The California Endowment is California's largest private health foundation, established in 1996 through the conversion of Blue Cross of California. Based in Los Angeles, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation dedicated to advancing health equity and improving health outcomes across California.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5B
+3.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$215.9M
+11.5% YoY
Grant Count
1,125
+9.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$192K
+2.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The California Endowment reported a distributable amount of $202.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The California Endowment's mission is to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians.
The organization's approach emphasizes transforming systemic "rules"—laws, policies, and institutions—rather than focusing solely on individual interventions. The foundation believes that health is shaped by neighborhood environments, schools, and communities, not only by medical care.
Key Focus Areas:
- Dental health
- Community health
- School health
- Wellness and healthy living
- Health equity and racial justice
- Social justice strategies including advocacy, community organizing, and civic engagement
The foundation has committed to allocating the majority of its grantmaking dollars to marginalized communities and at least 25 percent to social justice strategies.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $15,000 to $13,000,000
Invitation Only
** Invitation only
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Statewide California with emphasis on four large regions. The foundation prioritizes funding in underserved communities throughout the state.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $4,457,765,886 (2024)
Total Giving: $141,467,127 (2024)
Annual Giving: $215.9 million (2024)
Total Revenues: $126,040,863 (2024)
Total Expenses: $243,040,147 (2024)
Number of Employees: 151 (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,453,417,123 | $4,318,845,356 | $4,754,305,382 |
| Revenue | $126,040,863 | $361,897,588 | $461,745,846 |
| Expenses | $243,040,147 | $417,921,219 | $212,888,822 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $291,243,966 | $265,963,863 | $220,958,549 |
| Net Investment Income | $111,936,608 | $128,113,723 | $378,123,057 |
| Distributable Amount | $201,969,481 | $204,334,747 | $220,404,381 |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Acce Institute ($1,600,000), Action Council of Monterey County Inc ($1,100,000), Alianza Coachella Valley ($700,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A NEW WAY OF LIFE REENTRY PROJECT LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT: TO SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATION THAT EMPOWERS, ORGANIZES AND MOBILIZES FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY AS ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AND PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES. | $150,000 |
| ACCE INSTITUTE LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT: TO SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, POWER BUILDING AND ADVOCACY TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF LOW-INCOME AND WORKING FAMILIES IN CALIFORNIA. | $300,000 |
| ACCE INSTITUTE LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT: TO SUPPORT A MULTI-ISSUE, INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP-BASED POWER BUILDING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THAT FIGHTS FOR GRASSROOTS-LED, TRANSFORMATIVE COMMUNITY CHANGE TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY ACROSS CALIFORNIA. | $1,600,000 |
| ACCE INSTITUTE LOS ANGELES, CA | HOUSING NOW! - ADVOCATING FOR HOUSING JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY HEALTH: TO PROMOTE HEALTH THROUGH INCREASING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMBATING THE DISPLACEMENT CRISIS THAT IS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN CALIFORNIA. | $100,000 |
| ACCESS HUMBOLDT EUREKA, CA | PROMOTING COMMUNITY HEALTH THROUGH INFORMATION: TO EXPAND A YOUTH MEDIA HUB TO BUILD YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY HEALTH ON THE NORTH COAST OF CALIFORNIA. | $125,000 |
| ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT: TO SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATION THAT REMOVES BARRIERS TO SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND BUILDS THE POWER OF CALIFORNIANS TO DEMAND HEALTH, JUSTICE AND DIGNITY. | $30,000 |
| ACCESS YOUTH ACADEMY SAN DIEGO, CA | SUPPORTING UNDERSERVED YOUTH VIA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS: TO SUPPORT UNDERSERVED YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE SAN DIEGO AREA. | $200,000 |
