Women's Foundation of California
Women’s Foundation California is a publicly supported foundation based in Oakland, California, and a public charity that supports community-led efforts advancing racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice. Its grantmaking focuses on grassroots communities in California, with priorities including organizations led by women of color and gender-expansive people.
Women's Foundation of California at a glance
In short: Women's Foundation of California gave $2.0M across 60 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in California. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,952,698
- -32.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 60
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $32,545
- -20.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $17,500
- Total assets
- $18,068,117
- -9.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (13 of 60, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Women's Foundation of California
- Contact
Mailing address: 1301 Clay Street 71719, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 740-2500
Website: https://womensfoundca.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Women's Foundation of California
Who Women's Foundation of California funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Time for Change Foundation ($500K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
651 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 542 grants of 651 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its grantmaking as serving communities across California and prioritizes California-based organizations, with special consideration for rural areas and regions with inequitable access to resources. In 2025, 93% of its grant dollars went to recipients in California and 7% to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 60 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Women's Foundation of California open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 60 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2019) to $8.8M (2020). In 2025 it made 60 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Time for Change Foundation San Bernardino, CA | To Promote Racial, Gender and Economic Justice | $500,000 |
| Center for Cultural Power Oakland, CA | To Promote Racial, Gender and Economic Justice | $125,000 |
| Harness Community West Hollywood, CA | To Promote Racial, Gender and Economic Justice | $125,000 |
| New Venture Fund Washington, DC | To Promote Racial, Gender and Economic Justice | $125,000 |
| Human Options Inc Irvine, CA | To Promote Racial, Gender and Economic Justice | $65,000 |
| Social and Enviromental Entrepreneurs Calabasas, CA | To Promote Racial, Gender and Economic Justice | $57,000 |
| Tides Center San Francisco, CA | To Promote Racial, Gender and Economic Justice | $47,000 |
| Transgender Law Center Oakland, CA | To Promote Racial, Gender and Economic Justice | $47,000 |
| San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center El Monte, CA | To Promote Racial, Gender and Economic Justice | $45,000 |
| Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund Oakland, CA | To Promote Racial, Gender and Economic Justice | $44,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Women's Foundation of California?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $18,068,117 | $7,222,979 | $7,454,515 | $1,952,698 | 60 | $331,939 |
| 2024 | $20,013,342 | $9,060,467 | $9,764,272 | $2,879,000 | 70 | $459,883 |
| 2023 | $20,616,549 | $11,694,983 | $14,331,271 | $8,308,400 | 179 | $165,383 |
| 2022 | $20,392,428 | $10,463,697 | $10,157,583 | $5,381,693 | 195 | $14,285 |
| 2021 | $20,605,607 | $12,207,942 | $8,414,799 | $4,396,500 | 147 | $87,912 |
| 2020 | $16,709,449 | $13,919,394 | $15,063,599 | $8,766,503 | 199 | $612,277 |
| 2019 | $18,285,662 | $12,432,245 | $5,673,740 | $1,399,305 | 41 | $504,603 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to amplify, mobilize, and redistribute power and resources to community leaders advancing racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice. Its stated approaches include grants to community-led organizations, grassroots leadership training through the Solís Policy Institute, and convenings that bring together advocates, donors, policymakers, grantmakers, academics, and others.
Its grantmaking supports community organizing, coalition building, policy advocacy, civic participation and voter engagement, and culture change. The foundation identifies economic security, health, safety, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, domestic and gender-based violence, reproductive health and justice, and democracy among its areas of interest. It prioritizes California-based organizations led by women of color and gender-expansive people, and gives special consideration to rural areas and places with inequitable access to resources.
Examples of 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Time For Change Foundation, which received $500,000, says it builds pathways to prosperity through housing, economic development, and community solutions. Human Options Inc., which received $65,000, describes its work as educating about relationship violence, advocating for people affected by abuse, providing a safe place for victims, and supporting survivors’ healing. Transgender Law Center, which received $47,000, says it works to change law, policy, and attitudes so people can live safely and free from discrimination based on gender identity or expression. Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, which received $35,000, describes itself as an urban Indigenous women-led land trust working on the return of Indigenous land.
Grantmaking
The foundation’s grant programs include the Community Power Fund, Culture Change Fund, HOME Cohort, and Bea Solís Power Fund. Its website also describes multi-year grantmaking through several initiatives and flexible general operating support. It says its approach is trust-based and intended to reduce administrative burdens for grant partners.
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 60 grants totaling $1,952,698. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with a median of $17,500. The largest awards included $500,000 to Time For Change Foundation; $125,000 each to Center for Cultural Power, Harness Community, and New Venture Fund; and $65,000 to Human Options Inc. The listed grant purposes were to promote racial, gender, and economic justice.
The foundation says it is open to inquiries and asks prospective partners to review its priorities and guidelines and complete a brief questionnaire. Its stated exclusions include schools, universities, hospitals, churches, museums, scholarships and financial aid, legal aid, medical research, candidates, individuals, sponsorships, start-ups and small businesses, and crowdfunding projects. Its 2023 filing narrative says it verifies grantee eligibility, requires written requests and budgets, documents grant-selection criteria, and requires regular reports and program evaluations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Elizabeth Escamilla as board chair, Fabiola Decaratachea as board vice-chair, Diane Manuel as board treasurer, and Jennifer Chou as board secretary. Directors listed are Kim Alvarenga, Elmy Bermejo, Angelica Felix, Aldita Gallardo, Eunisses Hernandez, and Priscilla Huang.
