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Non-profit

Women’s Foundation of California

Website:

womensfoundca.org/
Location:

Oakland, CA
Tax ID:

94-2752421
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $12,207,942
Expenses: $8,414,799
Assets: $20,605,607
Type:

Feminist Organization
Founded:

1980
CEO:

Surina Khan

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The Women’s Foundation of California is a left-of-center, feminist-aligned foundation based in California. It has received financial support from various private grantmaking foundations including Bank of America, Akonadi Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Microsoft, New Venture Fund, California Endowment, Blue Shield of California Foundation, Ford Foundation, Levi Strauss Foundation, Walter and Elise Haas Fund and the Sixteen Thirty Fund (1630 Fund). 1

The organization is the fiscal sponsor of the Essie Justice Group, a left-of-center criminal justice policy group made up primarily of women with incarcerated partners or relatives. It is also partnered with multiple left-of-center organizations including the Open Society Foundations and the Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity. 2 3

History

The Women’s Foundation of California (WFC) is a left-wing feminist grantmaking foundation located in San Francisco. The organization was unofficially founded in 1979 by a small group of feminist activists during meetings at the Women’s Building in San Francisco, California. Initially named the Women’s Foundation, the organization became official in 1980 after it received its first investment. 4

The Women’s Foundation partnered with the Ms. Foundation, Astraea Lesbian Foundation, and Mama Cash to establish the National Network of Women’s Funds which later became known as the Women’s Funding Network. 5

The Women’s Foundation partnered with the Los Angeles Women’s Foundation in 1994 to create the Women’s Fund of California. The two organizations merged in 2003 to become the Women’s Foundation of California.

WFC was one of the principal funders for California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, an organization founded in 2004 that advocates for abortion and other left-of-center economic and social policies in California, taking an “intersectional” approach that views economic and social issues as interconnected. WFC was also the first institutional funder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, an organization founded by and named for United Farm Workers labor union activist Dolores Huerta. 6

The Women’s Foundation of California created the Legislative Action Fund in 2011 to support the Women’s Policy Institute, a yearly program of WFC that trains a small group of women on California’s legislative process. WFC also sent 7,966 letters to California legislators and made more than 50 “legislative visits” to push for left-of-center policies. 7

WFC also launched its Philanthropy and Public Policy Institute in 2017; partnered with Philanthropy California, the Blue Shield of California Foundation, the California Endowment, and Foundation CHANEL to create the Gender Justice Funders in 2018; and introduced seven left-wing feminist policies via the Women’s Policy Institute in 2019. 8

Funding

The Women’s Foundation of California receives most of its revenue in the form of contributions and grants from private grantmaking foundations.

The organization had a total revenue of approximately $4.8 million in 2018, $12.4 million in 2019, $14 million in 2020, and $12.2 million in 2021. WFC’s total functional expenses amounted to around $5 million in 2018, $5.6 million in 2019, $15 million in 2020, and $8.4 million in 2021. 9

The California Endowment is a left-leaning grantmaking organization that bills itself as the largest private health foundation in California with three billion dollars in assets. The organization has made 54 grants with a value of approximately $9.8 million to the Women’s Foundation of California. 10 11

The Ford Foundation is a grantmaking organization that, for much of its history, was the largest foundation in the United States. The Ford Foundation has given a great deal of money to left-wing and center-left organizations since its founding, including a total of 12 grants to the Women’s Foundation of California worth $3,205,000 between 2006 and 2022. The grant descriptions show that the grants were made to support WFC’s Culture Change Collaborative Fund, Women’s Economic Security Campaign, Environmental Justice and Reproductive Justice Collaborative, and Women’s Social Justice Collaborative. 12

The Atlantic Philanthropies, primarily based in Bermuda, were a collection of principally overseas organizations founded by businessman Charles “Chuck” Feeney in 1982. Atlantic Philanthropies has completed its grantmaking and officially closed its doors in October 2020. It granted the Women’s Foundation of California $900,000 in 2009 to support the organization’s “Older Women’s Advocacy Leadership Development,” and another $335,000 in 2011 for the implementation of an “Elder Women’s Policy Institute.” 13 14 15

The Blue Shield of California Foundation (BSCF) is a grantmaking foundation created by Blue Shield of California, an insurance company that was founded and operated as a nonprofit until California revoked its tax-exempt status in 2014. The foundation granted WCF $2.3 million in 2011 as part of its Blue Shield Against Violence program, and another $150,000 in 2016 to launch the Women’s Policy Institute Alumni Network. 16 17

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (also known as the Hewlett Foundation) is a private grantmaking foundation that has program areas in education, environment, global development and population, performing arts, Madison Initiative, cyber, effective philanthropy, San Francisco Bay Area, and special projects.  The Hewlett Foundation has granted WFC a total of $1,526,306 in the form of eight grants between 2006 and 2020. Said grants were used to support WFC’s Culture Change Collaborative Fund, Women’s Policy Institute, and its Reproductive Justice and Sexual Rights Program. 18 19

