Working Partnerships USA
Working Partnerships USA is a public charity based in Silicon Valley that leads collaborative campaigns addressing inequality and poverty. Its work centers on quality jobs, healthy communities, equitable growth, and a vibrant democracy.
Working Partnerships USA at a glance
In short: Working Partnerships USA gave $1.1M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $118K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,066,043
- -1.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $118,449
- +9.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $60,513
- Total assets
- $9,304,685
- -0.5% 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 September 2026.
How to apply to Working Partnerships USA
- Contact
Mailing address: 2302 Zanker Rd, San Jose, CA 95131
Phone: (408) 809-2120
Website: https://wpusa.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Working Partnerships USA funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Step Forward Foundation ($363K). Together the top 9 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 35 grants of 71 (49%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Working Partnerships USA is based in Silicon Valley and describes its work as focused on building an inclusive regional economy. The listed 2020 grantees are located in California, including San Jose, Morgan Hill, Oakland, Santa Rosa, and other communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Working Partnerships USA gives
- Giving fell 42% 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $246K (2019) to $1.8M (2021). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Step Forward Foundation Morgan Hill, CA | Wage theft education and outreach | $363,043 |
| San Mateo County Union Com Al Foster City, CA | Trades introduction program | $345,004 |
| The Prosperity Lab San Jose, CA | Wage theft education and outreach | $87,302 |
| Enterprise Foundation Inc San Jose, CA | Wage theft education and outreach | $78,262 |
| Tradeswomen Inc Oakland, CA | Trades orientation program | $60,513 |
| Day Worker Center of MV Mountain View, CA | Wage theft education and outreach | $50,305 |
| Vietnamese American Roundatab San Jose, CA | Wage theft education and outreach | $47,614 |
| Somos Mayfair San Jose, CA | Community economic resilience | $27,500 |
| Valley Health Foundation San Jose, CA | Event sponsorship | $6,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,304,685 | $7,623,411 | $7,612,762 | $1,066,043 | 9 | $189,741 |
| 2023 | $9,350,399 | $8,513,860 | $6,757,098 | $1,080,776 | 10 | $112,139 |
| 2022 | $7,730,192 | $7,106,246 | $6,986,567 | $1,170,388 | 15 | $18,840 |
| 2021 | $7,685,088 | $14,971,452 | $12,750,643 | $1,838,691 | 22 | $5,368 |
| 2020 | $5,660,863 | $9,373,209 | $8,195,656 | $1,119,871 | 15 | $5,491 |
| 2019 | $3,676,350 | $3,624,179 | $3,439,703 | $245,548 | 11 | $1,322 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Working Partnerships USA’s mission is to tackle the root causes of inequality and poverty through collaborative campaigns for quality jobs, healthy communities, equitable growth, and a vibrant democracy. It also aims to build the governing power of working families, low-income residents and tenants, and communities of color.
The organization describes its work in five areas: Just Economy, Future of Workers, Just Cities, Care for All, and Vibrant Democracy. Its stated strategies include community organizing and civic engagement, research and policy development, leadership development, and alliance building.
In 2020, the organization gave grants to groups with varied missions. For example, grantee STEP Forward Foundation described its mission as providing low- and no-cost legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. WorkSafe Inc. said its mission is to prevent worker illness, injury, and death by bringing justice to the workplace. SOMOS Mayfair described its work as supporting children, organizing families, and connecting neighbors to address systemic inequities.
Grantmaking
The 2024, 2023, and 2022 filings each report zero grants. The available 2020 grant examples include:
These are examples of grants reported for 2020; the available information does not establish a typical grant size or a complete 2020 grant total.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists these officers and directors:
- Maria Noel Fernandez — Executive Dir.
- Jeffrey Buchanan — Dir. Pol & PA
- Derecka Mehrens — Strategic Adv
- Louise Auerhahn — Dire. Econ & WP
- Andrea Cousins — Develop Dir.
- Toni Bellante — Chief of Staff
- Zeenab Aneez — Dire. Commun
- Saira Malik — Dir. Finance
- Leslie Rodriguez — President
- Fred Keeley — Vice President
Working Partnerships USA is led by Maria Noel Fernandez, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 8 of 16 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Maria Noel Fernandez
Executive Director
Deputy Executive Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$103K (2019) → $188K (2024)
Leslie Rodriguez
President
Secretary → President, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Buchanan
Director Pol
Public Policy → Pub Pol Director, 2023
Pub Pol Director → Director Pol, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$123K (2019) → $167K (2024)
Andrea M Cousins
Develop Director
Development Director → Develop Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$121K (2021) → $143K (2024)
Saira Malik
Director Finance
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$69K (2024)
Derecka Mehrens
Strategic Advisor
Executive Director → Strat. Advisor, 2023
Strat. Advisor → Strategic Advisor, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$128K (2019) → $143K (2024)
Louise Auerhahn
Dire. Econ
Director Econ & Wf Pol → Dire. Econ, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$125K (2023) → $133K (2024)
Zeenab Aneez
Dire. Communications
Director of Committee → Dire. Communications, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$123K (2023) → $128K (2024)
Toni Bellante
Chief of Staff
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$128K (2024)
Annette Bernhardt
Member
Trustee → Member, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Thigpenn
Member
Trustee → Member, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dorian T Warren
Member
Trustee → Member, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fred Keeley
Vice President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean Cohen
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Kehinde
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tho Do
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Mike Torres (2022–2023) — Director Finance & Administrator
- Former: Tonina Bellante (2023) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Enrique Fernandez (2019–2022) — President
- Former: Robert Brownstein (2022) — Strategic Advisor
- Former: Ben Field (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Lisa Hoyos (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Janice Ferris (2019) — Director of Finance
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $188K, to Maria Noel Fernandez (Executive Dir.). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Working Partnerships USA
How much does Working Partnerships USA give each year?
Working Partnerships USA gave $1.1M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 10 grants.
What is Working Partnerships USA's typical grant size?
Working Partnerships USA's median grant in 2024 was $60,513, and its average grant was $118,449, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Working Partnerships USA give grants?
Working Partnerships USA gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Jose, CA (5 grants).
Does Working Partnerships USA give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Working Partnerships USA's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Wage theft education and outreach" (5 grants).
Who are Working Partnerships USA's largest grantees?
Working Partnerships USA's largest 2024 grantees include Step Forward Foundation ($363,043), San Mateo County Union Com Al ($345,004) and The Prosperity Lab ($87,302), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Working Partnerships USA?
Working Partnerships USA reported $9.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.6M.
What does Working Partnerships USA fund?
Working Partnerships USA’s mission is to tackle the root causes of inequality and poverty through collaborative campaigns for quality jobs, healthy communities, equitable growth, and a vibrant democracy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Working Partnerships USA?
Working Partnerships USA has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check wpusa.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Working Partnerships USA's EIN?
Working Partnerships USA's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0387535. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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