About California Charter Schools Association
CCSA supports the California nonprofit charter school community through advocacy, policy, resources, and programs to expand and strengthen charter public schools and increase civic participation.
Focus Areas
K-12 educationeducation policycharter school supportcivic engagement
Who They Fund
charter schools and charter school networksstate education leaders/councils/associationsschool enrollment/recruitment teams or administratorsorganizations engaged in education policy research
Funding Style
advocacy/lobbying supportlegal defense fundingresearch grant (redistricting)
About California Charter Schools Association
A defining feature of California Charter Schools Association’s grantmaking is its support for charter school legal defense and enrollment growth, alongside direct contributions to the advocacy and policy work that shapes the sector. In the recent grants list, the largest award went to California Charter Schools Association Advocates for a $427,500 lobbying grant and redistricting research grant in 2023, followed by a $402,000 lobbying grant in 2024. That pairing shows the foundation backing both policy advocacy and the research used in school-choice debates. The foundation also funds school-level capacity work. Aspire Public Schools Foundation received $176,000 in 2023 and $148,000 in 2024 for enrollment growth grants, while Westlake Charter School was awarded $129,000 in 2023 and $117,000 in 2024 for the same purpose. Legal defense support is another visible thread: Napa Foundation for Options in Education, Alliance College-ready Public Schools, and Time Community Schools all appear in that category. The grants point to a funder oriented toward the operational and policy needs of California charter public schools, not individual students.
What California Charter Schools Association Funds
Policy and advocacy are central. California Charter Schools Association gave $427,500 in 2023 to California Charter Schools Association Advocates for a lobbying grant and redistricting research grant, then followed with a $402,000 lobbying grant in 2024. Those awards place legislative and district-level research work near the center of its funding. Enrollment support is another clear theme. Aspire Public Schools Foundation received $176,000 in 2023 and $148,000 in 2024 for enrollment growth grants, and Westlake Charter School received $129,000 in 2023 and $117,000 in 2024 for the same purpose. The foundation also backs legal defense. Napa Foundation for Options in Education received $124,587 in 2024 for a charter school legal defense fund grant, after a $33,924 grant in 2023 in the same category. Sponsorships and contributions extend the pattern to statewide relationship-building, including grants to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and state legislative organizations.
How California Charter Schools Association Gives
Typical grant size clusters around a median of $25,000, with the 25th percentile at $13,750 and the 75th percentile at $57,000. The recent grants list shows repeat recipients across 2023 and 2024, including California Charter Schools Association Advocates, Aspire Public Schools Foundation, Westlake Charter School, Napa Foundation for Options in Education, Voices College-bound Language Academy, and Adalid Gonzalez and Parents United for Public School Choice. That suggests ongoing support rather than isolated awards. The foundation is an operating nonprofit association rather than a private family foundation, and the grants shown are all programmatic contributions within the charter-school sector.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.5M
Total Assets
$34M
Total Revenue
$13.3M
Total Expenses
$14.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $14K and $57K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$14K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$57K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
MYRNA CASTREJON
Accepts unsolicited proposals
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for California Charter Schools Association?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime