerging Technology Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was School2Home (multiple partners) ($1.9M). Together the top 10 received $3.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
136 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 136 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CETF provides leadership statewide in California. Its 2025 itemized grants were all to California recipients. Its stated priority communities are rural and remote areas, urban disadvantaged neighborhoods, and people with disabilities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.
Cities
Is California Emerging Technology Fund open to new grantees?
76%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 42 of 55 grantees (76%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $87K; repeat grants $32K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $889K (2021) to $4.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 55 grants totaling $4.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| School2Home (multiple partners) Concord, CA | to support programs that increase broadband awareness and adoption | $1,867,230 |
| AGIF Education Foundation Santa Maria, CA | to support programs that increase broadband awareness and adoption | $879,510 |
| Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation Los Angeles, CA | to support programs that increase broadband awareness and adoption | $120,000 |
| Sigma Beta Xi Moreno Valley, CA | to support programs that increase broadband awareness and adoption | $78,710 |
| Valley Vision Concord, CA | to support programs that increase broadband awareness and adoption | $66,000 |
| Southern California Association of Governments Los Angeles, CA | to support programs that increase broadband awareness and adoption | $50,000 |
| County of Sonoma Santa Rosa, CA | to support programs that increase broadband awareness and adoption | $50,000 |
| Sourtheast Community Development Corporation Bell, CA | to support programs that increase broadband awareness and adoption | $30,265 |
| Economic Development Collaborative Camarillo, CA | to support programs that increase broadband awareness and adoption | $30,000 |
| Sierra Business Council Truckee, CA | to support programs that increase broadband awareness and adoption | $30,000 |
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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 | $12,139,308 | $3,938,233 | $10,441,474 | $4,070,795 | 55 | $444,101 |
| 2024 | $18,788,602 | $2,662,388 | $10,591,270 | $2,349,094 | 23 | $425,084 |
| 2023 | $27,147,491 | $3,574,011 | $9,491,888 | $1,218,540 | 14 | $241,957 |
| 2022 | $35,282,028 | $1,248,904 | $9,584,902 | $2,085,750 | 24 | $5,558 |
| 2021 | $44,150,511 | $253,401 | $7,893,942 | $888,690 | 20 | $3,055 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CETF’s mission is to close the Digital Divide, promote Digital Inclusion, and achieve Digital Equity by accelerating broadband deployment and adoption. Its stated priority communities for grantmaking are rural and remote areas, urban disadvantaged neighborhoods, and people with disabilities.
CETF’s grants support programs to increase broadband awareness and adoption. Its prior Access Broadband Connect grant guidance identifies eligible applicants as community-based organizations, schools, libraries, local governments, and other public agencies with a record of performance and capacity to manage strategic activities. The guidance gives preference to applicants with experience helping low-income households sign up for home broadband.
The grantees include organizations with varied missions. For example, Sigma Beta Xi says it mentors students on school campuses in Southern California, while Sierra Business Council says it works to increase vitality, prosperity, environmental quality, and social fairness in the Sierra Nevada. Valley Vision describes itself as a civic leadership organization focused on improving the livability of the Sacramento region.
Grantmaking
In 2025, CETF reported 55 grants totaling $4,070,795. Grant amounts ranged from $7,060 to $1,867,230, with a median of $20,000. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in California. The largest grants included $1,867,230 to School2Home (multiple partners) and $879,510 to AGIF Education Foundation, both to support programs that increase broadband awareness and adoption. Other grants included $120,000 to Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, $78,710 to Sigma Beta Xi, and $66,000 to Valley Vision for the same stated purpose.
For Access Broadband Connect grants, CETF’s guidance says applications are evaluated on relevant experience and capacity to reach low-income households in-language and in-culture, a record of measurable outcomes, relationships in target communities, the quality of proposed strategies, and the reasonableness of the work plan, timetable, and budget. Approved programs under that guidance could last no longer than two years. CETF requires grant recipients to submit periodic progress reports, which are reviewed against project milestones.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Renee Martinez as Chair, Darrell Stewart as Vice Chair, Carlos Ramos as Secretary, and Richard Motta as Treasurer. Directors listed are Jeff Campbell, Martha Escutia, Francis Gipson, Jim Kirkland, Tim McCallion, and Lenny Mendonca.
