Center for Cultural Innovation
The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) is a public charity based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2001, it supports artists, culture bearers, creative entrepreneurs, and creative communities across the United States, with work aimed at strengthening the economic and social infrastructure for creative work.
Key facts about Center for Cultural Innovation
In short: Center for Cultural Innovation gave $2.3M across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $78K), top state California. 57% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 91-2156812
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,342,600
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- Average grant
- $78,087
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 57% first-time grantees (17 of 30, 2025)
- Total assets
- $17,293,720
- Primary geography
- California (26% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Apply through the relevant program’s application process. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$17.3M
+10.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+0.9% YoY
Grant Count
30
-42.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$78K
+74.9% YoY
Is Center for Cultural Innovation open to new grantees?
57%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 17 of 30 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $61K; repeat grants $100K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $75K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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
CCI’s mission is to shift cultural paradigms to catalyze better, alternative solutions for creatives, culture bearers, creative entrepreneurs, and their communities. Its stated focus includes creative self-determination, financial resilience, and equitable access to opportunity.
In 2025, CCI’s largest listed grants included support for organizations with varied missions. EKVNV YEFOLECVLKE described its mission as revitalizing Maskoke language and culture while advancing ecological sustainability. The Boston Ujima Project said it is building a cooperative business, arts, and investment ecosystem intended to return wealth to working-class communities of color. Historic Clayborn Temple described its work as building and sustaining community through programs, outreach, and engagement. The Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization, said it equips changemakers with evidence and solutions to expand opportunity and power for people and communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, CCI reported 30 grants totaling $2,342,600. Individual grants ranged from $6,000 to $500,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest listed awards were $500,000 to Beloved Economies LLC, $300,000 to EKVNV YEFOLECVLKE, $250,000 to East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative Inc., $150,000 to Historic Clayborn Temple, and $125,000 to the Boston Ujima Project. Most of these grants were described as supporting the “Ambitious Program”; the $100,000 grant to the Urban Institute was for the Research to Impact Lab program.
CCI’s website describes several programs for applicants. Quick Grants provide up to $600 in professional development funding to eligible California-based artists and cultural practitioners, and to staff members of nonprofit arts organizations based in San Francisco or San José. The next stated Quick Grant deadline is October 15, 2026, at 11:59 a.m. PT. Proposed activities must begin on or after the notification date, and must build administrative capacity, business skills, or financial resilience. CALI Futures offers competitive, project-restricted grants of $5,000 to California artists and cultural workers contributing to alternative efforts focused on income, ownership, or care. Its 2026 application cycle closed August 28, 2026. The 2025 Zoo Labs: FUND cycle is also listed as closed.
How to Apply
Apply through the relevant program’s application process. Quick Grants use monthly application cycles; CALI Futures uses a competitive application process.
Open Grants
9 open opportunities from Center for Cultural Innovation
CCI Investing in Artists: Artistic Innovation
Center for Cultural Innovation
Amount
Up to $9,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
CCI Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment
Center for Cultural Innovation
Amount
Up to $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
CCI Quick Grant
Center for Cultural Innovation
Amount
Up to US $600
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with Center for Cultural Innovation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CCI says it serves creative communities across the United States. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares were in California (26%), Oregon (21%), Alabama (13%), Massachusetts (11%), and Tennessee (6%). Several programs have narrower geographic eligibility, including Quick Grants for California-based applicants and nonprofit arts organization staff in San Francisco or San José, and CALI Futures for California artists and cultural workers.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2022) to $2.9M (2021). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Beloved Economies LLC ($500K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
210 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 132 grants of 210 (63%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Beloved Economies LLC Beaverton, OR | Ambitious Program | $500,000 |
| Ekvnv Yefolecvlke Weogufka, AL | Ambitious Program | $300,000 |
| East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative Inc Oakland, CA | Ambitious Program | $250,000 |
| Historic Clayborn Temple Memphis, TN | Ambitious Program | $150,000 |
| Boston Ujima Project Inc Boston, MA | Ambitious Program | $125,000 |
| The Urban Institute Washington, DC | Research to Impact Lab Program | $100,000 |
| Metagov Inc Boston, MA | AMBITIOUS PROGRAM/R2i LAB PROGRAMS | $90,000 |
| Voice of Calvary Ministries Jackson, MS | Ambitious Program | $75,000 |
| Nexus Community Partners Saint Paul, MN | Ambitious Program | $75,000 |
| Sustainable Markets Foundation New York, NY | Ambitious Program | $75,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17,293,720 | $25,285,529 | $23,461,225 | $2,342,600 |
| 2024 | $15,692,980 | $3,079,757 | $6,247,204 | $2,321,585 |
| 2023 | $18,966,303 | $8,534,816 | $5,978,761 | $1,711,028 |
The filing identifies CCI as a Form 990 public charity.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,293,720 | $15,692,980 | $18,966,303 |
| Revenue | $25,285,529 | $3,079,757 | $8,534,816 |
| Expenses | $23,461,225 | $6,247,204 | $5,978,761 |
| Net Investment Income | $384,180 | $387,939 | $131,693 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lorna Lathram as president, Sally Jo Fifer as vice president, Edgar Hirst as treasurer and secretary, and Angie Kim as a member. Board members listed include Sage Crump, abdiel j lopez, Lisa Funderburke, and Lavastian Glenn.
Center for Cultural Innovation is led by Lorna Lathram, President on every filing since 2020; 4 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lorna Lathram
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angie Kim
Member
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$150K (2020) → $191K (2025)
Catherine Fox
Employee
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$155K (2023) → $161K (2025)
Laura Poppiti
Employee
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$151K (2023) → $179K (2025)
Lauren Bailey
Employee
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$158K (2023) → $183K (2025)
Edgar Hirst
Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sally Jo Fifer
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sage Crump
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
abdiel j lopez
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lavastian Glenn
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Funderburke
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Betty Avila (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Althea Erickson (2023) — Employee
- Former: Eleanor Academia (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Tracie D Hall (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $191K, to Angie Kim (Member). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 244 S San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 687-8577
Frequently asked questions about Center for Cultural Innovation
How much does Center for Cultural Innovation give each year?
Center for Cultural Innovation gave $2.3M across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.3M across 52 grants.
What is Center for Cultural Innovation's typical grant size?
Center for Cultural Innovation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $78,087, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Center for Cultural Innovation that year got $61K on average.
Where does Center for Cultural Innovation give grants?
Center for Cultural Innovation's top state is California, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Oregon (21%) and Alabama (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (8 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants), San Francisco, CA (2 grants) and San Jose, CA (2 grants).
Does Center for Cultural Innovation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on Center for Cultural Innovation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Ambitious Program" (17 grants), "Zoo Labs Program" (4 grants) and "Cali Catalyst Program" (3 grants).
Who are Center for Cultural Innovation's largest grantees?
Center for Cultural Innovation's largest 2025 grantees include Beloved Economies LLC ($500,000), Ekvnv Yefolecvlke ($300,000) and East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative Inc ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Center for Cultural Innovation?
Center for Cultural Innovation reported $17.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $25.3M.
What does Center for Cultural Innovation fund?
CCI’s mission is to shift cultural paradigms to catalyze better, alternative solutions for creatives, culture bearers, creative entrepreneurs, and their communities. Its stated focus includes creative self-determination, financial resilience, and equitable access to opportunity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Center for Cultural Innovation?
Apply through the relevant program’s application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Center for Cultural Innovation's EIN?
Center for Cultural Innovation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-2156812. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching Center for Cultural Innovation by hand.
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