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    Grants in California

    13,104 foundations$50.1B total annual giving$12K median grant35 metro areas

    California Grantmaking at a Glance

    Foundations HQ'd Here

    13,104

    Foundations Funding Here

    35,537

    Total Annual Giving

    $50.1B

    Total Assets Under Management

    $901.5B

    Largest Foundations in California

    FoundationCityAnnual GivingTotal AssetsMedian GrantNTEEScope
    DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INCSAN FRANCISCO$6.4B$41.1B$17KT300National
    Silicon Valley Community FoundationMountain View$4.9B$12.3B$55KT31National
    Genentech Patient FoundationSouth San Francisco

    Explore California Foundations

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    California(locked)

    What Gets Funded in California

    Top Cause Areas

    Education
    4,559$9.6B
    Education4,559 · $9.6B
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism
    4,258$17.7B
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism4,258 · $17.7B
    Human Services
    2,753$6.2B
    Human Services2,753 · $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, CA6,605$9.9B$1.5M
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA3,641$27B$7.4M
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA1,457

    Types of Foundations in California

    Family Foundation
    32.4%
    5,70232.4%$8.8B
    Family Foundation5,702 (32.4%)

    $8.8B in annual giving

    Independent Foundation
    27.5%
    4,84027.5%$8.3B
    Independent Foundation4,840 (27.5%)

    Typical Grant Profile in California

    Median Grant Size

    $12K

    New Grantee Rate

    72%

    Accept Unsolicited Proposals

    75%

    Most Recent Filing Year

    2026

    The typical California foundation awards grants of $12K. Approximately 72% of California foundations actively fund new organizations, and 75% accept unsolicited proposals.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Grants in California

    How many foundations give grants in California?
    There are 13,104 grantmaking foundations headquartered in California and an additional 22,433 out-of-state foundations that fund California-based organizations.
    What is the average grant size in California?
    The median grant from California foundations is $12K. Actual grant sizes vary widely depending on the foundation's size and focus area.
    What are the largest foundations in California?
    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 $14.8B.

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    California is home to 13,104 grantmaking foundations with combined annual giving of $50.1B. The median grant from California foundations is $12K.

    Median Grant Size

    $12K

    Total Grants on Record

    0

    $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$500KT22Regional
    THE WILLIAM & FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATIONMENLO PARK$625M$14.2B$150KT21National
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATIONSAN FRANCISCO$469.2M$4.1B$220MB110Local
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY FOUNDATIONBERKELEY$426.9M$3.7B$426.9MB110Local
    UCLA FOUNDATIONLos Angeles$417.3M$5.5B$100KB110Regional
    PAC-12 CONFERENCESAN RAMON$403.6M$158.1M$35.3MN60ZRegional
    DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC

    SAN FRANCISCO

    Annual Giving

    $6.4B

    Total Assets

    $41.1B

    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

    T22Regional
    THE WILLIAM & FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION

    MENLO PARK

    Annual Giving

    $625M

    Total Assets

    $14.2B

    Median Grant

    $150K

    T21National
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION

    SAN FRANCISCO

    Annual Giving

    $469.2M

    Total Assets

    $4.1B

    Median Grant

    $220M

    B110Local
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY FOUNDATION

    BERKELEY

    Annual Giving

    $426.9M

    Total Assets

    $3.7B

    Median Grant

    $426.9M

    B110Local
    UCLA FOUNDATION

    Los Angeles

    Annual Giving

    $417.3M

    Total Assets

    $5.5B

    Median Grant

    $100K

    B110Regional
    PAC-12 CONFERENCE

    SAN RAMON

    Annual Giving

    $403.6M

    Total Assets

    $158.1M

    Median Grant

    $35.3M

    N60ZRegional
    See all 13,104 foundations
    Arts, Culture & Humanities
    2,436$1.8B
    Arts, Culture & Humanities2,436 · $1.8B
    Religion-Related
    1,935$9.1B
    Religion-Related1,935 · $9.1B
    Health Care
    1,790$4.9B
    Health Care1,790 · $4.9B
    International Affairs
    1,097$832.4M
    International Affairs1,097 · $832.4M
    Animal-Related
    895$528.8M
    Animal-Related895 · $528.8M
    Environment
    881$2.3B
    Environment881 · $2.3B
    Youth Development
    877$765.3M
    Youth Development877 · $765.3M
    CategoryFundersGiving

    Common Focus Areas

    General Operating(3,053)Healthcare(2,039)Youth Development(1,665)College Access(1,480)Research(1,369)Arts Culture(1,301)Food Access(1,038)Capacity Building(1,028)Emergency Assistance(899)Housing(873)Conservation(678)Mental Health Services(643)Workforce Development(516)Advocacy(504)Community Organizing(453)Environmental Education(396)Disaster Relief(313)Cultural Preservation(301)Literacy(290)Early Childhood(289)
    $7.2B
    $4.9M
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA1,363$1.8B$1.3M
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA727$1.2B$1.6M
    Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA703$387.6M$551K
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA352$718.1M$2M
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA271$167.2M$617K
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA232$160.2M$690K
    Fresno, CA200$214M$1.1M
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
    Foundations

    6,605

    Total Giving

    $9.9B

    Avg Grant

    $1.5M

    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
    Foundations

    3,641

    Total Giving

    $27B

    Avg Grant

    $7.4M

    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
    Foundations

    1,457

    Total Giving

    $7.2B

    Avg Grant

    $4.9M

    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
    Foundations

    1,363

    Total Giving

    $1.8B

    Avg Grant

    $1.3M

    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
    Foundations

    727

    Total Giving

    $1.2B

    Avg Grant

    $1.6M

    Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
    Foundations

    703

    Total Giving

    $387.6M

    Avg Grant

    $551K

    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
    Foundations

    352

    Total Giving

    $718.1M

    Avg Grant

    $2M

    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
    Foundations

    271

    Total Giving

    $167.2M

    Avg Grant

    $617K

    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
    Foundations

    232

    Total Giving

    $160.2M

    Avg Grant

    $690K

    Fresno, CA
    Foundations

    200

    Total Giving

    $214M

    Avg Grant

    $1.1M

    $8.3B in annual giving

    Operating Nonprofit
    11.9%
    2,09111.9%$4.7B
    Operating Nonprofit2,091 (11.9%)

    $4.7B in annual giving

    Private Operating Foundation
    8.6%
    1,5238.6%$3.9B
    Private Operating Foundation1,523 (8.6%)

    $3.9B in annual giving

    Faith-Based Foundation
    4892.8%$500.1M
    Faith-Based Foundation489 (2.8%)

    $500.1M in annual giving

    Service Club / Fraternal
    4582.6%$206M
    Service Club / Fraternal458 (2.6%)

    $206M in annual giving

    Community Foundation
    3321.9%$6.8B
    Community Foundation332 (1.9%)

    $6.8B in annual giving

    Other
    12.4%
    2,18912.4%$16.8B
    Other2,189 (12.4%)

    $16.8B in annual giving

    Foundation TypeCountShareGiving
    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 13,104 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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