The California Endowment
The California Endowment is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California, established in 1996. It supports health and racial equity across the state through grantmaking and work focused on community power, policy change, and health systems.
The California Endowment at a glance
In short: The California Endowment gave $215.9M across 1,125 grants in 2024 (avg $192K), mostly in California. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $215,917,483
- +11.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1,125
- +9.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $191,927
- +2.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $4,453,417,123
- +3.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (128 of 713, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The California Endowment
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
Funding opportunities are by invitation only, and the Endowment does not accept unsolicited requests. Its application policy says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organizations. The website says application review typically takes 6 to 8 weeks. For approved grants, it sends award documents for signature and then provides instructions for electronic payment. Grant reporting requirements are waived until further notice for grants not funded through the Social Bond and not requiring expenditure responsibility.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1000 N Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 928-8800
Website: https://www.calendow.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The California Endowment funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was San Francisco Foundation ($10.2M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $45.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($185,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
6,114 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2,320 grants of 6,114 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Endowment’s work is statewide in California. In 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in California; the remaining reported shares went to New York (4%), Washington, DC (3%), Illinois (1%), and Maryland (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 1,125 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The California Endowment open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 128 of 713 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $105K; repeat grants $346K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $129K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+17%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 144% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 $159.5M (2020) to $215.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 1,125 grants totaling $215.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Foundation San Francisco, CA | Catalyzing California's narrative infrastructure to advance health justice: to advance health justice for all californians by developing robust health justice metrics and growing narrative infrastructure and capacity. | $9,775,125 |
| California Primary Care Association Sacramento, CA | Supporting civic engagement capacity in health community: to build and establish a new infrastructure to support ongoing statewide civic engagement capacity, with the goal of comprehensively reaching community health center (CHC) patients, staff and communities in an efficient and sustainable way that considers feasibility, long term sustainability, and power and capacity building needs in California. | $3,479,999 |
| California Primary Care Association Sacramento, CA | Strengthening community health center infrastructure to advance health: to support a project that bridges community clinics, health centers, and networks to communities through advocacy, education, and civic engagement to improve health equity across California. | $2,600,000 |
| California Calls Education Fund Los Angeles, CA | General operating support: to support an organization that advances health equity in California through community organizing, civic engagement and capacity building of local power building organizations. | $2,500,000 |
| California Community Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Powerful innovations for voter organizing and transformation - promoting health: to advance the medium- and long-term power building infrastructure in California by engaging in collaborative, co-governed funding with the philanthropic field and community organizing field fighting for health and justice for all. | $2,500,000 |
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation Mountain View, CA | California black freedom fund - advancing health equity: to support a pooled fund designed to help build and sustain the power of black-led organizations, coalitions and networks and bolster the infrastructure of black-led organizations working to build power, advance health equity and transform inequitable systems across California. | $2,375,000 |
| Pico California Los Angeles, CA | General operating support: to support a statewide organizing and power building organization whose core work is focused on building power and long-term systems transformation to advance health equity in California. | $2,200,000 |
| Liberty Hill Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Promoting health equity through community organizing: to improve the health outcomes of youth of color in los Angeles county by supporting a community-driven, equity initiative led by community organizing and policy advocacy organizations advancing health and racial justice efforts. | $2,083,193 |
| Community Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention Los Angeles, CA | General operating support: to support an organization working to build power among youth and adult residents and train community organizers to advance health and racial justice efforts across southern California. | $2,000,000 |
| Community Partners Los Angeles, CA | California accountable communities for health initiative - improving health: to support the scaling of a model that links health care systems, providers and health plans with public health, community and social services organizations, and residents across California. | $2,000,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The California Endowment?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,453,417,123 | $126,040,863 | $243,040,147 | $215,917,483 | 1,125 | $291,243,966 | $111,936,608 | $201,969,481 |
| 2023 | $4,318,845,356 | $361,897,588 | $417,921,219 | $193,569,729 | 1,030 | $265,963,863 | $128,113,723 | $204,334,747 |
| 2022 | $4,754,305,382 | $461,745,846 | $212,888,822 | $167,406,500 | 1,074 | $220,958,549 | $378,123,057 | $220,404,381 |
| 2021 | $4,652,654,328 | $306,332,660 | $215,488,654 | $184,984,809 | 1,402 | — | $295,515,630 | $181,117,131 |
| 2020 | $3,446,801,045 | $280,955,609 | $203,337,541 | $159,485,520 | 1,483 | — | $203,952,273 | $186,335,505 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The 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. Its stated approach includes supporting community-led efforts and addressing laws, policies, and systems that affect health.
