Common Counsel Foundation
Common Counsel Foundation is a progressive social justice foundation and philanthropic services organization based in Oakland, California. Founded in 1988, the organization advances equity and environmental health through direct grantmaking, strategic philanthropic advising, fiscal sponsorship, and capacity-building initiatives. The foundation serves as both a direct grantmaker and advisor to independent foundations and individual donors, supporting grassroots movements and community-led organizations working toward systemic change.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$67.5M
-52.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$101.2M
+179.7% YoY
Grant Count
621
+37.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$163K
+103.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Common Counsel Foundation mobilizes resources to support social movements as drivers of progressive social change. The organization believes that community-based organizations closest to the ground have the richest understanding of cumulative impacts of oppression and the multiple layers of change necessary to transform communities and society.
Core Principles:
- Investment in community leadership to advance meaningful solutions to critical social, economic, and ecological challenges
- Support for organizations led by low-income people, people of color (particularly Black-led organizing), women, and LGBTQ communities that incorporate intersectional analysis
- Promotion of increased collaboration through shared campaigns and long-term alliances
- Trust-based grantmaking with 80% of grants providing general operating support rather than restricted project funding
Focus Areas:
- Social justice and equity
- Environmental health
- Community organizing and grassroots movements
- Policy and narrative change
- Systems change addressing oppression
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$300 to $100,000
Average Grant
approximately $81,000 (varies significantly by program)
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Common Counsel Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primarily California, with national reach for specific programs. The foundation operates as a national social justice organization not defined or contained by geographic bounds.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $67,481,943
- Total revenues: $51,414,712
- Total expenses: $126,096,528
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $141,024,064
- Total giving: $36,896,151
- Annual revenue: $102,103,417
Staffing:
- 86 employees (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $67,481,943 | $141,024,064 | $97,359,062 |
| Revenue | $51,414,712 | $102,103,417 | $54,978,381 |
| Expenses | $126,096,528 | $58,024,164 | $54,119,812 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $3,318,148 | $2,017,944 | $511,751 |
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Common Counsel Foundation
Fund for an Inclusive California
COMMON COUNSEL FOUNDATION
Amount
$256,000 - $600,000+
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grassroots Exchange Fund
COMMON COUNSEL FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Native Voices Rising
COMMON COUNSEL FOUNDATION
Amount
$10,000 - $30,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc ($719,900), Arise Inc ($250,000), A Sacred Passing Death Midwifery & Community Edu ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A SACRED PASSING DEATH MIDWIFERY & COMMUNITY EDU SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| ACCE INSTITUTE LOS ANGELES, CA | HOUSING NOW! CALIFORNIA | $60,000 |
| ACCE INSTITUTE LOS ANGELES, CA | HOUSING NOW! CALIFORNIA | $20,000 |
| ACCE INSTITUTE LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ACCESS PHILANTHROPY CHARITIES MINNEAPOLIS, MN | ASIAN AMERICAN ORGANIZING PROJECT | $30,000 |
| ACCESS PHILANTHROPY CHARITIES MINNEAPOLIS, MN | ASIAN AMERICAN ORGANIZING PROJECT | $50,000 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES, CA | INLAND REGION HOUSING JUSTICE COALITION | $25,000 |
| ACTION ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ACTION ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $85,000 |
| ACTION ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $71,429 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Edward Lee: Interim Executive Director (joined October 2025)
- Steve Kimball: President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHANDRA ALEXANDRE PHD | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| GARRETT COLLINS | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ED SUNGKYU LEE | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| CARLY BAD HEART BULL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| VANESSA MOSES | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SANGEETA CHOWDHRY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $306,300 |
| PHILIP SMITH | CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER | 40 | $208,688 |
| SARAH GORT | MANAGING DIRECTOR- CCF | 40 | $208,688 |
| JAZMIN SEGURA MOCTEZUMA | DIRECTOR, FUND FOR AN INCLUSIVE CALIFORNIA | 40 | $200,275 |
| AMARA ENYIA | INTERIM SR COMMUNICATIONS DIR | 40 | $174,000 |
| CHRISTEN LEE | DIRECTOR OF GRANT MGMT. AND LEARNING | 40 | $164,745 |
| KARISSA LEWIS | INNOVATION LABS DIRECTOR, MEMBERSHIP | 40 | $239,991 |
| CHELSEA FULLER | INTERIM SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR | 40 | $190,000 |
| RONNIE GOINES | DIRECTOR OF RESOURCE STRATEGY | 40 | $164,729 |
| MARY HOOKS | NATIONAL FIELD SECRETARY | 40 | $150,000 |
| CELESTE FAISON | POLIT. STRATEGY/CAMPAIGNS EXEC. LEAD | 40 | $158,092 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Native Voices Rising:** A fiscally sponsored project of Common Counsel Foundation in partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy, designed to support organizing, advocacy, and civic engagement in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. Recent grants include $4 million to Indigenous advocacy groups and $3.5 million to Native-led grassroots efforts.
Fund for an Inclusive California Awards $2 Million to Strengthen ...**Fund for an Inclusive California:** Awarded $2 million to strengthen housing justice movement and critical response efforts.
Fund for an Inclusive California Awards $2 Million to Strengthen ...Contact Information
Address: 1624 Franklin Street, Suite 1022, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 834-2995
Email: [email protected]
Website: commoncounsel.org
Donor Services: donorservices@commoncounsel.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Common Counsel Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Common Counsel Foundation mobilizes resources to support social movements as drivers of progressive social change. The organization believes that community-based organizations closest to the ground have the richest understanding of cumulative impacts of oppression and the multiple layers of change necessary to transform communities and society. **Core Principles:** • Investment in community leadership to advance meaningful solutions to critical social, economic, and ecological chal…
How do I apply for a grant from Common Counsel Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2023-2024):** • Annual giving: $48 million (2023) • Number of grants: 453 awards (2023) • Number of nonprofit partners: 225 (2023) • Grant range: $300 to $100,000 • Average grant size: approximately $81,000 (varies significantly by program) **Grant Types:** • Direct grantmaking to charitable organizations • General operating support (80% of grants) • Project-specific funding • Multi-year funding through collaborative initiatives **Application Process:** • Grant portal availabl…
Where does Common Counsel Foundation make grants?
Primarily California, with national reach for specific programs. The foundation operates as a national social justice organization not defined or contained by geographic bounds.
What size grants does Common Counsel Foundation award?
In 2024, Common Counsel Foundation awarded 621 grants totaling $101.2M — an average of about $163K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Common Counsel Foundation's EIN?
Common Counsel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3214166. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Common Counsel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Tides Foundation
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Assets
$534.5M
Grants
2,110
Total Given
$382.1M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Impactassetsinc
BETHESDA, MD
Assets
$3.0B
Grants
2,733
Total Given
$580.1M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
New Venture Fund
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$624.9M
Grants
854
Total Given
$359.6M
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$891.5M
Grants
1,153
Total Given
$275.0M
The California Endowment
LOS ANGELES, CA
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,125
Total Given
$215.9M
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$361.1M
Grants
1,134
Total Given
$165.7M
NEO Philanthropy Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$185.6M
Grants
558
Total Given
$103.5M
Network for Good
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$96.2M
Grants
4,733
Total Given
$216.2M
The Schmidt Family Foundation
PALO ALTO, CA
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
695
Total Given
$185.4M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Common Counsel Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Common Counsel Foundation to a real strategy.