CM Capital Foundation
CM Capital Foundation is a private foundation based in Palo Alto, California. It makes grants to charitable organizations and provides financial resources and assistance for community projects and programs.
CM Capital Foundation at a glance
In short: CM Capital Foundation gave $222K across 53 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in California. 39% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $221,818
- +35.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 53
- +17.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,185
- +15.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $4,482,480
- +0.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (18 of 46, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (90% 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 CM Capital Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing says applicants should contact Elizabeth Hammack and call to request a written application. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It does not make grants to support fundraising events, conferences, individuals, for-profit enterprises, political purposes, or religious purposes.
- Review Cycle
- January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15.
- Deadline
- January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15.
- Contact
Application contact: Elizabeth Hammack
Mailing address: 525 University Avenue Ste 200, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Phone: (650) 326-6480
Website: https://www.cmcapitalfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who CM Capital Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Avenidas ($58K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $182K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
202 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 200 grants of 202 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation gives strong preference to applicants in Santa Clara County, California. In 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in California; other listed recipient states were Illinois (2%), Massachusetts (2%), Indiana (1%), and Alabama (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is CM Capital Foundation open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 46 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 112% of 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 $82K (2020) to $222K (2024). In 2024 it made 53 grants totaling $222K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Avenidas Palo Alto, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Monterey Bay Chinese Association Monterey, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Lucile Packard Foundation Palo Alto, CA | General Support | $40,000 |
| Avenidas Palo Alto, CA | General Support | $7,500 |
| Outward Bound CA San Francisco, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| University of Illinois Champaign, IL | General Support for Scholarships | $5,000 |
| Uc Davis West Sacramento, CA | General Support for Scholarships | $5,000 |
| Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA | General Support for Scholarships | $5,000 |
| Cal State Monterey Bay Seaside, CA | General Support for Scholarships | $5,000 |
| Uc Regents Los Angeles, CA | General Support for Scholarships | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,482,480 | $10,899 | $267,052 | $221,818 | 53 | $252,981 | $243,287 | $226,464 |
| 2023 | $4,452,852 | $7,120 | $205,349 | $163,341 | 45 | $191,910 | $150,103 | $205,051 |
| 2022 | $4,362,956 | $802 | $175,593 | $141,628 | 47 | $167,024 | $474,728 | $215,618 |
| 2021 | $5,454,284 | $170,233 | $228,583 | $204,322 | 35 | $225,583 | $492,080 | $245,444 |
| 2020 | $4,595,107 | $1,387 | $114,940 | $81,800 | 22 | — | $247,719 | $220,016 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, CM Capital Foundation reported a distributable amount of $226K 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
The foundation’s purpose is to support charitable organizations and community projects and programs in education, healthcare, and the betterment of cultural, environmental, and economic conditions. Its website describes a scholarship for two Palo Alto high school students each year—one from Palo Alto High School and one from Gunn High School—and support for Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford, including a Chinese New Year’s Party, the Summer Scamper 10k Run, and the Child Life Program. It also describes annual matching of charitable gifts by C.M. Capital Corporation employees.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations whose stated missions span community services, culture, healthcare, and education. For example, Monterey Bay Chinese Association says it works to advance the social and economic well-being of Chinese Americans in the Monterey Bay area. Avenidas says it provides services and programs to help older adults remain active, engaged, and healthy. Contemporary Asian Theatre Scene says it presents Asian American and Pacific Islander performances in theater, music, arts, and film in Silicon Valley. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 53 grants totaling $221,818. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $50,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest awards included $50,000 each to Avenidas and Monterey Bay Chinese Association, and $40,000 to Lucile Packard Foundation. Other listed grants included $5,000 to Outward Bound CA and $5,000 each for general support for scholarships to the University of Illinois, UC Davis, Santa Clara University, an individual recipient Monterey Bay, UC Regents, and California State University Northridge.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John C. Couch, Lucia Cha, Susan Labicane, Elizabeth Hammack, Priscilla Chou, Selina Cha, and Bruce Madding as officers or directors. Lucia Cha is listed as president and director; Susan Labicane as executive director; Elizabeth Hammack as vice president and secretary, executive director; and Bruce Madding as chairman and director.
CM Capital Foundation is led by Elizabeth Hammack, Vice President, Secretary & Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth Hammack
Vice President, Secretary & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$21K (2020) → $21K (2024)
Lucia Cha
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Labicane
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Madding
Chairman & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John C. Couch
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Priscilla Chou
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Selina Cha
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kent Liu (2020–2022) — 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 $21K, to Elizabeth Hammack (VP & Sec, Exec DIR).
Frequently asked questions about CM Capital Foundation
How much does CM Capital Foundation give each year?
CM Capital Foundation gave $222K across 53 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $163K across 45 grants.
What is CM Capital Foundation's typical grant size?
CM Capital Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $4,185, across 53 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from CM Capital Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does CM Capital Foundation give grants?
CM Capital Foundation gives mostly in California: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Palo Alto, CA (10 grants), San Jose, CA (4 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and San Francisco, CA (3 grants).
Does CM Capital Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of CM Capital Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (53 of 53) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are CM Capital Foundation's largest grantees?
CM Capital Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Avenidas ($57,500 across 2 grants), Monterey Bay Chinese Association ($50,000) and Lucile Packard Foundation ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is CM Capital Foundation?
CM Capital Foundation reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $253K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $226K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does CM Capital Foundation fund?
The foundation’s purpose is to support charitable organizations and community projects and programs in education, healthcare, and the betterment of cultural, environmental, and economic conditions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from CM Capital Foundation?
The filing says applicants should contact Elizabeth Hammack and call to request a written application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is CM Capital Foundation's EIN?
CM Capital Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0583870. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in CM Capital Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). CM Capital Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cm-capital-foundation-morg_95af2d7f042c43a1b9404d3564acccf7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_770583870_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{CM Capital Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cm-capital-foundation-morg_95af2d7f042c43a1b9404d3564acccf7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 CM Capital 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.
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