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation created by David Packard, cofounder of Hewlett-Packard, in 1964. The foundation provided three grants to WFC—one for $150,000 in 2019, and two separate grants of $200,000 in 2020 and 2022. All grants made to WFC were labeled under the foundation’s “reproductive health” program. 20

The Levi Strauss Foundation is a left-of-center grantmaking organization located in San Francisco California. It is the corporate philanthropic arm of, and primarily funded by, clothing company Levi Strauss & Co. The foundation provided WFC with a grant of $130,000 to support its Women’s Policy Institute. 21

The Walter and Elise Haas Fund is one of a number of private foundations associated with members of the Haas family that has been involved in the operation of Levi Strauss and Company. The fund provided the Women’s Foundation of California with a grant of $25,000 in 2016, and another grant of $25,000 in 2018. 22

The Rosenberg Foundation is a left-of-center grantmaking foundation established in 1935 and based in San Francisco, California. The foundation lists WFC under its current grantees and has provided the organization with $6,000 as part of its Economic Security of Working Families program. 23

The David Bohnett Foundation is a grant-making foundation supporting LGBT interests, technology, Los Angeles-specific grants, gun control, animal liberation, and support for left-of-center programs in higher education. The foundation has made three “general operating support” grants to WFC, one for $500 in 2020, another for $1,000 in 2021, and most recently $2,500 in 2022. 24 25

The Women’s Foundation of California has also received grants from smaller organizations including the Community Foundation of Boulder County, which granted WFC $5,000 in 2007. 26

The Fund for Nonviolence is a nonprofit grantmaking foundation that provides financial support to left-of-center organizations that promote decreasing prison populations, reducing the size of the United States military, and abolishing the death penalty. The foundation lists the Women’s Foundation of California as being a past grantee. 27 28 29

The Women’s Foundation of California notes that it has received “institutional gifts” from other organizations including the Bank of America, Akonadi Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Microsoft, New Venture Fund, and the Sixteen Thirty Fund (1630 Fund). 30

Affiliated Organizations

The Women’s Foundation of California is the fiscal sponsor of the Essie Justice Group, a left-of-center criminal justice policy group made up primarily of women with incarcerated partners or relatives. The group has a “Healing to Advocacy” program that provides a nine-week therapy and social-support program to women with incarcerated partners or relatives and encourages participants to join EJS and become activists for left-wing social policy. 31 32

The Women’s Foundation of California is partnered with organizations including the Open Society Foundations, a private grantmaking foundation created and funded by billionaire financier and liberal philanthropist George Soros, and the Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity, a coalition of left-wing groups promoting abortion rights, organizing at the state and local level, and seeking changes to the judiciary. 33 34 35

WFC is also partnered with multiple organizations including the Kering Foundation, Philanthropy California, Rosenberg Foundation, and Training in Early Abortion for Comprehensive Healthcare. 36 37 38 39

