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    Grants in California

    13,389 foundations$54.4B total annual giving$14K median grant35 metro areas

    California Grantmaking at a Glance

    Foundations HQ'd Here

    13,389

    Foundations Funding Here

    38,323

    Total Annual Giving

    $54.4B

    Total Assets Under Management

    Largest Foundations in California

    FoundationCityAnnual GivingTotal AssetsMedian GrantNTEEScope
    DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INCSAN FRANCISCO$8.6B$47.5B$17KT300National
    Silicon Valley Community FoundationMountain View$4.9B$12.3B$55KT31National
    Genentech Patient Foundation

    Explore California Foundations

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    California(locked)

    What Gets Funded in California

    Top Cause Areas

    Education
    4,569$9.3B
    Education4,569 · $9.3B
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism
    4,263$18.3B
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism4,263 · $18.3B
    Human Services
    2,756$6.2B
    Human Services2,756 · $6.2B

    Where Foundations Are Located in California

    Top 10 metro areas by foundation count

    Metro AreaFoundationsTotal Annual GivingAvg Grant Size
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA7,851$10.6B$1.4M
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA4,624$30.4B$6.6M
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

    Types of Foundations in California

    Family Foundation
    27.1%
    5,88327.1%$9.2B
    Family Foundation5,883 (27.1%)

    $9.2B in annual giving

    Independent Foundation
    22.6%
    4,92222.6%$6.9B

    Typical Grant Profile in California

    Median Grant Size

    $14K

    New Grantee Rate

    44%

    Accept Unsolicited Proposals

    62%

    Most Recent Filing Year

    2026

    The typical California foundation awards grants of $14K. Approximately 44% of California foundations actively fund new organizations, and 62% accept unsolicited proposals.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Grants in California

    How many foundations give grants in California?
    There are 13,389 grantmaking foundations headquartered in California and an additional 24,934 out-of-state foundations that fund California-based organizations.
    What is the average grant size in California?
    The median grant from California foundations is $14K. Actual grant sizes vary widely depending on the foundation's size and focus area.
    What are the largest foundations in California?

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    California is home to 13,389 grantmaking foundations with combined annual giving of $54.4B. The median grant from California foundations is $14K.

    $938.4B

    Median Grant Size

    $14K

    South San Francisco
    $3.5B
    $424.1M
    $3.4B
    P60
    Local
    TIDES FOUNDATIONSAN FRANCISCO$971.1M$534.5M$50KT300National
    SERGEY BRIN FAMILY FOUNDATION C/O PACIFIC FOUNDATION SERVICESSAN FRANCISCO$688.7M$4.3B$500KT22National
    THE WILLIAM & FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATIONMENLO PARK$625M$14.2B$150KT21National
    UCLA FOUNDATIONLos Angeles$536.7M$6.3B$100KB110Regional
    GORDON E AND BETTY I MOORE FOUNDATIONPALO ALTO$391.1M$11.5B$100KT20National
    The David and Lucile Packard FoundationLos Altos$366.2M$8.5B$150KT20National
    SANDLER FOUNDATIONSAN FRANCISCO$353.6M$251.7M$500KT900National
    DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC

    SAN FRANCISCO

    Annual Giving

    $8.6B

    Total Assets

    $47.5B

    Median Grant

    $17K

    T300National
    Silicon Valley Community Foundation

    Mountain View

    Annual Giving

    $4.9B

    Total Assets

    $12.3B

    Median Grant

    $55K

    T31National
    Genentech Patient Foundation

    South San Francisco

    Annual Giving

    $3.5B

    Total Assets

    $424.1M

    Median Grant

    $3.4B

    P60Local
    TIDES FOUNDATION

    SAN FRANCISCO

    Annual Giving

    $971.1M

    Total Assets

    $534.5M

    Median Grant

    $50K

    T300National
    SERGEY BRIN FAMILY FOUNDATION C/O PACIFIC FOUNDATION SERVICES

    SAN FRANCISCO

    Annual Giving

    $688.7M

    Total Assets

    $4.3B

    Median Grant

    $500K

    T22National
    THE WILLIAM & FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION

    MENLO PARK

    Annual Giving

    $625M

    Total Assets

    $14.2B

    Median Grant

    $150K

    T21National
    UCLA FOUNDATION

    Los Angeles

    Annual Giving

    $536.7M

    Total Assets

    $6.3B

    Median Grant

    $100K

    B110Regional
    GORDON E AND BETTY I MOORE FOUNDATION

    PALO ALTO

    Annual Giving

    $391.1M

    Total Assets

    $11.5B

    Median Grant

    $100K

    T20National
    The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

    Los Altos

    Annual Giving

    $366.2M

    Total Assets

    $8.5B

    Median Grant

    $150K

    T20National
    SANDLER FOUNDATION

    SAN FRANCISCO

    Annual Giving

    $353.6M

    Total Assets

    $251.7M

    Median Grant

    $500K

    T900National
    See all 13,389 foundations
    Arts, Culture & Humanities
    2,442$2B
    Arts, Culture & Humanities2,442 · $2B
    Religion-Related
    1,936$11.3B
    Religion-Related1,936 · $11.3B
    Health Care
    1,791$4.9B
    Health Care1,791 · $4.9B
    International Affairs
    1,096$833.2M
    International Affairs1,096 · $833.2M
    Animal-Related
    894$545.8M
    Animal-Related894 · $545.8M
    Environment
    888$2.3B
    Environment888 · $2.3B
    Youth Development
    878$781.8M
    Youth Development878 · $781.8M
    CategoryFundersGiving

    Common Focus Areas

    General Operating(3,115)Healthcare(2,081)Youth Development(1,690)College Access(1,497)Research(1,406)Arts Culture(1,327)Food Access(1,053)Capacity Building(1,045)Emergency Assistance(916)Housing(902)Conservation(689)Mental Health Services(659)Workforce Development(525)Advocacy(519)Community Organizing(456)Environmental Education(399)Disaster Relief(326)Cultural Preservation(298)Literacy(297)Early Childhood(293)
    1,725
    $7.2B
    $4.2M
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA1,684$1.7B$1M
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA1,047$1.2B$1.1M
    Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA897$498.3M$555K
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA415$712.8M$1.7M
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA352$163.8M$465K
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA284$161.7M$569K
    Fresno, CA264$219.8M$833K
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
    Foundations

    7,851

    Total Giving

    $10.6B

    Avg Grant

    $1.4M

    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
    Foundations

    4,624

    Total Giving

    $30.4B

    Avg Grant

    $6.6M

    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
    Foundations

    1,725

    Total Giving

    $7.2B

    Avg Grant

    $4.2M

    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
    Foundations

    1,684

    Total Giving

    $1.7B

    Avg Grant

    $1M

    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
    Foundations

    1,047

    Total Giving

    $1.2B

    Avg Grant

    $1.1M

    Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
    Foundations

    897

    Total Giving

    $498.3M

    Avg Grant

    $555K

    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
    Foundations

    415

    Total Giving

    $712.8M

    Avg Grant

    $1.7M

    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
    Foundations

    352

    Total Giving

    $163.8M

    Avg Grant

    $465K

    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
    Foundations

    284

    Total Giving

    $161.7M

    Avg Grant

    $569K

    Fresno, CA
    Foundations

    264

    Total Giving

    $219.8M

    Avg Grant

    $833K

    Independent Foundation
    4,922 (22.6%)

    $6.9B in annual giving

    Operating Nonprofit
    19.7%
    4,28419.7%$5B
    Operating Nonprofit4,284 (19.7%)

    $5B in annual giving

    Private Operating Foundation
    1,5227.0%$3.9B
    Private Operating Foundation1,522 (7.0%)

    $3.9B in annual giving

    Other
    9424.3%$84.4M
    Other942 (4.3%)

    $84.4M in annual giving

    Service Club / Fraternal
    7803.6%$201.1M
    Service Club / Fraternal780 (3.6%)

    $201.1M in annual giving

    Professional Association
    6342.9%$424.1M
    Professional Association634 (2.9%)

    $424.1M in annual giving

    Other
    12.8%
    2,77912.8%$28.7B
    Other2,779 (12.8%)

    $28.7B in annual giving

    Foundation TypeCountShareGiving
    The largest foundations in California by annual giving are DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Genentech Patient Foundation, with combined giving of $17B.
    What types of organizations do California foundations fund?
    The most commonly funded areas in California include Education, Philanthropy & Voluntarism, Human Services. Explore the focus area breakdown above for the full distribution.
    How do I find grants for my nonprofit in California?
    Kindora's free foundation directory includes 13,389 California foundations with IRS 990 financial data, grant history, and geographic reach. Use the interactive discovery table above to filter by metro area, focus area, foundation type, and grant size. Sign up for a free account to access AI-powered grant intelligence including fit scores and application tips.

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