| ACCION OPPORTUNITY FUND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SAN JOSE, CA | BUILDING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES VIA A FINANCIALLY INCLUSIVE ECONOMY: TO BUILD A FINANCIALLY INCLUSIVE ECONOMY WHERE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY AND SYSTEMICALLY MARGINALIZED CAN ACCESS THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED WHILE BUILDING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA. | $150,000 |
| ACCMA COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION OAKLAND, CA | STUDYING MINORITY PATIENT HEALTHCARE ACCESS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY: TO SUPPORT A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DETERMINE HISTORICAL DISCRIMINATORY AND EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES PREVENTING MINORITY PATIENTS FROM ACCESSING AVAILABLE MEDICAL CARE IN OAKLAND AND ALAMEDA COUNTY. | $25,000 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT: TO SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROTECTS AND EXPANDS FAIRNESS, HEALTH EQUITY AND FREEDOM FOR THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND IMPERIAL COUNTY COMMUNITIES THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUILDING POWER, POLICY ADVOCACY AND IMPACT LITIGATION | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President and CEO: Brenda Solórzano (appointed 2024), described as "an early architect of trust-based philanthropy"
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARIA BLANCO | DIRECTOR/CHAIR | 5.65 | $43,000 |
| MINERVA CARCANO | DIRECTOR | 5.15 | $40,750 |
| KURT CHILCOTT | CHAIR | 7.75 | $58,000 |
| KATHERINE FLORES | VICE CHAIR | 6.19 | $46,000 |
| BRITTA GUERRERO | DIRECTOR | 5.15 | $40,000 |
| KRIS HAYASHI | DIRECTOR/CHAIR | 5.65 | $43,000 |
| KAI HONG | DIRECTOR | 5.15 | $35,000 |
| LESLIE KAUTZ | DIRECTOR/CHAIR | 5.65 | $43,000 |
| MARTA MCKENZIE | DIRECTOR/COMMITTEE CHAIR | 5.15 | $40,000 |
| JAHMAL MILLER | DIRECTOR | 5.15 | $22,500 |
| STACIE OLIVARES | DIRECTOR | 5.15 | $35,000 |
| KARTHICK RAMAKRISHNAN | DIRECTOR | 5.15 | $40,000 |
| MICHELE SIQUEIROS | DIRECTOR | 5.65 | $43,000 |
| VERNITA TODD | DIRECTOR | 5.15 | $40,000 |
| VIEN TRUONG | DIRECTOR | 5.15 | $40,000 |
| DANIEL WALKER | DIRECTOR | 5.15 | $40,000 |
| TORIE WEISTON-SERDAN | DIRECTOR | 5.65 | $43,000 |
| KIAH WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR | 5.15 | $40,000 |
| ROBERT K ROSS | PRESIDENT/CEO | 40 | $1,025,170 |
| DAVID GREENBERG | DEPARTING CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER | 40 | $468,143 |
| MARTHA JIMENEZ | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $543,642 |
| DAN DELEON | VICE PRESIDENT & CFO | 40 | $466,690 |
| MICHAEL WEE | INTERIM CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER | 40 | $472,785 |
| KATE KENDELL | CHIEF OF STAFF | 40 | $447,860 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The California Endowment fund?
**Mission:** The California Endowment's mission is to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. The organization's approach emphasizes transforming systemic "rules"—laws, policies, and institutions—rather than focusing solely on individual interventions. The foundation believes that health is shaped by neighborhood environments, schools, and communities, not only …
How do I apply for a grant from The California Endowment?
**Grant Range:** $15,000 to $13,000,000 **Application Process:** Invitation only **Recent Activity:** • 1,117 grants awarded in 2024 • The foundation has awarded more than 22,000 grants totaling over $2.9 billion since its inception • In 2021, issued a historic $300 million Social Bond to advance racial and health justice • Currently implementing a Bridge Strategy with up to $160 million annually from 2025-2027 • Awarded $85 million to bolster community organizing in California
Where does The California Endowment make grants?
Statewide California with emphasis on four large regions. The foundation prioritizes funding in underserved communities throughout the state.
What size grants does The California Endowment award?
In 2024, The California Endowment awarded 1,125 grants totaling $215.9M — an average of about $192K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The California Endowment required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The California Endowment reported a distributable amount of $202.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The California Endowment's EIN?
The California Endowment's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4523232. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The California Endowment'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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