References

  1. “Our Supporters.” Women’s Foundation California. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://womensfoundca.org/how-we-work/our-supporters/.
  2. “Grants |.” CGRE. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://cgre.org/grants.
  3. “Open Society Taps Three Sites to Spur Local Progress.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/newsroom/open-society-taps-three-sites-spur-local-progress.
  4. “About Women’s Foundation.” Women’s Foundation California. June 12, 2019. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://womensfoundca.org/who-we-are/about-womens-foundation/.
  5. “About Women’s Foundation.” Women’s Foundation California. June 12, 2019. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://womensfoundca.org/who-we-are/about-womens-foundation/.
  6. “About Women’s Foundation.” Women’s Foundation California. June 12, 2019. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://womensfoundca.org/who-we-are/about-womens-foundation/.
  7. “About Women’s Foundation.” Women’s Foundation California. June 12, 2019. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://womensfoundca.org/who-we-are/about-womens-foundation/.
  8. “About Women’s Foundation.” Women’s Foundation California. June 12, 2019. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://womensfoundca.org/who-we-are/about-womens-foundation/.
  9. Suozzo, Andrea. “Womens Foundation Of California – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. May 9, 2013. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/942752421.
  10. “Our Story.” The California Endowment. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.calendow.org/our-story/.
  11. “California Endowment – Grants.” Foundation Maps. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://maps.foundationcenter.org/.
  12. “Grants Database.” Ford Foundation. December 12, 2022. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/?q=%22Women%27s%20Foundation%20of%20California%22&p=1
  13. “Our Story.” Atlantic Philanthropie. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/our-story.
  14. “Atlantic Philanthropies Gives $177 Million to Study Dementia.” Philanthropy.com. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/atlantic-philanthropies-gives-177-million-to-study-dementia/.
  15. “The Women’s Foundation of California | Atlantic Philanthropies.” Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/grantees/the-womens-foundation-of-california.
  16. “Women’s Foundation of California.” Blue Shield of California Foundation. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://blueshieldcafoundation.org/grants/grantee/womens-foundation-california-1.
  17. “Women’s Foundation of California.” Blue Shield of California Foundation. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://blueshieldcafoundation.org/grants/grantee/womens-foundation-california-5.
  18. “Our Programs.” Accessed December 12, 2022. https://hewlett.org/about-us/our-programs/.
  19. “Grant Database – WFC.” Hewlett Foundation. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://hewlett.org/grants/?keyword=Women%27s%20Foundation%20of%20California&sort=relevance¤t_page=1.
  20. “Search Our Grants.” The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.packard.org/grants-and-investments/grants-database/?grant_keyword=women%27s+foundation+of+california&program_area=&award_amount=&award_year=.
  21. “LSF Grants List for Website_May19 thru May20.” August 10, 2020. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.levistrauss.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Levi-Strauss-Foundation-Grants.pdf.
  22. “Walter & Elise Haas Fund ».” Grants. December 12, 2013. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://haassr.org/grants/search/keywords/women%27s+foundation+of+california/.
  23. “Rosenberg Foundation.” Grantmaking. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.cybergrants.com/rosenberg/economic.html.
  24. “Programs.” David Bohnett Foundation. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.bohnettfoundation.org/programs/.
  25. “Grants.” David Bohnett Foundation. Accessed December 12, 2022. http://www.bohnettfoundation.org/grants/.
  26. “The Community Foundation Grants 2007.” Community Foundation Boulder County. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.commfound.org/grants/grantsarchives/grants2007/2007TotalCivic.
  27. “Fund for Nonviolence.” Reimagining Public Safety. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://fundfornonviolence.org/programs/justice-with-dignity/.
  28. “Fund for Nonviolence.” Lifting Voices of Resistance. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://fundfornonviolence.org/programs/voices-of-resistance/.
  29. “Fund for Nonviolence.” Prior Grants. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://fundfornonviolence.org/grants-list/earlier-grants/.
  30. “Our Supporters.” Women’s Foundation California. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://womensfoundca.org/how-we-work/our-supporters/.
  31. “Healing to Advocacy Program.” Essie Justice Group. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://essiejusticegroup.org/healing-to-advocacy-program/.
  32. “Women’s Foundation of California: Essie Justice Group.” Heising-Simons Foundation. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.hsfoundation.org/grant-highlight/womens-foundation-california-essie-justice-group/.
  33. “Grants |.” CGRE. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://cgre.org/grants.
  34. “Open Society Taps Three Sites to Spur Local Progress.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/newsroom/open-society-taps-three-sites-spur-local-progress.
  35. “About Us |.” CGRE. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://cgre.org/about.
  36. Women’s Foundation of California. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.keringfoundation.org/en/programs/women’s-foundation-of-california/.
  37. “Gender Justice.” Philanthropy California. May 10, 2018. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.philanthropyca.org/gender-justice.
  38. “Justice & Public Safety – Rosenberg Foundation.” Accessed December 12, 2022. https://rosenbergfound.org/grantmaking/justice-public-safety/.
  39. “Our Supporters.” TEACH. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.teachtraining.org/about/our-supporters/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: December 1, 1981

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Jun Form 990 $12,207,942 $8,414,799 $20,605,607 $366,490 N $12,041,268 $1,569 $45,960 $814,287
    2020 Jun Form 990 $13,919,394 $15,063,599 $16,709,449 $628,005 N $13,448,852 $39,302 $129,268 $441,659 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $12,432,245 $5,673,740 $18,285,662 $792,235 Y $12,878,835 $117,029 $198,097 $403,060 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $4,844,294 $5,176,224 $10,975,630 $279,341 Y $4,174,380 $85,806 $163,143 $420,431 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $6,941,603 $6,105,275 $12,263,919 $1,279,109 N $6,174,174 $202,406 $165,121 $393,783 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $7,926,021 $7,233,095 $11,948,175 $2,021,899 N $7,528,330 $175,412 $147,738 $370,004
    2015 Jun Form 990 $5,964,023 $5,685,225 $10,135,755 $773,310 N $5,348,778 $163,361 $148,444 $450,508 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $5,384,839 $6,089,443 $10,470,262 $1,248,007 N $4,946,777 $243,144 $145,031 $343,511 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $3,541,773 $5,950,545 $10,143,308 $1,085,574 N $3,550,525 $231,690 $118,399 $206,694 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $3,311,640 $5,196,932 $12,002,734 $1,249,572 N $4,435,393 $61,400 $106,520 $185,450 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $5,977,487 $5,907,653 $12,671,219 $1,287,011 N $5,780,191 $27,926 $159,043 $193,148 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Women’s Foundation of California

    1301 Clay Street
    Oakland, CA 94612-5559