Full Circle Fund
The Full Circle Fund is an advisory organization that recruits working professionals to volunteer with local nonprofits that advocate on “social and environmental justice” within California’s Bay Area. The group claims to have organized “pro bono consulting projects, issue-focused “Circles,” and community-led events” to promote advocacy towards education, housing, climate justice and economic equity issues within the state. 1 2
Contents
Activities
Full Circle Projects programs include a six-person team and a four-month commitment of volunteers who donate their expertise, time, and financial support to other small nonprofits in the Bay Area, usually those under $1 million in revenue. Volunteers choose the nonprofit, analyze what is needed, and then provide services that would be beneficial to the organization. 3 Previously, volunteers had to pay an annual $5,000 membership fee for their involvement with Full Circle Fund. As of May 2025, the $5,000 membership fee was no longer required. 4 5
Full Circle Fund’s “Circle” educational programs involve a six-person team and a four-month commitment. The Circles are led by two Circle chairs and focus on climate policy, housing, economic inequality, and education. The sessions include eight in-person sessions to learn about “collective action” and creating a plan of action on the issue area. 6 7
In 2024, the Full Circle Fund launched Impact Fund, in which supporters donate money to participate. Project partners received a portion of the donated money first, for the cost of supporting the project, and then donors participate in a “Giving Circle style” evening to decide where the remaining money would be given, but recipient organizations must be focused on left-of-center advocacy in the Bay Area. 8
Ed100 grew out of the Full Circle Fund’s Education Circle program and is a free, self-paced online course designed to help Californians understand the California public-school system. Ed100 operates under the organization’s fiscal sponsorship and funding comes from the Stuart Foundation and the Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, with earlier backing from the Noyce Foundation. 9 10
Financials
From 2020 through 2023, the Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation granted the Full Circle Fund $4,000. 11 12 13 14
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation granted the Full Circle Fund $75,000 in 2017 and $45,000 in 2006. 15
In 2019, NetSuite by Oracle invested $15,000 in a new tech accelerator fund with Full Circle Fund. 16
People
As of 2026, Sam Carpenter was working as the executive director of Full Circle Fund, having joined the organization in January 2024. 5 She was previously a board member, director of philanthropy, and project lead with YCore. 17
California State Sen. Josh Becker (D-13) founded the organization in 2000 prior to his election to the State Senate in 2020.18 10