The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment
The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment is an Oakland, California-based public charity that supports grassroots initiatives related to environmental stewardship, community justice, consumer rights, and public health. Founded in 1992, it makes grants, provides capacity-building support, and works to strengthen community voices and develop environmental leaders.
The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment at a glance
In short: The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment gave $9.3M across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $9.3M), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,341,169
- +17.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,341,169
- +17.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $9,341,169
- Total assets
- $27,338,553
- +4.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment
- How to Apply
-
The foundation directs applicants to its online grant system. Applicants should choose a fund and review its specific application questions and required attachments; the foundation recommends preparing responses in advance and saving work as a draft. The 2024 filing says applicants must provide a project narrative, information about assigned staff, proof of nonprofit status, organizational and financial information, and an evaluation process with quantitative benchmarks as appropriate. It also says grants are governed by contracts requiring at least annual narrative and financial reports until the funds are exhausted, and that grantees must open their books upon request. The website’s California Watershed Protection Fund page says applicants must be able to demonstrate a strong track record of community-based water-quality stewardship; it identifies 501(c)(3) organizations as eligible.
- Review Cycle
- The listed 2026 deadlines are October 8 for the West Oakland Community Fund, October 15 for the California Watershed Protection Fund, and October 28 for the California Wildlands Grassroots Fund. The watershed fund page specifies that applications are due by 5 p.m. on the due date.
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 deadlines are October 8 for the West Oakland Community Fund, October 15 for the California Watershed…
- Next open deadline
- October 28, 2026 (California Wildlands Grassroots Fund Grant)
- Contact
Mailing address: 201 4Th Street Suite 102, Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: (510) 658-0702
Website: https://rosefdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
9 open opportunities from The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment
Anthony Grassroots Prize
The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
California Wildlands Grassroots Fund Grant
The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
October 28, 2026
Listed date — confirm with the funder
Columbia River Fund Grant
The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment
Amount
US $10,000 - US $40,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Grants to Organizations ($9.3M).
Grant Size Distribution
136 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 126 grants of 136 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s environmental grants page says its grantmaking spans California, Washington, Oregon, and beyond. Specific opportunities include California-focused funds and a Columbia River Fund supporting projects in designated areas of the Columbia River Basin. The 2024 filing reports all grant dollars went to a recipient listed in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment gives
- Giving grew 29% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.9M (2020) to $9.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $9.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grants to Organizations Oakland, CA | — | $9,341,169 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990 (a public charity).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $27,338,553 | $12,603,651 | $12,025,055 | $9,341,169 | 1 | $644,987 |
| 2023 | $26,172,801 | $10,710,496 | $10,508,287 | $7,935,059 | 1 | $636,283 |
| 2022 | $28,969,524 | $5,938,485 | $7,391,905 | $5,459,949 | 1 | $213,849 |
| 2021 | $13,720,278 | $9,215,891 | $8,945,184 | $7,241,156 | 1 | $160,518 |
| 2020 | $7,952,720 | $6,343,606 | $5,993,360 | $3,895,843 | 132 | $242,155 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission stated on the foundation’s 2024 filing is “to support grassroots initiatives to inspire community action to protect the environment, consumers, and public health.” Its website describes environmental stewardship, community, and justice as core values, and says it works on the belief that people closest to a problem are often best equipped to address it.
The foundation’s programs support grassroots environmental work, environmental legal settlements, consumer protections, and youth leadership. Its website describes grants for small and emerging groups, including funds for California wildlands, watershed protection, and West Oakland community projects. The California Environmental Grassroots Fund, whose application cycle has passed, supports local groups working on environmental health and justice, climate advocacy and resilience, land management, habitat protection, water resources, sustainable agriculture, and pollution and toxics.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says its grassroots grantmaking gives special attention to small and emerging environmental charities that may have difficulty securing traditional funding, offering seed funding and training. The filing also describes New Voices Are Rising as a program for youth from low-income Bay Area communities affected by toxic pollution, with activities including a summer academy, school-term fellowships, internships, and field trips.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported one grant totaling $9,341,169. The filing lists it as “GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS” in Oakland, California, so no specific recipient organization is identified. Because the filing reports only one grant, that grant’s amount was also the smallest, largest, and median grant for the year; it does not establish a typical award size across the foundation’s programs.
The foundation’s website describes several grant opportunities. As of October 2, 2026, the California Watershed Protection Fund is accepting applications for projects to improve water quality and protect watersheds in California, with awards up to $40,000 and most grants expected to range from $10,000 to $30,000. The West Oakland Community Fund offers $50,000 to $150,000 for business and workforce development, education, and environmental projects, with the current round focused on workforce and business development. The California Wildlands Grassroots Fund offers up to $10,000 to support grassroots efforts to preserve California wildlands and natural habitat. The California Environmental Grassroots Fund’s listed August 3, 2026 application deadline has passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Angela Aiko Pandorf as interim executive director; Pamela Arauz as finance director; Jodene Isaacs as director of grantmaking; and Sarah Quan as director of operations. It also lists Thomas Little and Veronica Eady as secretaries, Jill Ratner and Willard Brown as presidents, and Kevin Hendrick and Cindy Tsai Schultz as vice presidents.
The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment is led by Jill Ratner, President on every filing since 2020; 6 of 19 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jill Ratner
President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$49K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Angela Aiko Pandorf
Interim Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$184K (2024)
David Michelfelder
President
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Willard Brown
President
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jodene Isaacs
Director Grantmaking
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$106K (2024)
Pamela Arauz
Finance Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$105K (2024)
Sarah Quan
Director Operations
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$104K (2024)
Ellen Houskens
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carlos Zambrano
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Fernandez
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marybelle Nzegw Tobias
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pam Fujita-Yuhas
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elliott M. Jones
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Kolinos
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Little
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
20 hrs/week
$100K (2024)
Amy Lyons
Treasurer
Treasurer → Treasurer Vice President, 2023
Treasurer Vice President → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Tsai Schultz
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Hendrick
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Veronica Eady
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Marybelle Nzegwu (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Tim Little (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Alan Ramo (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Nancy Berlin (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kyle Livie (2020–2021) — 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 $184K, to Angela Aiko Pandorf (Interim Executive Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment
How much does The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment give each year?
The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment gave $9.3M across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $7.9M across 1 grant.
How large is The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment?
The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment reported $27.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.6M.
What does The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment fund?
The mission stated on the foundation’s 2024 filing is “to support grassroots initiatives to inspire community action to protect the environment, consumers, and public health.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment?
The foundation directs applicants to its online grant system. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment make grants?
The foundation’s environmental grants page says its grantmaking spans California, Washington, Oregon, and beyond. Specific opportunities include California-focused funds and a Columbia River Fund supporting projects in designated areas of the Columbia River Basin. The 2024 filing reports all grant dollars went to a recipient listed in California.
What is The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment's EIN?
The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3179772. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 29, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment'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.
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