The California Wellness Foundation
The California Wellness Foundation is a private independent foundation created in 1992, headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization and non-operating foundation dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking focused on health and wellness initiatives.
Key facts about The California Wellness Foundation
- EIN
- 95-4292101
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $48,752,827
- Grants made (2024)
- 681
- Average grant
- $71,590
- Median grant
- $7,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (166 of 511, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,049,009,252
- Primary geography
- California (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation will not accept letters of intent or unsolicited grant proposals in 2026. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The California Wellness Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The California Wellness Foundation's 681 itemized 2024 grants were California (84%) and District of Columbia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (157 grants), Oakland, CA (72 grants), San Francisco, CA (48 grants) and Washington, DC (34 grants). 79% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "2024 Association Membership" (41 grants).
Is The California Wellness Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 166 of 511 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $53K; repeat grants $116K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 44% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 134% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). 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 The California Wellness Foundation
- How to evaluate The California Wellness Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The California Wellness Foundation with AI
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.0B
+0.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$48.8M
-14.5% YoY
Grant Count
681
-14.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$72K
+0.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The California Wellness Foundation reported a distributable amount of $51.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to protect and improve the health and wellness of the people of California by increasing access to health care, quality education, good jobs, healthy environments and safe neighborhoods.
Primary funding interests include:
- Health services
- Community development
- Education
- Social and human services
- Health promotion, wellness education, and disease prevention
- Covid-19 relief and emergency funds
- Program funding and capacity building
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$10,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The California Wellness Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in California but reaches organizations across 43 states. Primary funding regions include California, District of Columbia, and New York, which account for 91% of all grants. The foundation supports initiatives in numerous cities and states across the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 681 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income (2024):
- Total assets: $1.05 billion
- Total liabilities: $17.7 million
- Annual revenue: $13.8 million
- Annual expenses: $73.9 million
Historical Assets:
- Assets have grown from $794.3 million in 2011 to $1.05 billion in 2024
Staffing:
- 34 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,049,009,252 | $1,042,135,742 | $1,019,736,613 |
| Revenue | $13,765,234 | $85,291,405 | $78,770,548 |
| Expenses | $73,867,741 | $80,915,254 | $73,097,281 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $68,520,496 | $75,460,522 | $73,068,593 |
| Net Investment Income | $36,804,285 | $79,696,971 | $96,273,881 |
| Distributable Amount | $50,981,294 | $49,763,872 | $53,469,983 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
3,411 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from The California Wellness Foundation
Community Well-Being Fund Grant
The California Wellness Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Economic Security & Dignity Grant Program
The California Wellness Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Equity in Access Fund
The California Wellness Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Tides Center ($1,260,000 across 4 grants), California Immigrant Policy Center ($1,075,000 across 2 grants), Southern California Grantmakers ($1,036,500 across 11 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT POLICY CENTER Los Angeles, CA | CORE OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| YOUTH LAW CENTER San Francisco, CA | CORE OPERATING SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| VERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE INC Brooklyn, NY | CORE OPERATING SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION San Francisco, CA | CORE OPERATING SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| TIDES CENTER Sacramento, CA | FOR PROJECT SUPPORT FOR MOVE THE VALLEY TO ENHANCE INTEGRATED VOTER ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH AMONG LOW-INCOME, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN NINE COUNTIES IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. | $500,000 |
