Empowering system-impacted youth and their families in Solano, Contra Costa and Alameda counties through programs in arts, wellness, community, and workforce development.
Center for Urban Exellence’s recent grantmaking includes a $90,000 subgrant to Mocha Autism Network in Oakland, alongside a $25,000 subgrant to Dwayne Hunt in Elk Grove. Those awards sit within a broader local funding profile tied to system-impacted youth and their families in Solano, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties. The foundation’s stated work centers on arts, wellness, community, and workforce development, and its active programs show that this support is delivered through direct programming as well as fiscal sponsorship and other pass-through structures. The organization is a public charity with annual grants of $115,000 and total assets of $78,796 on its latest 990. Its current program mix points to hands-on pathways rather than broad, generalized philanthropy: youth and young adults ages 16+ are served through career exploration, training scholarships, mentorship, paid or volunteer work experience, and college-readiness support. Another strand of work is the Propulsion Lab, a pilot partnership with Cal Maritime and the Solano Workforce Development Board that introduces youth to biotechnology and bioeconomy careers through training and industry exposure.
Workforce development is central to Center for Urban Exellence’s grantmaking and programming. The Fostering Resilience Workforce Program serves youth and young adults ages 16+ who face barriers to graduating, employment, or career entry, combining holistic case management with training scholarships, mentorship, and paid or volunteer work experience. A second major theme is STEM career exposure. Through the Propulsion Lab, the foundation backs a pilot partnership with Cal Maritime and the Solano Workforce Development Board that introduces youth to careers in bioeconomy and biotechnology through hands-on training and career exploration. The foundation also supports arts, wellness, and community infrastructure. Its fiscal sponsorship work is aligned with arts, wellness, community development, and workforce development, while The Center Fund is tied to a permanent hub campaign that includes counseling space, transitional housing units, and community amenities.
Center for Urban Exellence’s typical grant size falls between $41,250 and $73,750, with a median of $57,500. The recent grants list shows two 2023 awards, both structured as subgrants of an SF Foundation grant, which points to a pass-through role rather than a stand-alone direct-grant program. The organization is a public charity and does not fund individuals through its foundation profile, although its active programs include services for young people and families. Its current grantmaking and program options are offered on an unsolicited basis, including the Propulsion Lab and fiscal sponsorship pathways.
$85K
$79K
$594K
$625K
Most grants fall between $41K and $74K, with a median of $58K.
25th Percentile
$41K
Median
$58K
75th Percentile
$74K
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Giving is fully concentrated in California: 100% of grants in the file went to recipients in the HQ state, and California is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipients were in Oakland and Elk Grove, while active programming is centered in Vallejo and extends across Solano County, Contra Costa County, Alameda County, and the Bay Area. The foundation’s footprint is local rather than national, with no non-US recipient countries shown in the grant record.
Its stated focus areas include youth development, workforce development, arts and creative programs, mental health and wellness, community resilience, training and workshops, transitional housing for youth, and career readiness and internships. The program descriptions also emphasize support for system-impacted youth and their families in Solano, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $41,250 at the 25th percentile, $57,500 at the median, and $73,750 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants file also includes awards of $90,000 and $25,000, both recorded as subgrants.
Yes. Multiple active programs are marked as accepting unsolicited support, including the Propulsion Lab, Planned Giving, Fiscal Sponsorship, the Fostering Resilience Workforce Program, and The Center Fund.
The grant record is entirely California-based: 100% of grants went to recipients in California, and California is the top state by grant count. The named recipient cities in the recent grants list are Oakland and Elk Grove.
The recent grants list includes Mocha Autism Network in Oakland, California, and Dwayne Hunt in Elk Grove, California. Both are listed as subgrants of an SF Foundation grant.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Center for Urban Exellence that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects must align with CUE's mission supporting system-impacted youth and families and focus on arts, wellness, community, or workforce development. Applicants can be individuals, groups, or unincorporated organizations.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mocha Autism Network | Oakland, CA | $84,850 | 2025 | Capacity Building |
| Mocha Autism Network | OAKLAND, CA | $25,102 | 2024 | AWARDS TO ORGANIZATION |
| CSWS | SOQUEL, CA | $10,500 | 2024 | CSWS CONSULTING GRANT |
| Mocha Autism Network | Oakland, CA | $90,000 | 2023 | subgrant of award from SF Foundation |
| Dwayne Hunt | Elk Grove, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | Subgrant of SF Foundation Grant |
Mocha Autism Network
$84,850Capacity Building
Mocha Autism Network
$25,102AWARDS TO ORGANIZATION
CSWS
$10,500CSWS CONSULTING GRANT
Mocha Autism Network
$90,000subgrant of award from SF Foundation
Dwayne Hunt
$25,000Subgrant of SF Foundation Grant
