California Volunteers Fund
California Volunteers Fund is a Sacramento-based public charity that builds public-private partnerships on behalf of California Volunteers, Office of the Governor. Its mission is to increase the quality, scale, and sustainability of service programs addressing California’s pressing challenges through service, volunteerism, and direct action.
Key facts about California Volunteers Fund
In short: California Volunteers Fund gave $2.4M across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $187K), top state Maryland. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 85-0642564
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,425,100
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- Average grant
- $186,546
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $7,701,893
- Primary geography
- Maryland (19% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$7.7M
+63.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.4M
+0.5% YoY
Grant Count
13
+30.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$187K
-22.7% YoY
How California Volunteers Fund gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s stated mission is to engage Californians in service, volunteerism, and civic action to tackle the state’s pressing challenges. Its programs include California Climate Action Corps and Climate Corps Expansion, #CaliforniansforAll College Corps, Corps to Career, and planning for a Youth Mental Health Corps. The fund’s filing describes support for fellowship recruitment and stipends, community service and volunteer efforts, career development for service alumni, and college students’ service in education and mentorship, food insecurity, and climate action.
The fund’s 2024 grantees included organizations with varied missions. ServeMinnesota describes its mission as strengthening Minnesota through high-impact service. Northern Arizona University Foundation says it advances the university by fostering relationships and investment. California grantees included Urban Tilth, which works on organic gardening and sustainable local food production; Bay Area Community Resources, which says it fosters generational change in communities; Watsonville Wetlands Watch, which advocates for wetlands, educates the public, and restores and preserves habitat; and The Representation Project, which uses storytelling, education, and social activism to challenge harmful gender stereotypes and norms. Keep America Beautiful describes its work as inspiring and educating people to improve and beautify their community environments.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the fund reported 13 grants totaling $2,425,100. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $472,500, with a median of $10,000. The five largest listed grants were $472,500 each, supporting climate-based service programs at the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation, Utah State University, North Carolina Office of the Governor, Northern Arizona University Foundation, and ServeMinnesota.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund is based in Sacramento, California. Its 2024 grants included recipients in California and in Maryland, Utah, North Carolina, Arizona, Minnesota, Connecticut, and New York. The five largest grants supported climate-based service programs in Maryland, Utah, North Carolina, Arizona, and Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2021) to $2.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation ($473K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 25 (52%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation Annapolis, MD | Support Climate Based Service Program | $472,500 |
| Utah State University Logan, UT | Support Climate Based Service Program | $472,500 |
| North Carolina Office of the Governor Raleigh, NC | Support Climate Based Service Program | $472,500 |
| Northern Arizona University Foundation Inc Flagstaff, AZ | Support Climate Based Service Program | $472,500 |
| Serveminnesota Minneapolis, MN | Support Climate Based Service Program | $472,500 |
| Keep America Beautiful Inc Stamford, CT | Support and enhance member experiences at community climate action days | $11,800 |
| Urban Tilth Richmond, CA | Support and strengthen member experiences at community climate action days | $10,000 |
| Support Feed New York, NY | Support and strengthen member experiences at community climate action days | $9,700 |
| Handson Bay Area San Francisco, CA | Support and strengthen member experiences at community climate action days | $8,900 |
| Bay Area Community Resources San Rafael, CA | Support and enhance member experiences at community climate action days | $6,600 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,701,893 | $7,894,718 | $5,033,635 | $2,425,100 (13) |
| 2023 | $4,710,858 | $1,929,874 | $4,040,723 | $2,413,800 (10) |
| 2022 | $6,840,978 | $6,219,996 | $652,090 | 0 grants reported |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,701,893 | $4,710,858 | $6,840,978 |
| Revenue | $7,894,718 | $1,929,874 | $6,219,996 |
| Expenses | $5,033,635 | $4,040,723 | $652,090 |
| Net Investment Income | $183,468 | $104,864 | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Smith as chief executive officer, David Silver as director of workforce, and Kaitlin Meyer as director of program strategy and operations. It also lists Jeffrey Hoffman, Sophia Garcia, David Porges, Chelsea Seabron, Richard E. Goldman, Mark Chavez, and Lorena Hernandez among officers and directors. The filing narrative says Sophia Garcia became board chair in April 2024, Richard E. Goldman was appointed board secretary in April 2024, and Chelsea Seabron became treasurer that month and departed in December 2024. Jeffrey Hoffman served as board chair until April 2024 and departed the organization in December 2024.
California Volunteers Fund is led by David Smith, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2023; 5 of 12 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David Smith
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$157K (2023) → $265K (2024)
David Silver
Director of Workforce
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$154K (2023) → $204K (2024)
Kaitlin Meyer
Director, Program Strategy & Operations
Senior Program Adviser → Director, Program Strategy & Operations, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$132K (2023) → $163K (2024)
Irma Gorrocino
Director of Business Partnerships
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$116K (2024)
Jordan Mickens
Program Director & Corps to Career
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$113K (2024)
Sophia Garcia
See Sch. O
See Sch O → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → See Sch. O, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chelsea Seabron
See Sch. O
Board Member → See Sch. O, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard E. Goldman
See Sch. O
Board Member → See Sch. O, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Porges To
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Hoffman See Sch O.
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lorena Hernandez
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Chavez
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: David Porges (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Jeffrey Hoffman (2020–2023) — Chairman
- Former: Deidre Lind To Aug (2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Deidre Lind (2020–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Sonali Nijhawan (2020–2021) — Treasurer
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 $265K, to David Smith (Chief Executive Officer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1400 Tenth Street 2Cd Fl, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 323-7646
Website: https://californiavolunteersfund.org
Frequently asked questions about California Volunteers Fund
How much does California Volunteers Fund give each year?
California Volunteers Fund gave $2.4M across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.4M across 10 grants.
What is California Volunteers Fund's typical grant size?
California Volunteers Fund's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $186,546, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does California Volunteers Fund give grants?
California Volunteers Fund's top state is Maryland, with 19% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Utah (19%) and North Carolina (19%).
Does California Volunteers Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 15% of California Volunteers Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Support Climate Based Service Program" (5 grants).
Who are California Volunteers Fund's largest grantees?
California Volunteers Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation ($472,500), Utah State University ($472,500) and North Carolina Office of the Governor ($472,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is California Volunteers Fund?
California Volunteers Fund reported $7.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.9M.
What does California Volunteers Fund fund?
The fund’s stated mission is to engage Californians in service, volunteerism, and civic action to tackle the state’s pressing challenges. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from California Volunteers Fund?
California Volunteers Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check californiavolunteersfund.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is California Volunteers Fund's EIN?
California Volunteers Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-0642564. 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.
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