The California Wellness Foundation Grant Programs

The California Wellness Foundation is a prominent private foundation focused on improving the health and wellness of people throughout California. With headquarters in Los Angeles and an additional office in Oakland, the Foundation has long been committed to removing systemic barriers to wellness that affect individuals based on race, class, gender, disability, immigration status, and other social determinants. Their vision centers on ensuring that all Californians live in safe and healthy communities, have access to education and employment opportunities, and benefit from equitable access to clean water, nutritious food, and quality healthcare services. Through its core grantmaking initiative, known as Advancing Wellness, the Foundation disburses over $35 million annually to organizations that align with its strategic priorities. This grantmaking initiative is organized into four primary portfolios: Community Well-being, Equity in Access, Economic Security & Dignity, and Leading for Power & Change. Each portfolio supports organizations working in areas such as healthcare access, quality education advocacy, job equity, public safety, and systemic reform efforts. Grants may support direct services, public policy, leadership development, and capacity-building activities. Funded organizations must serve target populations that include low-income communities, people of color, youth, immigrants, and rural residents. The Foundation has explicitly stated that it will continue to make grants throughout 2025, but will not accept any new Letters of Interest (LOIs) after July 31, 2025. While the submission process begins with an LOI, there are no additional details in the provided source about specific application components or forms. The Foundation advises potential applicants to carefully review the "What We Fund" and "What We Don’t Fund" sections under each of the four grantmaking portfolios to determine eligibility and alignment. There is also guidance to view past grants to better understand the types of work that have been supported. The Foundation funds projects exclusively within the state of California and does not support international efforts or entities located outside the United States. Notably, it has committed substantial investments to priority areas like reproductive justice—particularly in ensuring equitable access to reproductive healthcare for women and birthing people of color—and disability justice, supporting community-based disability-led organizations focused on racial and social equity. A highlighted initiative included a $13 million investment over six years to support health and economic opportunities for Black and Latinx women. The primary point of contact for grant-related inquiries is Jennifer Wright, who can be reached at [email protected]. Although no specific performance period or award notification timeline is included in the source, updates to the Foundation’s approach for 2026 grantmaking are anticipated in the coming months. There is no mention of a recurring schedule beyond this announcement window, but historical patterns suggest the Foundation engages in regular annual grant cycles.