Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare
Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare is a private foundation based in San Diego, California. Its 2025 grants recognized journalism on issues impacting children and youth.
Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare at a glance
In short: Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare gave $6K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $466.667), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,600
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- Average grant
- $467
- Median grant
- $200
- Total assets
- $37,502
- -6.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Articles about issues impacting children and youth, originally published from July 1 through June 30 of the preceding year, are eligible for consideration for an award. Board or committee members, authors, editors, or publications may nominate works. Submissions should include copies of the articles or links to them. Works must pertain to issues impacting children and youth.
- Review Cycle
- August 1 each year. The filing describes this annual deadline; as of October 2, 2026, the August 1, 2026 cycle has passed.
- Deadline
- August 1 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Elisa Weichel
Mailing address: 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92110
Phone: (619) 260-4806
Email: eweichel@sandiego.edu
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Imprint ($3K). Together the top 10 received $5K.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 20 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 4% to Oregon, and 4% to Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
How Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare gives
- Giving grew 273% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 130% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2022) to $6K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $6K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Imprint Los Angeles, CA | donation in recognition of outstanding journalism on child & youth issues | $3,000 |
| Diana Lambert Elk Grove, CA | Recognition of outstanding journalism on child & youth issues | $500 |
| Melissa Lewis Portland, OR | Recognition of outstanding journalism on child & youth issues | $250 |
| Soshana Walter Oakland, CA | Recognition of outstanding journalism on child & youth issues | $250 |
| Thomas Peele Oakland, CA | Recognition of outstanding journalism on child & youth issues | $200 |
| Danny Willis Concord, CA | Recognition of outstanding journalism on child & youth issues | $200 |
| Emma Gallegos Bakersfield, CA | Recognition of outstanding journalism on child & youth issues | $200 |
| Mallika Seshadri Long Beach, CA | Recognition of outstanding journalism on child & youth issues | $200 |
| Sunny Xie San Jose, CA | Recognition of outstanding journalism on child & youth issues | $200 |
| Lasherica Thornton Fresno, CA | Recognition of outstanding journalism on child & youth issues | $200 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,502 | $4,651 | $7,238 | $5,600 | 12 | $7,238 | $3,013 | $5,583 |
| 2024 | $40,089 | $4,886 | $1,944 | — | — | $1,944 | $2,942 | $5,292 |
| 2023 | $37,147 | $4,274 | $3,699 | $3,000 | 4 | $3,699 | $3,575 | $4,843 |
| 2022 | $36,572 | $4,227 | $2,345 | $1,500 | 2 | $2,228 | $4,227 | $5,103 |
| 2021 | $34,690 | $2,031 | $3,405 | $2,000 | 2 | — | $2,031 | $4,045 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare reported a distributable amount of $6K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave 12 grants totaling $5,600. Grants ranged from $200 to $3,000, with a median of $200. The largest grant was $3,000 to The Imprint for outstanding journalism on child and youth issues. Other listed grants included $500 to an individual recipient and grants of $200 or $250 to individual recipients.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dr Gary Richwald as CEO, Elisa Weichel as Treasurer, and Robert Fellmeth as Secretary.
Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare is led by Gary Richwald, CEO on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary Richwald
CEO
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elisa Weichel
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Fellmeth
Secretary
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare
How much does Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare give each year?
Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare gave $6K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare's typical grant size?
Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare's median grant in 2025 was $200, and its average grant was $467, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare give grants?
Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare gives mostly in California: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (2 grants).
Does Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare's largest grantees?
Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare's largest 2025 grantees include The Imprint ($3,000), Diana Lambert ($500) and Melissa Lewis ($250), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare?
Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare reported $38K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
How do I apply for a grant from Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare's EIN?
Childrens Advocacy Institute-Child Welfare's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0470084. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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