Community Initiatives
Community Initiatives is a comprehensive fiscal sponsor organization based in Oakland, California, serving as a thought partner and professional services provider to nonprofit projects, startups, networks, and collaborations. Operating for over 30 years, the organization takes on legal and fiduciary responsibility for approximately 100 unincorporated nonprofit projects across diverse issue areas and geographic regions.
Key facts about Community Initiatives
- EIN
- 94-3255070
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $23,113,936
- Grants made (2025)
- 101
- Average grant
- $228,851
- Median grant
- $19,779
- New grantees (estimate)
- 69% first-time grantees (69 of 100, 2025)
- Total assets
- $75,263,317
- Primary geography
- California (90% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Community Initiatives funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Community Initiatives's 101 itemized 2025 grants were California (90%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (6 grants), New York, NY (4 grants), Los Angeles, CA (2 grants) and Lowell, MA (2 grants). None of its 101 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Programming" (37 grants), "Support for Openscied (Ose) Programming Grant" (11 grants) and "Exited Project Grant Disbursement" (6 grants).
Is Community Initiatives open to new grantees?
69%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 69 of 100 grantees (69%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $51K; repeat grants $631K. How we count
Medians: $17K first-time, $30K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Community Initiatives
- How to evaluate Community Initiatives as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Community Initiatives with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$75.3M
+1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$23.1M
+133.9% YoY
Grant Count
101
+20.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$229K
+94.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Community Initiatives advances the creation of a more vibrant, innovative, and effective nonprofit sector by sponsoring projects for the benefit of communities in service to social change.
Core Values: The organization is dedicated to providing best-in-class infrastructure for nonprofit leaders, freeing advocates from administrative burdens so they can remain energized and centered on the people they serve.
Program Areas: Community Initiatives' fiscally sponsored projects work across multiple sectors including:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Environment
- Health
- Human services
- Public affairs
- Social justice
Grantmaking
Community Initiatives manages philanthropic relationships with approximately 400 institutional donors and processes over 6,800 cash donations and 350 grants annually. The organization provides financial oversight to ensure responsible management of grant revenues and compliance with donor requirements.
Grant Range
** Typical awards range from $5,022 to $3,837,743.
Ready to take the next step with Community Initiatives?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Community Initiatives primarily funds projects in California, Massachusetts, and New York, though their fiscally sponsored projects work in diverse geographic areas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 101 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $74,356,841
- Total Revenue: $77,611,739
- Total Expenses: $68,349,743
- Total Liabilities: $7,400,000
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) public foundation; tax-exempt since May 1997; EIN: 94-3255070
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $75,263,317 | $74,356,841 | $56,232,715 |
| Revenue | $86,764,695 | $77,611,739 | $59,435,734 |
| Expenses | $89,142,542 | $68,349,743 | $55,372,330 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,414,427 | $1,824,054 | $762,255 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
423 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include House of Victory Foundation ($16,725,249), Bulldog Bread Foundation ($1,170,500), Feather River Land Trust ($1,136,271).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HOUSE OF VICTORY FOUNDATION Los Angeles, CA | SUPPORT FOR PROMOTING AND FOSTERING CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES INCLUDING PUBLIC SPEAKING AND ATHLETIC CAMPS, UTILIZING THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF STUDENT-ATHLETES AND PROVIDES A FORUM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO GROW AND DEVELOP IN THEIR AREAS OF PASSION WHILE EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF CHARITABLE AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. | $16,725,249 |
