Raised vegetable beds and benches in a community garden

Cause Community developmentState California678 funders

Foundations that fund community development in California

678 private foundations based in California with a return in the last two years gave $240.6 million to community development organizations in 1,727 grants. The median grant was $25,000, and 163 of these foundations accept applications.

Foundations with a return in the last two years, each by its latest return (tax years 2023 to 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

Ranked by giving to community development

Top 50

Grants in each foundation’s latest return to organizations whose IRS category is community development.

  1. The William & Flora Hewlett FoundationMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2024 46 grants Accepts applications $17,678,392 to community development
  2. The California EndowmentLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 85 grants Preselected only $17,642,256 to community development
  3. Dart-L FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $16,680,000 to community development
  4. The James Irvine FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 42 grants Preselected only $14,680,660 to community development
  5. Good Ventures FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $12,532,565 to community development
  6. The Benificus FoundationSan Carlos, CA · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $7,515,082 to community development
  7. Crankstart FoundationSan Jose, CA · tax year 2024 19 grants Preselected only $7,287,500 to community development
  8. The Schmidt Family FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 29 grants Accepts applications $6,744,500 to community development
  9. The David and Lucile Packard FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 32 grants Accepts applications $5,687,472 to community development
  10. The Heising-Simons FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 29 grants Preselected only $5,650,833 to community development
  11. Weingart FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 40 grants Accepts applications $5,504,793 to community development
  12. Conrad N Hilton FoundationWestlake Village, CA · tax year 2024 34 grants Accepts applications $5,263,800 to community development
  13. Gordon E and Betty I Moore FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 8 grants Preselected only $5,114,288 to community development
  14. The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation DBA Jim Joseph FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 20 grants Preselected only $4,939,500 to community development
  15. Samueli FoundationCorona Del Mar, CA · tax year 2024 11 grants Preselected only $4,334,000 to community development
  16. Valhalla FoundationWoodside, CA · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $4,300,000 to community development
  17. The Sobrato Family FoundationMountain View, CA · tax year 2024 37 grants Accepts applications $3,871,389 to community development
  18. The California Wellness FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 34 grants Accepts applications $3,666,364 to community development
  19. Sergey Brin Family FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 6 grants Preselected only $3,375,000 to community development
  20. The Ressler Family FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $3,250,000 to community development
  21. The Shillman FoundationRancho Santa Fe, CA · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $2,746,658 to community development
  22. Waverley Street FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $2,600,000 to community development
  23. Jacobs Family FoundationSan Diego, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $2,550,000 to community development
  24. Clif Family FoundationSaint Helena, CA · tax year 2024 22 grants Accepts applications $2,513,500 to community development
  25. The Eli and Edythe Broad FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 6 grants Preselected only $2,274,611 to community development
  26. Omidyar Network Fund IncRedwood City, CA · tax year 2024 6 grants Preselected only $2,100,000 to community development
  27. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $1,910,000 to community development
  28. Stupski FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 11 grants Preselected only $1,764,000 to community development
  29. Bigglesworth Family Foundation IncSonoma, CA · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $1,750,000 to community development
  30. The Grove FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Preselected only $1,620,000 to community development
  31. Fund for NonviolenceBerkeley, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $1,600,000 to community development
  32. East West Bank FoundationPasadena, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Preselected only $1,516,039 to community development
  33. Phantasos FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $1,487,608 to community development
  34. The Skoll FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 7 grants Accepts applications $1,455,500 to community development
  35. Arrow ImpactMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $1,350,000 to community development
  36. Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr FundSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 10 grants Preselected only $1,212,100 to community development
  37. The Conrad Prebys FoundationSan Diego, CA · tax year 2024 14 grants Accepts applications $1,207,006 to community development
  38. Walter and Elise Haas FundSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 13 grants Accepts applications $1,196,000 to community development
  39. Ruan Family FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $1,194,212 to community development
  40. Gilead FoundationFoster City, CA · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $1,150,000 to community development
  41. Skyline FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $1,150,000 to community development
  42. Roy and Patricia Disney Family FoundationBurbank, CA · tax year 2024 19 grants Preselected only $1,117,500 to community development
  43. California Physicians' Service FDN DBA Blue Shield of California FDNSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2025 5 grants Accepts applications $1,025,000 to community development
  44. Howard and Irene Levine Family FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $1,000,000 to community development
  45. Wasserman FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $1,000,000 to community development
  46. The McConnell FoundationRedding, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Accepts applications $904,980 to community development
  47. Gitlab FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2025 5 grants Preselected only $861,000 to community development
  48. The Josephine S Gumbiner FoundationLong Beach, CA · tax year 2025 4 grants Accepts applications $850,000 to community development
  49. Perenchio FoundationPasadena, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $850,000 to community development
  50. Globetrotter FoundationPaicines, CA · tax year 2024 7 grants Preselected only $832,500 to community development

Open to applications

25 foundations

The return gives an application contact and does not check the preselected-only box.

  1. The William & Flora Hewlett FoundationMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2024 46 grants Accepts applications $17,678,392 to community development
  2. The Schmidt Family FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 29 grants Accepts applications $6,744,500 to community development
  3. The David and Lucile Packard FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 32 grants Accepts applications $5,687,472 to community development
  4. Weingart FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 40 grants Accepts applications $5,504,793 to community development
  5. Conrad N Hilton FoundationWestlake Village, CA · tax year 2024 34 grants Accepts applications $5,263,800 to community development
  6. The Sobrato Family FoundationMountain View, CA · tax year 2024 37 grants Accepts applications $3,871,389 to community development
  7. The California Wellness FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 34 grants Accepts applications $3,666,364 to community development
  8. Jacobs Family FoundationSan Diego, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $2,550,000 to community development
  9. Clif Family FoundationSaint Helena, CA · tax year 2024 22 grants Accepts applications $2,513,500 to community development
  10. The Skoll FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 7 grants Accepts applications $1,455,500 to community development
  11. The Conrad Prebys FoundationSan Diego, CA · tax year 2024 14 grants Accepts applications $1,207,006 to community development
  12. Walter and Elise Haas FundSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 13 grants Accepts applications $1,196,000 to community development
  13. California Physicians' Service FDN DBA Blue Shield of California FDNSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2025 5 grants Accepts applications $1,025,000 to community development
  14. The McConnell FoundationRedding, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Accepts applications $904,980 to community development
  15. The Josephine S Gumbiner FoundationLong Beach, CA · tax year 2025 4 grants Accepts applications $850,000 to community development
  16. The Ralph M Parsons FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 19 grants Accepts applications $830,500 to community development
  17. Hidden Leaf FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 6 grants Accepts applications $775,000 to community development
  18. The Duffield Family Foundation DBA Maddie's FundPleasanton, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $625,000 to community development
  19. Mitchell Kapor FoundationOakland, CA · tax year 2024 6 grants Accepts applications $475,000 to community development
  20. The Marisla FoundationLaguna Beach, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Accepts applications $400,000 to community development
  21. The Christensen FundSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 2 grants Accepts applications $350,000 to community development
  22. S H Cowell FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Accepts applications $305,000 to community development
  23. The Ahmanson FoundationBeverly Hills, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Accepts applications $301,200 to community development
  24. Tevanian Family FoundationMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $300,000 to community development
  25. With FoundationSan Mateo, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $300,000 to community development