California Emerging Technology Fund is led by Sunne Wright McPeak, President & CEO on every filing since 2021; 13 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sunne Wright McPeak
President & CEO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$359K (2021) → $427K (2025)
Renee Martinez
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$7K (2021) → $16K (2025)
Charlene Tatis
Director of Digital Inclus
San Jose Digital Inclusion → Director of Digital Inclusion, 2024
Director of Digital Inclusion → Director of Digital Inclus, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$136K (2021) → $152K (2025)
Jim Kirkland
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$4K (2021) → $10K (2025)
Martha Escutia
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$4K (2025)
Francis Gipson
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$4K (2022) → $9K (2025)
Barb Johnston Yellowlees
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Campbell
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim McCallion
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lenny Mendonca
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shireen Santosham
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Agustin Urgiles
School2home Executive Mana
School2home Executive Mana → School2home Executive Manager, 2024
School2home Executive Manager → School2home Executive Mana, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$169K (2021) → $203K (2025)
Alana O'Brien
Vice President Operations
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$138K (2021) → $153K (2025)
Raquel Cinat
Associate Vice President
Associate Vice President → School2home Associate Vice President, 2024
School2home Associate Vice President → Associate Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$155K (2021) → $181K (2025)
Richard Motta
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
6 hrs/week
$33K (2021) → $52K (2025)
Carlos Ramos
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$4K (2022) → $9K (2025)
Anne O
Chief Management Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$166K (2024) → $180K (2025)
Jessica Woznak
Chief Opearting Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$73K (2025)
Darrell Stewart
Vice Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Barbara O'Connor (2021–2024) — Chair
- Former: Leticia Alejandrez (2024) — Director of Telehealth & Communications
- Former: Dorian Traube (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Debbie Shireman (2021–2022) — Digital Inclusion Director
- Former: Gladys Palpallatoc (2021–2022) — Associate Vice President
- Former: Susan Walters (2021–2022) — Senior Vice 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $427K, to Sunne Wright McPeak (President and CEO). 13 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about California Emerging Technology Fund
How much does California Emerging Technology Fund give each year?
California Emerging Technology Fund gave $4.1M across 55 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.3M across 23 grants.
What is California Emerging Technology Fund's typical grant size?
California Emerging Technology Fund's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $74,014, across 55 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from California Emerging Technology Fund that year got $87K on average.
Where does California Emerging Technology Fund give grants?
California Emerging Technology Fund 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 Concord, CA (5 grants), Los Angeles, CA (2 grants), Santa Rosa, CA (2 grants) and San Jose, CA (2 grants).
Does California Emerging Technology Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 55 grants with a stated purpose on California Emerging Technology Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are California Emerging Technology Fund's largest grantees?
California Emerging Technology Fund's largest 2025 grantees include School2Home (multiple partners) ($1,867,230), AGIF Education Foundation ($879,510) and Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation ($120,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is California Emerging Technology Fund?
California Emerging Technology Fund reported $12.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.9M.
What does California Emerging Technology Fund fund?
CETF’s mission is to close the Digital Divide, promote Digital Inclusion, and achieve Digital Equity by accelerating broadband deployment and adoption. Its stated priority communities for grantmaking are rural and remote areas, urban disadvantaged neighborhoods, and people with disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from California Emerging Technology Fund?
For Access Broadband Connect grants, eligible applicants include qualifying community-based organizations, schools, libraries, local governments, and other public agencies. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is California Emerging Technology Fund's EIN?
California Emerging Technology Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5184429. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in California Emerging Technology Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). California Emerging Technology Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/california-emerging-technology-fund-morg_7ede16e3da9946be86e1a09397b08dfd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205184429_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{California Emerging Technology Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/california-emerging-technology-fund-morg_7ede16e3da9946be86e1a09397b08dfd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Emerging Technology 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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