| BULLDOG BREAD FOUNDATION Fresno, CA | TO SUPPORT CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES AND ACTIVITIES | $1,170,500 |
| FEATHER RIVER LAND TRUST Quincy, CA | SUPPORT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF VISITOR AND MAINTENANCE FACILITIES AT THE NORTH ENTRANCE OF THE SIERRA VALLEY PRESERVE, AN AREA OF LAND OWNED BY GRANTEE FOR PRESERVATION PURPOSES, IN ORDER TO BETTER ENABLE FREE PUBLIC ACCESS TO AND EXPLORATION OF SUCH LANDS | $1,136,271 |
| BOARDDEV CORPORATION New York, NY | SUPPORT TO BUILD TECH CAPACITY IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR | $413,250 |
| IMMIGRANTS RISING San Francisco, CA | EXITED PROJECT GRANT DISBURSEMENT | $362,705 |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY Sacramento, CA | TO SUPPORT THE WILDFIRE RESILIENT LANDSCAPES AND COMMUNITIES PROJECT, A COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND COALITION-BUILDING EFFORT TO EXPAND WILDFIRE RESILIENCE IN CALIFORNIA. | $250,392 |
| EXYGY INC San Francisco, CA | TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER PUBLIC BENEFIT PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT LOW INCOME, MARGINALIZED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO BECOME HIGHLY CONTRIBUTING AND SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPANTS IN AN EQUITABLE SOCIETY. | $199,500 |
| THE CARPENTRIES INC Davis, CA | EXITED PROJECT GRANT DISBURSEMENT | $164,992 |
| SHIFT PROJECT LTD New York, NY | SUPPORT FOR WORK RELATED TO THE TASKFORCE ON INEQUALITY AND SOCIAL-RELATED FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES | $146,400 |
| GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPACE INC New York, NY | SUPPORT TO TRAIN HIGH-POTENTIAL ADULTS WITH BARRIERS TO EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT AND SECURE THEM EMPLOYMENT IN HIGH-WAGE, HIGH-GROWTH JOBS IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY. | $144,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara Rhomberg | Chair | 1 | — |
| Dee Dee Mendoza | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Maya Tussing | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Mary Ann Fake | Director | 1 | — |
| Casey Budesilich | Director | 1 | — |
| Abbas Moloo | Director | 1 | — |
| Sharon C Lincoln | Director | 1 | — |
| Diana Villalta | Director | 1 | — |
| Ruth Williams | CEO | 40 | $441,638 |
| Mamie Funahashi | CFO (From 1/13/2025) | 40 | $276,601 |
| Carl Taibl | CFO (Through 12/31/2024) | 40 | $273,135 |
| Kathleen Bolts | VP of Client Services | 40 | $189,901 |
| David McGee | Sr. VP HR & Operations | 40 | $253,212 |
| Samantha Tran | Executive DIR.,CAL Policy | 40 | $266,452 |
| Julie Dorf | Executive Dir., CNL. for Global Eq. | 40 | $230,991 |
| Lucy Blake | PRESIDENT,NPS | 40 | $232,960 |
| Mark Bromley | Council Chair, Council for Global Eq | 40 | $216,492 |
| Hedy Chang | Executive DIR.,ATTENDANCE | 40 | $206,341 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Community Initiatives fund?
**Mission:** Community Initiatives advances the creation of a more vibrant, innovative, and effective nonprofit sector by sponsoring projects for the benefit of communities in service to social change. **Core Values:** The organization is dedicated to providing best-in-class infrastructure for nonprofit leaders, freeing advocates from administrative burdens so they can remain energized and centered on the people they serve. **Program Areas:** Community Initiatives' fiscally sponsored projects w…
How do I apply for a grant from Community Initiatives?
Community Initiatives manages philanthropic relationships with approximately 400 institutional donors and processes over 6,800 cash donations and 350 grants annually. The organization provides financial oversight to ensure responsible management of grant revenues and compliance with donor requirements. **Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $5,022 to $3,837,743. **Total Giving (2024):** $11,929,513
Where does Community Initiatives make grants?
Community Initiatives primarily funds projects in California, Massachusetts, and New York, though their fiscally sponsored projects work in diverse geographic areas.
What size grants does Community Initiatives award?
In 2025, Community Initiatives awarded 101 grants totaling $23.1M — an average of about $229K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Community Initiatives's EIN?
Community Initiatives's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3255070. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.