Women's Foundation of California is led by Elizabeth Escamilla, Board Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 11 of 32 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth Escamilla
Board Chair
Director → Board Vice Chair, 2022
Board Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dion Aroner
Director
Director → Board Secretary, 2023
Board Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$500 (2019) → $0 (2025)
Aria Sa'id
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$2K (2023) → $0 (2025)
Donya Saunders
Director
New on the 2025 filing
32 hrs/week
$129K (2025)
Jane Lin
Director
New on the 2025 filing
32 hrs/week
$151K (2025)
Kanitra Lopez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
32 hrs/week
$172K (2025)
Liza Siegler
Director
New on the 2025 filing
32 hrs/week
$143K (2025)
Kim Carter
Director
Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Quency Phillips
Director
Secretary → Board Secretary, 2021
Board Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elmy Bermejo
Director
Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Pritzker
Director
Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eunisses Hernandez
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anna Malaika
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Autumn McDonald
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Holly J. Mitchell
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Alvarenga
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Priscilla Huang
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aldita Gallardo
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alicia Olivarez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angelica Felix
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Kamoe
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samala
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Reyes
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2019
32 hrs/week
$146K (2019) → $276K (2025)
Surina Khan
Former Director
Chief Executive Officer → CEO & Exited July 1st, 2024
CEO & Exited July 1st → Former Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
32 hrs/week
$233K (2019) → $389K (2025)
Beatriz Vieira
Chief Exectutive Officer
Chief Strategist of Programs → Chief Executive Officer, 2024
Chief Executive Officer → Chief Exectutive Officer, 2025
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$148K (2020) → $316K (2025)
Stephanie Green
Chief Strategist of Development
On filings since 2022
32 hrs/week
$156K (2022) → $210K (2025)
Marisol Franco
Chief Strategist of Programs
Chief Strategist of Programs → Chief Strategist of Program, 2024
Chief Strategist of Program → Chief Strategist of Programs, 2025
On filings since 2023
32 hrs/week
$143K (2023) → $198K (2025)
Allyson Dearman
Executive Administrator
New on the 2025 filing
32 hrs/week
$124K (2025)
Kamika Dunlap Chief Strategist Of C.
Chief Strategist of Communications
New on the 2025 filing
32 hrs/week
$134K (2025)
Diane Manuel
Board Treasurer
Chair → Director, 2021
Director → Board Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fabiola Decaratachea
Board Vice Chair
Member → Director, 2021
Director → Board Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Chou
Board Secretary
Member → Director, 2021
Director → Board Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Kamika Dunlap (2021–2024) — Chief Strategist of Communications
- Former: Cm Samala (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Karen Jordan (2019–2023) — Board Treasurer
- Former: Marlene Garcia (2019–2023) — Board Chair
- Former: Tess Bridgeman (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Supervisor Holly J Mitchell (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: C M Samala (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Sandra R Flores (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Will Guerra (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Lora O'Connor (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Norma Alvarez (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Senator Holly J Mitchell (2021) — Director
- Former: Linda Gebroe (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: Sen HOLLY MITCHELL (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: Catherine Schreiber Rouhani (2019) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Julie Dubick (2019) — Member
- Former: Michellle Cale (2019) — Chair
- Former: Raul Salinas (2019) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $389K, to Surina Khan (Former Director). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Women's Foundation of California
How much does Women's Foundation of California give each year?
Women's Foundation of California gave $2.0M across 60 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.9M across 70 grants.
What is Women's Foundation of California's typical grant size?
Women's Foundation of California's median grant in 2025 was $17,500, and its average grant was $32,545, across 60 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Women's Foundation of California that year got $13K on average.
Where does Women's Foundation of California give grants?
Women's Foundation of California gives mostly in California: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (14 grants), Oakland, CA (10 grants), San Francisco, CA (9 grants) and San Diego, CA (4 grants).
Does Women's Foundation of California give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 60 grants with a stated purpose on Women's Foundation of California's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Promote Racial, Gender and Economic Justice" (60 grants).
Who are Women's Foundation of California's largest grantees?
Women's Foundation of California's largest 2025 grantees include Time for Change Foundation ($500,000), Center for Cultural Power ($125,000) and Harness Community ($125,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Women's Foundation of California?
Women's Foundation of California reported $18.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.2M.
What does Women's Foundation of California fund?
The foundation’s mission is to amplify, mobilize, and redistribute power and resources to community leaders advancing racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Women's Foundation of California?
Women's Foundation of California has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check womensfoundca.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Women's Foundation of California's EIN?
Women's Foundation of California's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2752421. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 22, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 19, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Women's Foundation of California's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Women's Foundation of California funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/women-s-foundation-of-california-morg_c6517288138d4c0e927b7ee6fe6eabbd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_942752421_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Women's Foundation of California funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/women-s-foundation-of-california-morg_c6517288138d4c0e927b7ee6fe6eabbd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Women's Foundation of California'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.
Women's Foundation of California down — hundreds of funders to go?