Common Counsel Foundation
Common Counsel Foundation is a public charity based in Oakland, California, founded in 1988. It supports social justice movements through direct grantmaking, philanthropic advising, fiscal sponsorship, and operational support for movement organizations. Its website describes its work as national and not limited by geographic boundaries.
Common Counsel Foundation at a glance
In short: Common Counsel Foundation gave $101.2M across 621 grants in 2024 (avg $163K), top state Maryland. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $101,213,479
- +179.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 621
- +37.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $162,985
- +103.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $67,481,943
- -52.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Maryland (37% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Common Counsel Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 1624 Franklin Street 11Th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 834-2995
Website: https://commoncounsel.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Common Counsel Foundation
Fund for an Inclusive California
Common Counsel Foundation
Amount
$256,000 - $600,000+
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grassroots Exchange Fund
Common Counsel Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Native Voices Rising
Common Counsel Foundation
Amount
$10,000 - $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Common Counsel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Impactassetsinc ($37.2M). Together the top 10 received $67.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
2,369 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,792 grants of 2,369 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes itself as a national social justice organization without geographic bounds. Its Grassroots Exchange Fund has national scope, with emphasis on frontline organizations and grassroots movements. The Fund for an Inclusive California and the Community Ownership for Community Power Fund focus on California. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Maryland (37%), Georgia (17%), California (15%), Massachusetts (8%), and New York (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 621 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Common Counsel Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.9M (2019) to $101.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 621 grants totaling $101.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Impactassetsinc Bethesda, MD | Fund Closeout | $37,233,011 |
| Movement 4 Black Lives Inc Lawrenceville, GA | Fund Closeout | $15,817,927 |
| Native Land Conservancy Inc Mashpee, MA | General Support | $4,000,000 |
| The Accomplis Collective Inc New York, NY | 80 ACRES | $2,500,000 |
| Neo Philanthropy Inc New York, NY | Cypress Fund | $1,500,000 |
| Resist Boston, MA | Northeast Farmers of Color Network | $1,100,000 |
| Ekvnv Yefolecvlke Weogufka, AL | General Support | $1,000,000 |
| Freedom Org Rocky MT, NC | General Support | $1,000,000 |
| Lighthouse Holyoke Holyoke, MA | Building Purchase Project | $1,000,000 |
| Social Good Fund Richmond, CA | Braiding Seeds Fellowship | $1,000,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $67,481,943 | $51,414,712 | $126,096,528 | $101,213,479 | 621 | $3,318,148 |
| 2023 | $141,024,064 | $102,103,417 | $58,024,164 | $36,186,619 | 451 | $2,017,944 |
| 2022 | $97,359,062 | $54,978,381 | $54,119,812 | $33,918,471 | 458 | $511,751 |
| 2021 | $96,797,040 | $85,692,119 | $32,200,833 | $14,982,915 | 406 | $14,268 |
| 2020 | $40,793,744 | $41,302,609 | $13,228,031 | $9,620,562 | 433 | $78,533 |
| 2019 | $12,395,528 | $8,852,562 | $16,366,674 | $3,904,623 | 1 | $99,195 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Common Counsel Foundation states that it advances equity and environmental health through direct grantmaking and strategic philanthropic advising, and manages projects focused on organizational development, leadership sustainability, and donor education. Its stated grantmaking principles include investing in community leadership and supporting collaboration through shared campaigns and long-term alliances.
The foundation says it partners with organizations led by communities marginalized by systems of oppression. It reports that 75% of its nonprofit partners are majority people of color and 50% are led by people of color and people with direct connection to their work. Its website says 80% of its grants provide general operating support, with the remainder supporting capacity building or programs.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate varied work. Native Land Conservancy describes its mission as conserving land and protecting natural and cultural resources. Movement 4 Black Lives says it equips Black and marginalized communities with resources, policy power, and leadership. The Accomplis Collective describes work to heal Native and Black communities from economic and environmental injustice through restorative capital and cultural reclamation.
Grantmaking
The 2024 filing lists 621 grants totaling $101,213,479, with a median grant of $30,000 and amounts ranging from $5,190 to $37,233,011. Separately, the organization’s filing narrative says it made just over $48 million in grants through direct grantmaking in 2024; these are distinct reported figures.
The largest listed 2024 grants included $37,233,011 to ImpactAssets Inc. for “Fund Closeout” and $15,817,927 to Movement 4 Black Lives Inc. for “Fund Closeout.” Other listed grants included $4 million to Native Land Conservancy Inc. for general support, $2.5 million to The Accomplis Collective Inc. for “80 Acres,” and $1.5 million to NEO Philanthropy Inc. for the Cypress Fund.