| TIDES CENTER Sacramento, CA | FOR PROJECT SUPPORT FOR LATINO COALITION FOR A HEALTHY CALIFORNIA TO HELP LAUNCH A STATEWIDE MULTI-YEAR, MULTI-SECTORAL ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS THE LATINE PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE IN CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING PATHWAYS TO & THROUGH MEDICAL SCHOOL. | $500,000 |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CA | FOR PROJECT SUPPORT FOR UCLA LABOR CENTER'S CENTER TO SUSTAIN AND STRENGTHEN THE BLACK WORKER CENTER MOVEMENT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO ADVANCE QUALITY JOBS, EQUITABLE HIRING, AND WORKER JUSTICE. | $500,000 |
| STRATEGIC CONCEPTS IN ORGANIZING AND POLICY EDUCATION Los Angeles, CA | CORE OPERATING SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GRANTMAKERS Los Angeles, CA | FOR PROJECT SUPPORT FOR THE BLACK EQUITY COLLECTIVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD A REGIONAL, NETWORKED INFRASTRUCTURE OF BLACK-LED SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN CALIFORNIA. | $500,000 |
| ROOTS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER Oakland, CA | FOR PROJECT SUPPORT FOR THE 40X40 COUNCIL TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE RISE EAST 10-YEAR PLAN TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS OF EAST OAKLAND. | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Leadership:
- Judy Belk: President & CEO (January-August 2023)
- Richard Tate: VP Executive/CEO & President
- Lori Cox: VP of Programs
- Rochelle Witharana: Chief Financial Officer
- Arun Baheti: VP of Operations
Board Leadership:
- Pamela Simms-Mackey: Director, Board Chair
- Terence P Mulligan: Director, Treasurer
- Angelica Salas: Director, Board Secretary
- Arnold Perkins: Director, Audit Chair
Current Leadership:
- Alex M Johnson: Chief Strategy Officer (joined November 2025)
- Caitlin Adams: Vice President Human Resources (joined November 2025)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Tate | CEO/President | 50 | $683,481 |
| Rochelle Witharana | CFO | 50 | $412,808 |
| Lori Cox | VP of Programs | 50 | $336,960 |
| Arun Baheti | VP of Operations | 50 | $331,002 |
| Alex Johnson | VP of Public Affairs | 50 | $261,529 |
| Pamela Simms-Mackey | Director, Board Chair | 5 | $43,400 |
| Terence P Mulligan | Director, Treasurer | 5 | $34,900 |
| Angelica Salas | Director, Board Secretary | 2 | $34,900 |
| Arnold Perkins | Director, Audit Chair | 2 | $34,900 |
| Joseph Lumarda | Director, Past Chair | 2 | $34,900 |
| Xochitl Castaneda | Director | 2 | $30,900 |
| Debra Nakatomi | Director | 2 | $30,900 |
| Ernest Wilson III | Director | 2 | $30,900 |
| Geri Yang-Johnson | Director | 2 | $30,900 |
| Katherine Katcher | Director | 2 | $30,900 |
| Irma Cota | Director | 2 | $30,900 |
| Virginia Hedrick | Director | 2 | $30,900 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation awarded $26.5 million in grants during the first half of 2024
Cal Wellness Awards Grants Totaling $26.5 Million in First Half of 2024 -The foundation committed $4 million to combat the COVID-19 pandemic
Cal Wellness Commits $4 Million to Combat the COVID-19 PandemicThe Advancing Wellness Grants Program was announced for 2026
Cal Wellness Awards Grants Totaling $26.5 Million in First Half of 2024 -Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The California Wellness Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to protect and improve the health and wellness of the people of California by increasing access to health care, quality education, good jobs, healthy environments and safe neighborhoods. Primary funding interests include: • Health services • Community development • Education • Social and human services • Health promotion, wellness education, and disease prevention • Covid-19 relief and emergency funds • Program funding and capacity building
How do I apply for a grant from The California Wellness Foundation?
The foundation will not accept letters of intent or unsolicited grant proposals in 2026. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The California Wellness Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in California but reaches organizations across 43 states. Primary funding regions include California, District of Columbia, and New York, which account for 91% of all grants. The foundation supports initiatives in numerous cities and states across the United States.
What size grants does The California Wellness Foundation award?
In 2024, The California Wellness Foundation awarded 681 grants totaling $48.8M — an average of about $72K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The California Wellness Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The California Wellness Foundation reported a distributable amount of $51.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The California Wellness Foundation's EIN?
The California Wellness Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4292101. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The California Wellness Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.