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.