Grants
Partnering with the Community to Improve the Health of All Californians
The California Endowment's grant making is guided by our three bold ideas: People Power, Reimaging Institutions and a 21st Century Health System for All.
The California Endowment does not accept unsolicited letters of intent or proposals. Funding opportunities are by invitation only.
Our types of funding:
Single & multi-year grants
Program support grants
General operating support grants
Direct Charitable Activity (DCA) contracts
Program-Related Investments (PRI)
Specific project grants (SPGs)
Who we fund includes:
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are not classified as private foundations
- California state and local government entities
- Faith-based organizations that welcome and serve all members of the community
We do not fund:
- Individuals
- Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status
- Organizations that require membership in a certain religion or that advance a particular religious faith
- Political campaigns, voter registration drives or lobbying for specific legislation
Want to See where our Grant money has been Awarded?
See a visualization of grant recipient information
Explore our grantmakingGrants Application Process
The California Endowment’s funding opportunities are by invitation only.
Step 1: Submit application
After receiving an invitation, all requests for funding must include a completed application, any required supplementary documents, and a current GuideStar profile.
(By Invitation only)
Step 2: Submission confirmation
When your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an e-mail confirmation.
Step 3: Proposal review
All prospective proposals will be reviewed for quality, alignment with strategy, and adherence to legal and financial requirements.
Typically the application review process is completed within 6 to 8 weeks.
If a request is approved, grantees will receive an email notification and award documents via DocuSign, The California Endowment’s electronic signature tool.
Grantee Payment & Reporting
Grant payment
Once a grant is approved, the authorized signer for the organization will receive an email. This email will link to an Award Letter and/or Award Agreement, and other grant-related information. The authorized signer should review, sign, and promptly return these documents.
Once executed award documents are received, The California Endowment will email the primary contact for the organization to complete electronic payment.
Upon request, The California Endowment will issue a paper check for a first payment that will be mailed via U.S. Postal Service.
Grantee reporting
Grantees should refer to their executed Award Agreements for details on their reporting schedules and requirements. It is the responsibility of the grantee to notify The California Endowment about any potential delays in reporting.
Grant reports typically include a narrative progress report and a project expenditure report, and are due at specific intervals during the grant period.
Access the Grantee Reporting PortalIf you have questions regarding online reporting, please contact gms@calendow.org or your grants analyst.
Direct Charitable Activities
The California Endowment enters into Direct Charitable Activity (DCA) contracts with for-profit and non-profit entities by invitation only.
What are Direct Charitable Activities (DCAs)?
Direct Charitable Activities are those activities that are consistent with The California Endowment’s mission, but are conducted by The California Endowment (or its contractors) and whose primary and significant purpose is to achieve The California Endowment’s charitable purpose, though the activities may produce an incidental, shared or mutual benefit to a third party.
DCA request and review process
The California Endowment’s Program Managers are engaged with their respective campaigns and are responsible for identifying prospective contractors who could provide services and assistance to achieve or advance The California Endowment’s charitable purpose.
Step 1: Submit application
Prospective contractors selected to apply will receive an email that contains a link for submitting their contract application and supplemental documents for review.
Step 2: Submission confirmation
Our Program, Finance, and Legal teams will review the submitted application and documents to determine the prospective contractor’s capacity and eligibility to complete the proposed contract deliverables.
Step 3: Eligibility review
In addition to an internal review, The California Endowment also conducts an external review of the prospective contractor. As such, the prospective contractor may be asked to provide additional documents and information to establish the organization’s legal name and/or independent contractor status and budget information as it relates to the proposed project.
Impact Investing
The California Endowment is committed to utilizing its investment capacity in alignment with its mission and values.
Through our $250 million commitment to impact investing, we seek to use our power as investors to provide strategic capital that lifts-up vulnerable and disinvested communities in California and supports a world where capital is aligned with our mission and values. As part of that ambition, we are focused on addressing the historical and ongoing racial inequities in this country to advance greater racial equity. Our Impact Investing toolkit includes Program-Related Investments and Mission-Related Investments.
Program-Related Investments
The California Endowment has a $200 million commitment to Program-Related Investments (PRIs). Our PRIs are focused on the following priorities in California:
Building a more equitable and just financial system at scale in California.
Promoting innovative financing ideas that address systemic inequities and focus on the needs of vulnerable communities.
Responding to unforeseen events and opportunities to protect and support California’s communities.
PRIs are financial instruments that must be repaid but also provide more flexible terms than traditional financial institutions.
Many of our PRIs are made as long-term loans but we are increasingly experimenting with other financial products that will advance our mission, such as guarantees. Our typical PRI recipient is a community-based non-profit financial intermediary. We may strategically combine our PRIs with grants so that we are able to offer a continuum of comprehensive support.
Over the last decade, our PRIs have primarily addressed the following:
Increased access to health services
Expanded the availability of fresh food for low-income communities
Supported vital community infrastructure through affordable housing and community facilities
Increased responsible financial services for consumers and small businesses
Cumulative PRI Dollars Deployed
The Endowment’s first PRI was made in 1999 to the Rural Communities Assistance Corporation, a mission-driven community development financial institution that supports rural communities. Since then, we have deployed nearly $120MM in PRIs and guarantees.
Sample PRI Recipients
Our PRI recipients are dedicated to serving vulnerable and disinvested communities in California. Here are just a few examples of our PRI partners:
Community Investment Guarantee Pool
In January 2020, The California Endowment, in partnership with LOCUS Impact Investing and foundations across the country, launched the nation’s first guarantee pool focused on community needs.
Watch Video
Self Help Federal Credit Union
SHFCU has been a long-term partner of The California Endowment. The CDFI provides responsible and fair financial products to low-income populations and is building a more equitable and just financial system in California.
Watch Video
California FreshWorks
TCE is a long-term supporter of California FreshWorks, a program focused on increasing healthy food access and a more just and equitable food system in California.
Watch Video
Genesis LA
This community development financial institution is a partner of The California Endowment in Southern California. Genesis works in close collaboration with community to finance projects that support nonprofits, affordable housing, community facilities and economic development.
Mission-Related Investments
The California Endowment made its first MRI over a decade ago. An additional $50 million commitment to Mission-Related Investments (MRIs) was made in 2020 to further explore how The Endowment can use its investment capacity in alignment with its mission. MRIs differ from PRIs, as they seek a market-rate return in addition to impact returns.
Through investing in MRIs, The Endowment seeks to participate in the development of the growing impact investing field and increase the number of institutional fund managers that have the expertise to authentically consider impact as part of their investment theses. We also join our peers in the movement to address the racial wealth gap and inequitable access to capital among women and people of color.