Golden State Opportunity
Golden State Opportunity (GSO) is a San Francisco-based public charity working to end poverty by helping Californians build financial well-being. It supports statewide outreach and policy efforts focused on helping low-income families access tax credits and public benefits, achieve financial stability, and plan for the future.
Golden State Opportunity at a glance
In short: Golden State Opportunity gave $1.5M across 40 grants in 2024 (avg $37K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,475,000
- +18.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 40
- +25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $36,875
- -5.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $4,140,974
- +94.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Golden State Opportunity
- How to Apply
-
For the Community Connect program, submit the Request for Qualifications form; if it is reviewed, GSO will send a formal application.
- Review Cycle
- September 13 at 5:00 p.m. for the 2025 Community Connect RFQ.
- Deadline
- September 13 at 5:00 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: 345 California Street 600, San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (628) 210-5011
Website: https://goldenstateopportunity.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Golden State Opportunity funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mexican American Opportunity ($95K). Together the top 10 received $725K.
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 122 grants of 151 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
GSO describes its work as statewide in California and reports partnerships with more than 40 community-based organizations across the state. Its 2024 grant dollars went primarily to California recipients (98%), with 2% going to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.
Cities
How Golden State Opportunity 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $166K (2021) to $1.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 40 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mexican American Opportunity Montebello, CA | CALEITC4ME Campaign | $95,000 |
| Fdn for CA Community Colleges Sacramento, CA | CALEITC4ME Campaign | $77,000 |
| Jefferson Economic Dev Instit Mount Shasta, CA | CALEITC4ME Campaign | $76,250 |
| The Community College Foundat Sacramento, CA | CALEITC4ME Campaign | $75,000 |
| Central City NBHD Partners Los Angeles, CA | CALEITC4ME Campaign | $72,500 |
| Community Action Partnership San Bernardino, CA | CALEITC4ME Campaign | $70,000 |
| Haven Services Inc Los Angeles, CA | CalEITC4Me Campaign | $67,500 |
| Eastmont Community Center Los Angeles, CA | CALEITC4ME Campaign | $66,500 |
| El Centro De Ayuda Los Angeles, CA | CALEITC4ME Campaign | $66,250 |
| Dreams for Change Inc San Diego, CA | CALEITC4ME Campaign | $58,750 |
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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 | $4,140,974 | $8,136,295 | $6,707,808 | $1,475,000 | 40 | $16,346 |
| 2023 | $2,124,935 | $7,622,712 | $8,267,336 | $1,241,950 | 32 | — |
| 2022 | $4,253,037 | $8,889,306 | $7,098,815 | $1,157,200 | 32 | — |
| 2021 | $1,052,316 | $5,527,215 | $5,472,391 | $166,335 | 9 | — |
| 2020 | $1,019,966 | $3,711,235 | $4,669,039 | $1,004,800 | 38 | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
GSO’s stated mission is to end poverty by providing all Californians with tools to build financial well-being and thrive. Its work includes campaigns to increase access to the California and federal Earned Income Tax Credits, the California Young Child Tax Credit, the federal Child Tax Credit, and other public benefits. GSO also describes policy advocacy and systemic change as part of its work.
Through its Community Connect program, GSO partners with community-based organizations to reach people often missed by traditional outreach. The program includes outreach for tax credits, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number applications and renewals, and free tax preparation assistance. GSO provides partners with outreach materials, staff training, event support, and translation services.
The grantees’ own missions illustrate the range of community organizations supported. Haven Services, which received $67,500 in 2024, says it provides no-cost financial education and services to vulnerable communities. Dreams for Change, which received $58,750, says it creates programs to empower and stabilize underserved families and individuals. Eastmont Community Center, which received $66,500, describes its work as supporting a thriving community through empowerment, social services, and programs that advance civic, social, and economic well-being.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, GSO reported 40 grants totaling $1,475,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $95,000, with a median of $30,000. The largest listed awards included $95,000 to Mexican American Opportunity, $77,000 to the Foundation for California Community Colleges, and $76,250 to Jefferson Economic Development Institute; each was designated for the CalEITC4Me campaign. Other notable awards included $75,000 to The Community College Foundation and $72,500 to Central City Neighborhood Partners, also for that campaign.