The Grassroots Exchange Fund is described as a rapid-response small-grants program supporting networking and collaboration among grassroots social change organizations. Its guidelines describe a typical grant of $1,000 and eligibility for 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored projects with annual expenses under $1 million; organizations are eligible for one grant per year. The guidelines prioritize community organizing and work toward social, racial, economic, or environmental policy change. Native Voices Rising provides general operating support to Native-led grassroots groups with a community membership base, leadership development, and collective action. The foundation’s website also describes the Fund for an Inclusive California, focused on housing justice and racial and economic equity, and the Community Ownership for Community Power Fund, focused on community ownership of real estate, land, and housing in California.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Chandra Alexandre, PhD, as chair; Garrett Collins as treasurer; and Ed Sungkyu Lee as secretary. It also lists Carly Bad Heart Bull and Vanessa Moses as trustees, Sangeeta Chowdhry as executive director, Philip Smith as chief finance officer, Sarah Gort as managing director of CCF, Jazmin Segura Moctezuma as director of the Fund for an Inclusive California, and Amara Enyia as interim senior communications director.
Common Counsel Foundation is led by Sangeeta Chowdhry, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 11 of 16 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sangeeta Chowdhry
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$126K (2023) → $306K (2024)
Chandra Alexandre PhD
Chair
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Gort
Managing Director- Ccf
Managing Director → Managing Director- Ccf, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$149K (2021) → $209K (2024)
Karissa Lewis
Innovation Labs Director & Membership
Field & Organizing Executive Lead → Innovation Labs Director & Membership, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$134K (2021) → $240K (2024)
Jazmin Segura Moctezuma
Director & Fund for An Inclusive California
Director & Fund for An Inclusive Ca → Director & Fund for An Inclusive California, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$192K (2022) → $200K (2024)
Ronnie Goines
Director of Resource Strategy
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$159K (2022) → $165K (2024)
Christen Lee
Director of Grant Management & Learning
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$157K (2023) → $165K (2024)
Amara Enyia
Interim Senior Communications Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$174K (2024)
Chelsea Fuller
Interim Senior Communications Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$190K (2024)
Carly Bad Heart Bull
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vanessa Moses
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip Smith
Chief Finance Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$151K (2021) → $209K (2024)
Mary Hooks
National Field Secretary
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$145K (2022) → $150K (2024)
Celeste Faison
Polit. Strategy & Campaigns Executive Lead
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$153K (2023) → $158K (2024)
Ed Sungkyu Lee
Secretary
Trustee → Director, 2021
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Garrett Collins
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Alex Tom (2019–2023) — Chair
- Former: Carly Hare (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: China Ching (2019–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Denis Quirin (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Vanessa Daniel (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Allistair Mallillin (2022–2023) — Director of Strategy & Asset Building
- Former: M. Adams (2022–2023) — Operations & Infrastructure Executive Lead
- Former: Carla Nunn (2023) — Director of Finance & Operations
- Former: Caroline Luzze (2023) — Director of People & Culture
- Former: Peggy Saika (2020–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Shanelle Matthew (2021–2022) — Communications Director
- Former: Sahar Driver (2022) — Co-Director & The Color Congress
- Former: Sonya Childress (2022) — Co-Director & The Color Congress
- Former: Michelle Natividad Rodriguez (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Jennifer Ponder (2021) — Technology Director
- Former: Pamela Harris (2021) — Finance & Operations Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $306K, to Sangeeta Chowdhry (Executive Director). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Common Counsel Foundation
How much does Common Counsel Foundation give each year?
Common Counsel Foundation gave $101.2M across 621 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $36.2M across 451 grants.
What is Common Counsel Foundation's typical grant size?
Common Counsel Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $162,985, across 621 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Common Counsel Foundation give grants?
Common Counsel Foundation's top state is Maryland, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Georgia (17%) and California (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (45 grants), Oakland, CA (36 grants), Washington, DC (23 grants) and New York, NY (19 grants).
Does Common Counsel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 57% of Common Counsel Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (353 of 621) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Black Capture Award" (10 grants), "Fund Closeout" (4 grants) and "North Carolina Black Leadership and Organizing Collective" (4 grants).
Who are Common Counsel Foundation's largest grantees?
Common Counsel Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Impactassetsinc ($37,233,011), Movement 4 Black Lives Inc ($15,817,927) and Native Land Conservancy Inc ($4,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Common Counsel Foundation?
Common Counsel Foundation reported $67.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $51.4M.
What does Common Counsel Foundation fund?
Common Counsel Foundation states that it advances equity and environmental health through direct grantmaking and strategic philanthropic advising, and manages projects focused on organizational development, leadership sustainability, and donor education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Common Counsel Foundation?
Common Counsel Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check commoncounsel.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
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 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Common Counsel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Common Counsel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/common-counsel-foundation-morg_92b222a7d3f547c3a8555fc908b3b4ca
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_943214166_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Common Counsel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/common-counsel-foundation-morg_92b222a7d3f547c3a8555fc908b3b4ca},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. 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 Common Counsel 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.
Common Counsel Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?