A river running through a deep pine forest valley

Cause EnvironmentState California1,211 funders

Foundations that fund environment in California

1,211 private foundations based in California with a return in the last two years gave $800.9 million to environment organizations in 4,219 grants. The median grant was $15,000, and 226 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 environment

Top 50

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

  1. Sergey Brin Family FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 31 grants Preselected only $105,723,264 to environment
  2. Waverley Street FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 29 grants Preselected only $98,311,672 to environment
  3. The William & Flora Hewlett FoundationMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2024 176 grants Accepts applications $70,488,922 to environment
  4. Gordon E and Betty I Moore FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 98 grants Preselected only $67,407,830 to environment
  5. Sequoia Climate FoundationIrvine, CA · tax year 2023 46 grants Preselected only $62,365,000 to environment
  6. The Benificus FoundationSan Carlos, CA · tax year 2024 6 grants Preselected only $50,356,832 to environment
  7. The Schmidt Family FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 139 grants Accepts applications $37,956,264 to environment
  8. The Heising-Simons FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 53 grants Preselected only $23,924,730 to environment
  9. The David and Lucile Packard FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 87 grants Accepts applications $23,189,862 to environment
  10. Skyline FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 29 grants Preselected only $22,801,667 to environment
  11. Valhalla FoundationWoodside, CA · tax year 2024 9 grants Preselected only $20,717,000 to environment
  12. The Marisla FoundationLaguna Beach, CA · tax year 2024 91 grants Accepts applications $18,390,000 to environment
  13. The Carl Victor Page Memorial FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $11,000,000 to environment
  14. Laural FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 29 grants Preselected only $10,967,500 to environment
  15. Rippleworks IncSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $10,000,000 to environment
  16. Teach A Man to Fish FoundationIrvine, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $8,385,650 to environment
  17. Conrad N Hilton FoundationWestlake Village, CA · tax year 2024 28 grants Accepts applications $7,332,550 to environment
  18. Crankstart FoundationSan Jose, CA · tax year 2024 18 grants Preselected only $7,004,667 to environment
  19. The California EndowmentLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 42 grants Preselected only $4,744,100 to environment
  20. Rodan Family FoundationOrinda, CA · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $4,712,503 to environment
  21. Stupski FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 15 grants Preselected only $3,854,500 to environment
  22. Clif Family FoundationSaint Helena, CA · tax year 2024 81 grants Accepts applications $3,585,729 to environment
  23. Sea Change FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $3,500,000 to environment
  24. Rivian FoundationIrvine, CA · tax year 2025 25 grants Preselected only $3,350,000 to environment
  25. Green Earth Charitable OrganizationMilpitas, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $3,198,000 to environment
  26. Enlight FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $3,000,000 to environment
  27. PatagoniaorgVentura, CA · tax year 2024 170 grants Preselected only $2,808,500 to environment
  28. Good Ventures FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Preselected only $2,437,701 to environment
  29. Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr FundSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $2,284,400 to environment
  30. Woka FoundationNewbury Park, CA · tax year 2024 10 grants Preselected only $2,190,000 to environment
  31. Troper Wojcicki FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 7 grants Preselected only $2,175,000 to environment
  32. The California Wellness FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 29 grants Accepts applications $2,136,125 to environment
  33. Sean N Parker FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $2,050,000 to environment
  34. The Joseph and Vera Long FoundationWalnut Creek, CA · tax year 2025 13 grants Preselected only $2,050,000 to environment
  35. Camilla Chandler Family FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $2,000,000 to environment
  36. PH FoundationBerkeley, CA · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $1,600,164 to environment
  37. The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic InnovationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Preselected only $1,550,000 to environment
  38. Loud Hound FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $1,500,000 to environment
  39. Jeff and Marieke Rothschild FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $1,500,000 to environment
  40. Tomkat FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 7 grants Preselected only $1,465,000 to environment
  41. Beagle Charitable FoundationRedwood City, CA · tax year 2024 14 grants Preselected only $1,429,000 to environment
  42. Samueli FoundationCorona Del Mar, CA · tax year 2024 8 grants Preselected only $1,410,000 to environment
  43. McKay Family Foundation IncLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $1,383,514 to environment
  44. 128 Collective FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 9 grants Preselected only $1,374,750 to environment
  45. John Jewett & Helen Chandler Garland Fou NdationPasadena, CA · tax year 2025 8 grants Preselected only $1,370,000 to environment
  46. The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson FoundationRoss, CA · tax year 2024 8 grants Preselected only $1,310,100 to environment
  47. Sand Hill FoundationMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2024 10 grants Accepts applications $1,235,500 to environment
  48. True North FoundationGrass Valley, CA · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $1,174,087 to environment
  49. The Dovana Foundation IncWoodland Hills, CA · tax year 2025 7 grants Preselected only $1,144,182 to environment
  50. The William Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family FoundationLaguna Beach, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $1,140,000 to environment

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 176 grants Accepts applications $70,488,922 to environment
  2. The Schmidt Family FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 139 grants Accepts applications $37,956,264 to environment
  3. The David and Lucile Packard FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 87 grants Accepts applications $23,189,862 to environment
  4. The Marisla FoundationLaguna Beach, CA · tax year 2024 91 grants Accepts applications $18,390,000 to environment
  5. Conrad N Hilton FoundationWestlake Village, CA · tax year 2024 28 grants Accepts applications $7,332,550 to environment
  6. Clif Family FoundationSaint Helena, CA · tax year 2024 81 grants Accepts applications $3,585,729 to environment
  7. The California Wellness FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 29 grants Accepts applications $2,136,125 to environment
  8. Sand Hill FoundationMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2024 10 grants Accepts applications $1,235,500 to environment
  9. The Sobrato Family FoundationMountain View, CA · tax year 2024 9 grants Accepts applications $1,139,512 to environment
  10. Lisa & Douglas Goldman FundSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 34 grants Accepts applications $1,102,500 to environment
  11. The Diane and Guilford Glazer FoundationBeverly Hills, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Accepts applications $1,015,000 to environment
  12. The Christensen FundSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $950,000 to environment
  13. The New-Land Foundation IncSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 43 grants Accepts applications $840,000 to environment
  14. The Conrad Prebys FoundationSan Diego, CA · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $759,600 to environment
  15. James S Bower FoundationSanta Barbara, CA · tax year 2024 10 grants Accepts applications $730,000 to environment
  16. Bella Vista FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 13 grants Accepts applications $582,500 to environment
  17. The Skoll FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Accepts applications $528,334 to environment
  18. Flora L Thornton FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2023 10 grants Accepts applications $387,000 to environment
  19. Mitchell Kapor FoundationOakland, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $350,000 to environment
  20. John and Marcia Goldman FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 8 grants Accepts applications $346,300 to environment
  21. Mimi and Peter Haas FundSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 6 grants Accepts applications $318,000 to environment
  22. Hidden Leaf FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Accepts applications $305,000 to environment
  23. Weingart FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Accepts applications $292,150 to environment
  24. The Shanbrom Family FoundationOjai, CA · tax year 2025 3 grants Accepts applications $285,000 to environment
  25. Gaia FundBerkeley, CA · tax year 2024 16 grants Accepts applications $281,500 to environment