Golden State Opportunity (GSO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California, dedicated to ending poverty by empowering Californians with financial tools to build financial well-being and thrive. The organization was established in 2015 and received its IRS ruling in 2016.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.1M
+94.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+18.8% YoY
Grant Count
40
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$37K
-5.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Golden State Opportunity's mission is to end poverty by providing all Californians with the tools to build financial well-being and thrive. The organization leads comprehensive statewide campaigns to help families access public benefits, achieve financial stability, and plan for the future through programs that uplift low-income Californians.
GSO's primary initiative is CalEITC4Me, a statewide outreach campaign that encourages low-income Californians to claim the State's earned income tax credit as well as the federal earned income tax credit. The organization recognizes that federal and state earned income tax credits are among the most important poverty reduction programs in existence, yet many Californians remain unaware of these resources.
The organization operates along two complementary tracks: providing immediate assistance to people in need and building infrastructure to change attitudes toward people living in poverty and the policies that perpetuate it.
Grantmaking
GSO makes grants to support its mission and work. Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024), the organization distributed $1,475,000 in total giving, with typical awards ranging from $6,000 to $148,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
GSO operates statewide across California through partnerships with 40+ community-based organizations led by trusted community messengers. The organization's work is culturally relevant and reaches millions of low-income Californians through outreach in thirteen languages. The organization also has some activity in the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $4,140,974
- Total Revenue: $8,136,295
- Total Expenses: $6,707,808
- Number of Employees: 36
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $2.12M
- Total Revenue: $7.62M
- Total Expenses: $8.27M
- Total Liabilities: $136k
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,140,974 | $2,124,935 | $4,253,037 |
| Revenue | $8,136,295 | $7,622,712 | $8,889,306 |
| Expenses | $6,707,808 | $8,267,336 | $7,098,815 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $16,346 | — | — |
| 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
151 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mexican American Opportunity ($95,000), Fdn for Ca Community Colleges ($77,000), Jefferson Economic Dev Instit ($76,250).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Antelope Valley Partners Lancaster, CA | CALEITC4ME CAMPAIGN | $43,750 |
| Asian Youth Center San Gabriel, CA | CALEITC4ME CAMPAIGN | $15,000 |
| Barrio Action Youth Center Los Angeles, CA | CALEITC4ME CAMPAIGN | $48,750 |
| Bill Wilson Center Santa Clara, CA | CALEITC4ME CAMPAIGN | $15,000 |
| Black Women for Wellness Los Angeles, CA | CALEITC4ME CAMPAIGN | $15,000 |
| Bresee Foundation Los Angeles, CA | CALEITC4ME CAMPAIGN | $15,000 |
| CENTRAL CITY NBHD PARTNERS Los Angeles, CA | CALEITC4ME CAMPAIGN | $72,500 |
| Central Valley Partnership Fresno, CA | CALEITC4ME CAMPAIGN | $15,000 |
| Coalition for Resp Comm Dev Los Angeles, CA | CALEITC4ME CAMPAIGN | $40,000 |
| COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP San Bernardino, CA | CALEITC4ME CAMPAIGN | $70,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Amy Everitt serves as President of Golden State Opportunity.
Ari Breakstone is the Deputy Director of Development.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Everitt | President | 50 | $313,940 |
| Esperanza Greenwood | CCPAO/Asst Secy | 50 | $171,940 |
| Lindsay Cooper Martin | COO/ASST TREAS | 50 | $171,940 |
| Aryeh Breakstone | Director of Development | 50 | $161,940 |
| Ryan Scholl | Dept Dir of IC | 50 | $109,062 |
| Joe Sanberg | Founder/Chair | 1 | — |
| Ana Grande | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Cynthia Guerrero | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Michael P Meehan | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Darrell Peeden | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Gabrielle Hedlund | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Angelo Farooq | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Ben Jealous | Board Member | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 345 California Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94104-2657
Phone: 628-210-5011
Website: www.goldenstateopportunity.org
EIN: 47-4325738
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Golden State Opportunity fund?
Golden State Opportunity's mission is to end poverty by providing all Californians with the tools to build financial well-being and thrive. The organization leads comprehensive statewide campaigns to help families access public benefits, achieve financial stability, and plan for the future through programs that uplift low-income Californians. GSO's primary initiative is CalEITC4Me, a statewide outreach campaign that encourages low-income Californians to claim the State's earned income tax credi…
How do I apply for a grant from Golden State Opportunity?
GSO makes grants to support its mission and work. Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024), the organization distributed $1,475,000 in total giving, with typical awards ranging from $6,000 to $148,000.
Where does Golden State Opportunity make grants?
GSO operates statewide across California through partnerships with 40+ community-based organizations led by trusted community messengers. The organization's work is culturally relevant and reaches millions of low-income Californians through outreach in thirteen languages. The organization also has some activity in the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Golden State Opportunity award?
In 2024, Golden State Opportunity awarded 40 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $37K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Golden State Opportunity's EIN?
Golden State Opportunity's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4325738. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Golden State Opportunity's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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