The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment is a public charity grantmaking organization headquartered in Oakland, California. Founded in 1992, the organization strengthens communities and supports grassroots initiatives advancing environmental stewardship, environmental justice, and consumer rights. Unlike private foundations, Rose was not launched with a large endowment but instead mobilizes funding from multiple sources including colleague foundations, court-ordered settlement payments, governmental partners, and individual donors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$27.3M
+4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.3M
+17.7% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9.3M
+17.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: The Rose Foundation envisions a future where nature is protected, people's rights are ensured, and environmental justice is advanced, and where these three values are deeply interconnected.
Mission: The organization supports grassroots initiatives that help build a world in which individuals, organizations, and communities are empowered to promote stewardship of nature, inspire people to take action, and hold government and corporations accountable.
Core Values:
- Environmental Stewardship
- Community
- Justice
How Rose Mobilizes Action: The organization operates on the belief that those closest to the problem are most equipped to solve it. By redirecting money and resources to groups representing marginalized populations, Rose builds power where meaningful change begins.
Primary Program Areas:
Environmental Legal Settlements — Rose serves as trustee for over 600 environmental settlement funds, directing remediation payments back to affected communities. The organization channels restitution funds to protect watersheds, ensure clean air, and mitigate pollution including toxins and pesticides.
Grassroots Environmental Grants — Rose focuses special attention on small and emerging environmental charities that may have difficulty securing funding from traditional sources, providing seed funding and training.
Consumer Rights Grants — The organization supports projects dedicated to protecting consumer rights, particularly privacy rights.
Youth Leadership Program — The "New Voices Are Rising" program works with youth from low-income Bay Area communities exposed to toxic pollution, helping them develop leadership and analytical skills through summer academies, school-term fellowships, internships, and field trips.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
** Rose maintains a grants portal for applications. Interested organizations can contact the team via email at grants@rosefdn.org for specific eligibility requirements and application timelines, which vary by fund cycle.
Ready to take the next step with The Rose Foundation for Communities?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Rose Foundation funds initiatives primarily in California and the Pacific Northwest, with specific programs targeting:
- Bay Area communities
- California watersheds and wildlands
- Columbia River region
- Puget Sound area
- United States (for consumer privacy rights grants)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Financial Profile (2024):
- Total revenues: $12,603,651
- Total expenses: $12,025,055
- Total assets: $27,338,553
- Employees: 34
Historical Financial Data:
- Annual revenue: $4,756,191 (earlier reporting period)
- Total funding: $366,713 (as of June 2023, from California State Coastal Conservancy grant)
Financial Rating: The organization holds a Three-Star rating with an 84% score, indicating strong accountability and financial management.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $27,338,553 | $26,172,801 | $28,969,524 |
| Revenue | $12,603,651 | $10,710,496 | $5,938,485 |
| Expenses | $12,025,055 | $10,508,287 | $7,391,905 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $644,987 | $636,283 | $213,849 |
| 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 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
10 open opportunities from The Rose Foundation for Communities
Anthony Grassroots Prize
THE ROSE FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITIES
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
California Watershed Protection Fund Grant
THE ROSE FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITIES
Amount
Up to US $40,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
California Wildlands Grassroots Fund Grant
THE ROSE FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITIES
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Grants to Organizations ($9,341,169).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS OAKLAND, CA | — | $9,341,169 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Aiko Pandorf — Interim Executive Director
- Amy Holland — Senior Manager Institutional Giving
- Founders (1992) — Jill Ratner and Tim Little, who established the organization to honor the legacy of Rose Ratner, a Chicago community activist
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANGELA AIKO PANDORF | INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $183,750 |
| PAMELA ARAUZ | FINANCE DIRECTOR | 40 | $104,882 |
| THOMAS LITTLE | Secretary | 20 | $100,190 |
| JODENE ISAACS | DIR. GRANTMAKING | 40 | $105,550 |
| SARAH QUAN | DIR. OPERATIONS | 40 | $104,049 |
| JILL RATNER | PRESIDENT | 4 | $2,907 |
| WILLARD BROWN | President | 1 | — |
| KEVIN HENDRICK | Vice President | 1 | — |
| CINDY TSAI SCHULTZ | Vice President | 1 | — |
| VERONICA EADY | Secretary | 1 | — |
| AMY LYONS | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| MARYBELLE NZEGW TOBIAS | Director | 1 | — |
| ELLEN HOUSKENS | Director | 1 | — |
| PAM FUJITA-YUHAS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ELLIOTT M JONES | Director | 1 | — |
| DAVID MICHELFELDER | President | 1 | — |
| LAURA FERNANDEZ | Director | 1 | — |
| CARLOS ZAMBRANO | Director | 1 | — |
| JIM KOLINOS | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Rose Foundation awarded a major research grant to UC Riverside focused on tackling port pollution in San Pedro
Rose Foundation Awards Major Research Grant to UC RiversideThe organization continues to administer the Puget Sound Stewardship and Mitigation Fund
Puget Sound Stewardship and Mitigation Fund - Rose FoundationRecent grant activity includes support for West Oakland jobs, schools, and green projects
Millions in new grant funding to boost West Oakland jobs, schools ...The Consumer Privacy Rights Fund was last offered in fall 2023, with expectations to run again in 2025 or 2026
Contact Information
Address: 201 4th Street, Suite 102, Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: (510) 658-0702
Email: rose@rosefdn.org (general); grants@rosefdn.org (grants inquiries)
EIN: 94-3179772
Website: rosefdn.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Rose Foundation for Communities fund?
**Vision:** The Rose Foundation envisions a future where nature is protected, people's rights are ensured, and environmental justice is advanced, and where these three values are deeply interconnected. **Mission:** The organization supports grassroots initiatives that help build a world in which individuals, organizations, and communities are empowered to promote stewardship of nature, inspire people to take action, and hold government and corporations accountable. **Core Values:** • Environmen…
How do I apply for a grant from The Rose Foundation for Communities?
**Grant Programs:** • **California Environmental Grassroots Fund Grant** • **California Watershed Protection Fund Grant** • **California Wildlands Grassroots Fund Grant** • **Columbia River Fund Grant** • **Puget Sound Stewardship and Mitigation Fund** • **Anthony Grassroots Prize** • **Consumer Privacy Rights Fund** — Maximum funding request up to $150,000; launched in 2002 with cy pres payments from Union Bank and Cal Fed Bank; has secured cy pres awards from more than a dozen class action se…
Where does The Rose Foundation for Communities make grants?
Rose Foundation funds initiatives primarily in California and the Pacific Northwest, with specific programs targeting: • Bay Area communities • California watersheds and wildlands • Columbia River region • Puget Sound area • United States (for consumer privacy rights grants)
What size grants does The Rose Foundation for Communities award?
In 2024, The Rose Foundation for Communities awarded 1 grants totaling $9.3M — an average of about $9.3M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Rose Foundation for Communities's EIN?
The Rose Foundation for Communities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3179772. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Rose Foundation for Communities'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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