Its website identifies three broad ideas for its work: people power, reimagined public institutions, and healthy and equitable communities. Its Social Bond priority areas are power infrastructure, health, resilient communities, and research and evaluation.
The Endowment funds nonprofit organizations, California state and local government entities, and faith-based organizations that welcome and serve all members of the community. Examples of grantees’ work include the California Primary Care Association’s efforts to position community clinics and health centers as key parts of health care delivery, and California Calls Education Fund’s work to engage communities of color and working-class neighborhoods in public policy. The San Francisco Foundation describes its mission as mobilizing resources and acting as a catalyst to build strong communities, foster civic leadership, and promote philanthropy.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Endowment reported 1,125 grants totaling $215,917,483. Grant amounts ranged from $105 to $9,775,125, with a median grant of $100,000. Its largest reported grant was $9,775,125 to the San Francisco Foundation for work on health justice metrics and narrative infrastructure. Other large grants included $3,479,999 and $2,600,000 to the California Primary Care Association, $2,500,000 each to California Calls Education Fund and California Community Foundation, and $2,375,000 to Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
The Endowment offers single- and multi-year grants, program support, general operating support, direct charitable activity contracts, program-related investments, and specific project grants. It does not fund individuals, organizations that discriminate on specified grounds, organizations that require religious membership or advance a particular faith, political campaigns, voter registration drives, or lobbying for specific legislation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Maria Blanco as director/chair, Minerva Carcano as director, Kurt Chilcott as chair, Katherine Flores as vice chair, Britta Guerrero as director, Kris Hayashi as director/chair, Kai Hong as director, Leslie Kautz as director/chair, Marta McKenzie as director/committee chair, and Jahmal Miller as director.
The California Endowment is led by Robert K. Ross, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; all 24 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert K. Ross
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$831K (2020) → $1M (2024)
Kurt Chilcott
Chair
Director → Director & Vice Chair, 2022
Director & Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
7.8 hrs/week
$33K (2020) → $58K (2024)
Leslie Kautz
Director & Chair
Director → Director & Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
5.7 hrs/week
$33K (2020) → $43K (2024)
Marta McKenzie
Director & Committee Chair
On filings since 2020
5.2 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $40K (2024)
Kris Hayashi
Director & Chair
Director → Director & Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
5.7 hrs/week
$33K (2022) → $43K (2024)
Maria Blanco
Director & Chair
Director → Director & Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
5.7 hrs/week
$33K (2022) → $43K (2024)
Britta Guerrero
Director
On filings since 2020
5.2 hrs/week
$33K (2020) → $40K (2024)
Karthick Ramakrishnan
Director
Director & Committee Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5.2 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $40K (2024)
Minerva Carcano
Director
Director, Vice Chair & Committee Vc → Director & Chair, 2022
Director & Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5.2 hrs/week
$42K (2020) → $41K (2024)
Vien Truong
Director
On filings since 2020
5.2 hrs/week
$33K (2020) → $40K (2024)
Kiah Williams
Director
On filings since 2021
5.2 hrs/week
$33K (2021) → $40K (2024)
Michele Siqueiros
Director
On filings since 2021
5.7 hrs/week
$33K (2021) → $43K (2024)
Daniel Walker
Director
On filings since 2022
5.2 hrs/week
$33K (2022) → $40K (2024)
Kai Hong
Director
On filings since 2022
5.2 hrs/week
$17K (2022) → $35K (2024)
Torie Weiston-Serdan
Director
On filings since 2022
5.7 hrs/week
$33K (2022) → $43K (2024)
Jahmal Miller
Director
On filings since 2023
5.2 hrs/week
$33K (2023) → $23K (2024)
Stacie Olivares
Director
On filings since 2023
5.2 hrs/week
$33K (2023) → $35K (2024)
Vernita Todd
Director
On filings since 2023
5.2 hrs/week
$33K (2023) → $40K (2024)
Dan Deleon
Vice President & CFO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$415K (2020) → $467K (2024)
Kate Kendell
Chief of Staff
Director → Chief of Staff, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$33K (2020) → $448K (2024)
Martha Jimenez
Executive Vice President
Executive Vice President & Legal Counsel → Incoming Corporate Secretary, 2023
Incoming Corporate Secretary → Executive Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$463K (2020) → $544K (2024)
Katherine Flores
