Cavali Foundation
Cavali Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 filing reports 15 grants totaling $728,875 to charitable organizations, including education, civic engagement, community finance, and other organizations.
Cavali Foundation at a glance
In short: Cavali Foundation gave $729K across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $49K), top state California. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $728,875
- +39.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- -6.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $48,592
- +48.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $2,488,865
- -10.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (5 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cavali Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1177 Avenue Of The Americas 18Th F, New York, NY 10036
Phone: (646) 213-5100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cavali Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was UCLA Foundation ($186K). Together the top 10 received $691K.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 89 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in California (28%), the District of Columbia (21%), New York (18%), Illinois (14%), and Nevada (12%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Cavali Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $60K; repeat grants $43K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $523K (2023) to $1.2M (2020). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $729K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UCLA Foundation Los Angeles, CA | General Use | $186,375 |
| Accelerate Institute Chicago, IL | General Use | $100,000 |
| Voter Participation Center Washington, DC | General Use | $100,000 |
| Hopewell Fund Las Vegas, NV | General Use | $90,000 |
| American Independent Radio Air New York, NY | General Use | $50,000 |
| Pushblack Washington, DC | General Use | $50,000 |
| Trustees of Princeton University Princeton, NJ | General Use | $50,000 |
| Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners Inc New York, NY | General Use | $25,000 |
| Robin Hood Foundation New York, NY | General Use | $25,000 |
| National Resources Defense Council Inc New York, NY | General Use | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Cavali Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,488,865 | $445,880 | $746,570 | $728,875 | 15 | $733,575 | $440,220 | $3,385 |
| 2023 | $2,789,555 | $416,870 | $533,829 | $523,000 | 16 | $528,130 | $411,171 | $223,986 |
| 2022 | $2,906,514 | $64,020 | $602,634 | $587,000 | 19 | $591,853 | $58,239 | $231,236 |
| 2021 | $3,445,128 | $1,675,922 | $751,730 | $741,167 | 19 | $746,046 | $170,238 | $238,281 |
| 2020 | $2,520,936 | $260,667 | $1,179,117 | $1,170,000 | 20 | — | $257,142 | $172,035 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cavali Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. UCLA Foundation describes itself as the giving, receiving, and investing arm of the UCLA campus, supporting the university’s academic and research work. Accelerate Institute says it works to close the achievement gap by developing school leaders who accelerate student achievement. PUSHBLACK describes its work as building a mass media network to advance Black liberation through empowering narratives and actions.
Other 2024 grantees include Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners, which says it empowers low-income individuals to participate in the U.S. financial system and achieve their financial goals, and CAMFED USA Foundation, which says it supports vulnerable girls and young women in shaping their futures and contributing to their communities and Africa.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 15 grants totaling $728,875 in 2024. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $186,375, with a median of $25,000. The largest grants included $186,375 to UCLA Foundation, $100,000 each to Accelerate Institute and Voter Participation Center, and $90,000 to Hopewell Fund. Other grants included $50,000 each to American Independent Radio Air, PUSHBLACK, and Trustees of Princeton University, and $25,000 each to Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners and Robin Hood Foundation. The listed grants were for general use.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Valerie C. Rubsamen as president and Cedomir Crnkovic as treasurer and secretary.
Cavali Foundation is led by Valerie C. Rubsamen, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Valerie C. Rubsamen
President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cedomir Crnkovic
Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Cavali Foundation
How much does Cavali Foundation give each year?
Cavali Foundation gave $729K across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $523K across 16 grants.
What is Cavali Foundation's typical grant size?
Cavali Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $48,592, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cavali Foundation that year got $60K on average.
Where does Cavali Foundation give grants?
Cavali Foundation's top state is California, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (21%) and New York (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does Cavali Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Cavali Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Cavali Foundation's largest grantees?
Cavali Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include UCLA Foundation ($186,375), Accelerate Institute ($100,000) and Voter Participation Center ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Cavali Foundation?
Cavali Foundation reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $734K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Cavali Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. UCLA Foundation describes itself as the giving, receiving, and investing arm of the UCLA campus, supporting the university’s academic and research work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cavali Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Cavali Foundation's EIN?
Cavali Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1594454. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Cavali Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cavali Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma
San Francisco, CA
The Federation funds Jewish life and identity, antisemitism response, crisis relief, human services, and justice and inclusion, with work in the Bay Area, Israel, and beyond. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,050 to $2,405,915, with a median of $22,750. It frequently issues requests for proposals and welcomes inquiries about new Bay Area programs; no current organization grant opportunities were listed.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
1,032
Total Given
$94.5M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
The New York Community Trust funds nonprofit programs in areas such as arts, education, health, the environment, workforce development, and youth development, including projects that improve services, build organizational capacity, or advance policy and systems change. Its competitive grants mainly serve New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some national and international environmental funding; the 2024 median grant was $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cavali Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cavali-foundation-morg_2ab8dedf5c8741cf816a9305f272169e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461594454_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cavali Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cavali-foundation-morg_2ab8dedf5c8741cf816a9305f272169e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Cavali Foundation'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.
Cavali Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?