GSO’s 2025 Community Connect Request for Qualifications describes a process in which organizations first submit an RFQ; after review, GSO sends a formal application. The 2024–2025 program announcement says participating community-based organizations received grants to connect low-income workers and families with tax credits, ITIN assistance, and free tax preparation. GSO says grantees report on impact and progress toward grant metrics and must return unused funds at the end of the grant period.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Amy Everitt as President; Esperanza Greenwood as CCPAO/Assistant Secretary; Lindsay Cooper Martin as COO/Assistant Treasurer; Aryeh Breakstone as Director of Development; Ryan Scholl as Department Director of IC; and Joe Sanberg as Founder/Chair. It also lists Ana Grande as Secretary, Cynthia Guerrero as Treasurer, and Michael P. Meehan and Darrell Peeden as Board Members.
Golden State Opportunity is led by Amy Everitt, President on every filing since 2020; 5 of 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Amy Everitt
President
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$258K (2020) → $314K (2024)
Joe Sanberg
Founder & Chair
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aryeh Breakstone
Director of Development
Development Director → Dept Director of Development, 2023
Dept Director of Development → Director of Development, 2024
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$118K (2020) → $162K (2024)
Ryan Scholl
Dept Director of Ic
New on the 2024 filing
50 hrs/week
$109K (2024)
Esperanza Greenwood
Ccpao & Assistant Secretary
Communications & Marketing Director → Director Com & Assistant Se, 2023
Director Com & Assistant Se → Ccpao & Assistant Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$160K (2022) → $172K (2024)
Lindsay Cooper Martin
COO & Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$144K (2023) → $172K (2024)
Cynthia Guerrero
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ana Grande
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angelo Farooq
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Jealous
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darrell A. Peeden
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael P Meehan
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gabrielle Hedlund
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Carmen Chang (2022–2023) — Director of Programs & Organizing
- Former: Sabrina De Santiago (2022–2023) — Senior Director of Policy
- Former: Jen Dodd (2023) — Deputy Director of Programs
- Former: Robin Engle (2023) — Head of Development
- Former: Joseph N. Sanberg (2020–2022) — Board Chair
- Former: Laura Capps (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Daniel Vasquez (2022) — Operations Director
- Former: Jennifer Webber (2021) — Communications & Marketing Director
- Former: Alejandra Campoverdi (2020) — Former Secretary
- Former: Sandra Lyon (2020) — Vice President
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 $314K, to Amy Everitt (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Golden State Opportunity
How much does Golden State Opportunity give each year?
Golden State Opportunity gave $1.5M across 40 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 32 grants.
What is Golden State Opportunity's typical grant size?
Golden State Opportunity's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $36,875, across 40 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Golden State Opportunity give grants?
Golden State Opportunity gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (10 grants), Riverside, CA (3 grants), Fresno, CA (3 grants) and San Francisco, CA (3 grants).
Does Golden State Opportunity give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 40 grants with a stated purpose on Golden State Opportunity's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "CALEITC4ME Campaign" (40 grants).
Who are Golden State Opportunity's largest grantees?
Golden State Opportunity's largest 2024 grantees include Mexican American Opportunity ($95,000), Fdn for CA Community Colleges ($77,000) and Jefferson Economic Dev Instit ($76,250), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Golden State Opportunity?
Golden State Opportunity reported $4.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.1M.
What does Golden State Opportunity fund?
GSO’s stated mission is to end poverty by providing all Californians with tools to build financial well-being and thrive. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Golden State Opportunity?
For the Community Connect program, submit the Request for Qualifications form; if it is reviewed, GSO will send a formal application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Golden State Opportunity funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/golden-state-opportunity-morg_6c98fa8e12b54615ab2b7c0ad263c2c6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_474325738_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Golden State Opportunity funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/golden-state-opportunity-morg_6c98fa8e12b54615ab2b7c0ad263c2c6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Golden State Opportunity'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.
Golden State Opportunity down — hundreds of funders to go?