Vice Chair
Director → Director & Chair, 2022
Director & Chair → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
6.2 hrs/week
$33K (2021) → $46K (2024)
David Greenberg
Departing Chief Investment Officer
Chief Investment Officer → Departing Chief Investment Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$916K (2022) → $468K (2024)
Michael Wee
Interim Chief Investment Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$473K (2024)
Former officers (13)
- Former: Celia Lombard (2020–2023) — Departing Corporate Secretary
- Former: Hector Flores (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ruth Wernig (2020–2022) — Chief Investment Officer
- Former: Shawn Ginwright (2020–2022) — Director, Chair & Committee Chair
- Former: Stephen Bennett (2020–2022) — Director & Committee Chair
- Former: Winston Wong (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Christina Kazhe (2020–2021) — Director & Committee Chair
- Former: Steven Pontell (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Walter L. Buster (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Zachary Guevara (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Adrienne Y. Crowe (2020) — Director
- Former: Jane Garcia (2020) — Director
- Former: Shan Cretin (2020) — Director
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 $1.0M, to Robert K Ross (President/CEO). 24 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The California Endowment
How much does The California Endowment give each year?
The California Endowment gave $215.9M across 1,125 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $193.6M across 1,030 grants.
What is The California Endowment's typical grant size?
The California Endowment's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $191,927, across 1,125 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The California Endowment that year got $105K on average.
Where does The California Endowment give grants?
The California Endowment gives mostly in California: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (222 grants), Oakland, CA (132 grants), San Francisco, CA (100 grants) and Sacramento, CA (79 grants).
Does The California Endowment give general operating support?
Yes: 26% of The California Endowment's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (297 of 1,125) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The California Endowment's largest grantees?
The California Endowment's largest 2024 grantees include San Francisco Foundation ($10,175,125 across 3 grants), California Primary Care Association ($6,079,999 across 2 grants) and Community Partners ($5,072,500 across 25 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($185,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The California Endowment?
The California Endowment reported $4.5B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $291.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $202.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The California Endowment fund?
The 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. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The California Endowment?
Funding opportunities are by invitation only, and the Endowment does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The California Endowment accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The California Endowment's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California
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California Community Foundation
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East Bay Community Foundation
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East Bay Community Foundation funds arts and culture for social justice, racial-equity capacity building, community organizing and movement building, and inclusive economic models, prioritizing communities affected by structural inequities. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely, and generally support organizations in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Most strategy-guided grants are by invitation, with applications opened periodically; donor-advised fund grants may also be made without an application.
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The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The California Endowment funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-california-endowment-morg_abe7795e97bf4154bddfcd6465a2b660
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954523232_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The California Endowment funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-california-endowment-morg_abe7795e97bf4154bddfcd6465a2b660},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-08. 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 The California Endowment'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.
The California Endowment down — hundreds of funders to go?