Chamberlin Education Foundation
Chamberlin Education Foundation is a private operating foundation headquartered in Richmond, California, dedicated to advancing education equity and academic excellence in West Contra Costa public schools. Founded in 2020 and granted tax-exempt status in August 2020, the foundation operates with a staff of 7 employees and maintains a comprehensive approach to supporting the local education ecosystem.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$80.6M
-3.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.0M
+31.8% YoY
Grant Count
1,302
-11.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+48.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to advance education equity and academic excellence in West Contra Costa public schools. The foundation maintains four sustainable, high-quality public school campuses in West Contra Costa that serve nearly 2,000 historically under-resourced students combined, including 75% who identify as Black or Latinx, 70% who are eligible for free or reduced lunch, and 22% who are English language learners.
Primary funding priorities include:
- Effective, equity-focused leadership — Direct funding to teacher and principal preparation programs, support for school leaders to develop instructional leadership skills, and initiatives to transform teaching and learning
- High-quality curriculum and instruction — Curriculum supplies for students and instruction/training for teachers
- Student-centered public education ecosystem — Support for youth-serving and education-focused nonprofit organizations across West Contra Costa that address student needs outside the classroom
Grantmaking
The foundation operates multiple grant programs:
Grant Range
$300 for teachers
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
West Contra Costa County, California, including:
- Richmond
- San Pablo
- El Cerrito
- Pinole
- Hercules
- El Sobrante
- Unincorporated areas
The foundation supports 68 schools across the region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024)
- Total assets: $80,625,935
- Total revenue: $6,109,267
- Total expenses: $9,286,752
Assets & Revenue (2023)
- Total assets: $83,582,894
- Total revenues: $3,837,242
- Total expenses: $8,511,893
- Annual giving: $2,263,350
Historical Giving
- Total giving (2024): $2,982,319
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $80,625,935 | $83,582,894 | $88,216,598 |
| Revenue | $6,109,267 | $3,837,242 | $3,820,438 |
| Expenses | $9,286,752 | $8,511,893 | $8,093,427 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,587,864 | $6,677,241 | $5,785,791 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,512,517 | $778,933 | $309,562 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Marc Landrum ($300), Melanie Pacho ($300), Maria Espinosa ($300).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MARC LANDRUM HERCULES, CA | TEACHER GRATITUDE GRANT | $300 |
| MELANIE PACHO HERCULES, CA | TEACHER GRATITUDE GRANT | $300 |
| MARIA ESPINOSA RICHMOND, CA | TEACHER GRATITUDE GRANT | $300 |
| MARIA BROWN RICHMOND, CA | TEACHER GRATITUDE GRANT | $300 |
| MARGARET BREEDING EL CERRITO, CA | TEACHER GRATITUDE GRANT | $300 |
| MARIA ALVAREZ RICHMOND, CA | TEACHER GRATITUDE GRANT | $300 |
| MARIA AGUILA PINOLE, CA | TEACHER GRATITUDE GRANT | $300 |
| MARA PREZ FRANCO RICHMOND, CA | TEACHER GRATITUDE GRANT | $300 |
| MARGARETH FORMENTERA PINOLE, CA | TEACHER GRATITUDE GRANT | $300 |
| MARGARET PITTS RICHMOND, CA | TEACHER GRATITUDE GRANT | $300 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Stefanie Phillips — Chief Executive Officer
- Caroline Colby Damon — Executive Director (leading the foundation since 2015)
- Minnie Bhattacharyya — Chief Program Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN W CHAMBERLIN | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| SUSAN C CHAMBERLIN | VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| MELINDA ERKELENS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANNE HOFFMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR STEPHANIE PHILLIPS | PRESIDENT | 1 | $122,188 |
| CHRISTINE CASTILLO | TREASURER AND SECRETARY | 16 | $131,667 |
| ARUN RAMANATHAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025 Community Giving Initiative** — Announced $350,000 investment to deepen support for West Contra Costa youth
Gratitude Grant funding for West Contra Costa teachers increases 62% in major**2024 Community Giving Initiative** — Distributed over $280,000 to local West Contra Costa nonprofits
Gratitude Grant funding for West Contra Costa teachers increases 62% in major**Gratitude Grants Expansion** — Funding for West Contra Costa teachers increased 62% in a major expansion
2021 Gratitude Grants: Over $490,000 direct to teachers, schools - Chamberlin**Ongoing Support** — Foundation maintains over 50 active grants and programs supporting education equity across the region
Gratitude Grants - Chamberlin Education FoundationContact Information
Address: 855 Marina Bay Parkway, Suite 100, Richmond, CA 94804
Phone: (925) 227-0925
Email:
- General: info@chamberlinfoundation.org
- Community Giving Initiative: CGI@chamberlinfoundation.org
Website: chamberlinfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Chamberlin Education Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to advance education equity and academic excellence in West Contra Costa public schools. The foundation maintains four sustainable, high-quality public school campuses in West Contra Costa that serve nearly 2,000 historically under-resourced students combined, including 75% who identify as Black or Latinx, 70% who are eligible for free or reduced lunch, and 22% who are English language learners. Primary funding priorities include: • **Effective, equity-focused leader…
How do I apply for a grant from Chamberlin Education Foundation?
The foundation operates multiple grant programs: **Gratitude Grants (for Educators)** • Direct grants to teachers and educators • Grant range: $300 for teachers • Since 2015, the foundation has awarded over 8,700 Gratitude Grants totaling $2.2 million • Funding increased 62% in a major expansion **Community Giving Initiative** • Annual community grants supporting local, youth-serving organizations • Grant range: up to $15,000 for nonprofits • 2024: Over $280,000 distributed to local West Contra…
Where does Chamberlin Education Foundation make grants?
West Contra Costa County, California, including: • Richmond • San Pablo • El Cerrito • Pinole • Hercules • El Sobrante • Unincorporated areas The foundation supports 68 schools across the region.
What size grants does Chamberlin Education Foundation award?
In 2024, Chamberlin Education Foundation awarded 1,302 grants totaling $3.0M — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Chamberlin Education Foundation's EIN?
Chamberlin Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-4690334. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chamberlin Education Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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