Education Grants in California

2,792 foundations fund education programs in California. See who they are, what they give, and how to reach them.

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These foundations have a track record of funding education work in California, based on IRS 990 grant data. Use the list below to find funders aligned with your mission, then sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits each one.

Open Grant Opportunities

Live programs funding education in California that your nonprofit can apply to now.

Open nowCloses in 4 days (Oct 1, 2026)Award: Varies

PFMC Community Health Grants (Spring/Fall grant cycles)

From Pacific Foundation for Medical Care

Primary care accessSpecialty care access / donated surgeriesOral health+6 more

Who can apply: Non-profit, health-related organizations and programs operating in PFMC's service area (primarily North San Francisco Bay Area counties and San Diego County). Projects should enhance availability or quality of health services for underserved, uninsured or low-income populations. Specific eligibility details or required documentation are not provided on the posted grant summaries.

Open nowCloses in 4 days (Oct 1, 2026)Award: $50 – $500

Educator Grants

From Sierra Foothills Audubon Society

Bird educationHabitat educationEnvironmental education+1 more

Who can apply: Schools and educators/teachers with a clear, thoughtful plan focused on community and student education. Eligible expenses include gear and tools, educational resources, field-trip transportation, direct project expenses, research supplies, and materials.

Open nowCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: $10K – $40K

California Watershed Protection Fund

From Rose Foundation

Water qualityWatershed protectionWater stewardship+6 more

Who can apply: Applicants must be a 501(c)(3), fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3), governmental or tribal entity, and demonstrate capacity and a strong track record of community-based water quality stewardship. Projects must benefit surface water quality in an eligible watershed. Grants to individuals, for-profit businesses, general operating support, and projects outside listed watersheds are ineligible.

Open nowCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: $10K – $40K

California Watershed Protection Fund

From Rose Foundation

Water qualityWatershed protectionWater stewardship+6 more

Who can apply: Applicants must be a 501(c)(3), fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3), governmental or tribal entity, or eligible nonprofit university entity. Applicants must demonstrate capacity and a strong track record of community-based water quality stewardship. Projects must benefit surface water quality in an eligible watershed. General operating support, grants to individuals or for-profit businesses, and projects outside the listed watersheds are ineligible.

Open nowCloses in 19 days (Oct 16, 2026)

Educational Innovation Awards

From American Assoc of Orthodontists Fdn

Orthodontic educationEducational innovation

Who can apply: The program is identified as an AAOF priority award area. Detailed eligibility and award amounts were not provided in the scraped content.

Open nowCloses in 19 days (Oct 16, 2026)Award: $100K – $25K

The Women’s and Girls’ Fund (Grantmaking)

From Kern Community Foundation

EducationEducational attainmentDaily-life knowledge+2 more

Who can apply: Organizations must have a presence in Kern County, benefit women and/or girls in Kern County, comply with Kern Community Foundation eligibility guidelines, be registered on the Online Grants Platform, and have a Silver or higher GuideStar transparency rating. Spring 2025 WGF grantees may not apply for WGF 2026 funding, and prior grantees with outstanding reports must complete them before applying.

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Deadlines and program details come from public sources and can change. Always confirm on the funder's official site before applying.

Largest Education in California Foundations

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

BALTIMORE, MD

Annual Giving

$594.1M

Total Assets

$25.3B

Median Grant

$120K

B430National
UCLA FOUNDATION

Los Angeles, CA

Annual Giving

$536.7M

Total Assets

$6.3B

Median Grant

$100K

B110Regional
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Annual Giving

$498.2M

Total Assets

$4.6B

Median Grant

$220M

B110Local
THE ANDREW W MELLON FOUNDATION

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$475.8M

Total Assets

$7.8B

Median Grant

$500K

B82National
THE OJC FUND

BROOKLYN, NY

Annual Giving

$448.3M

Total Assets

$58.5M

Median Grant

$29K

B90Local
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY FOUNDATION

BERKELEY, CA

Annual Giving

$415.4M

Total Assets

$4B

Median Grant

$426.9M

B110Local
University of Illinois Foundation

Champaign, IL

Annual Giving

$312.3M

Total Assets

$3.7B

Median Grant

$144K

B110Regional
US COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS INC

ARLINGTON, VA

Annual Giving

$274.5M

Total Assets

$133.9M

Median Grant

$150K

B99National
President and Fellows of Harvard College

CAMBRIDGE, MA

Annual Giving

$273.3M

Total Assets

$79.9B

Median Grant

$86K

B500National
THE ANNENBERG FOUNDATION

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA

Annual Giving

$258.7M

Total Assets

$1.5B

Median Grant

$25K

B82National
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES, CA

Annual Giving

$249.4M

Total Assets

$17B

Median Grant

$22K

B430Local
Emory University

Atlanta, GA

Annual Giving

$240.2M

Total Assets

$22.2B

Median Grant

$75K

B430National
UC SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION

LA JOLLA, CA

Annual Giving

$230.3M

Total Assets

$2B

Median Grant

$62.7M

B11Local
THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$208.3M

Total Assets

$26B

Median Grant

$69K

B430National
JOHN S AND JAMES L KNIGHT FOUNDATION

MIAMI, FL

Annual Giving

$198.6M

Total Assets

$2.5B

Median Grant

$107K

B82National
THE SCHMIDT FAMILY FOUNDATION

PALO ALTO, CA

Annual Giving

$195.5M

Total Assets

$2B

Median Grant

$100K

B82National
THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK CITY INC

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$189.7M

Total Assets

$171.8M

Median Grant

$56K

B99National
CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK

New York, NY

Annual Giving

$180.9M

Total Assets

$4.8B

Median Grant

$188K

B124National
Yale University

New Haven, CT

Annual Giving

$168.2M

Total Assets

$58.9B

Median Grant

$110K

B430National
University of Arizona Foundation

TUCSON, AZ

Annual Giving

$152.5M

Total Assets

$1.8B

Median Grant

$26K

B110Local
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

PITTSBURGH, PA

Annual Giving

$149.1M

Total Assets

$10.9B

Median Grant

$84K

B99National
DRUCKENMILLER FOUNDATION

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$135.7M

Total Assets

$1.8B

Median Grant

$25K

B82Regional
Cornell University

ITHACA, NY

Annual Giving

$126.7M

Total Assets

$19.8B

Median Grant

$88K

B430National
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

SAINT LOUIS, MO

Annual Giving

$120.7M

Total Assets

$22.3B

Median Grant

$54K

B430National
Ascendium Education Solutions Inc

MADISON, WI

Annual Giving

$117.5M

Total Assets

$222.6M

Median Grant

$89K

B82ZNational

Education grants by state

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