Updated April 2025 to reflect our current grant process and priorities
Section 1: What We Fund
What does Cal Wellness support?
Our grants help people in California live healthy, well lives. We focus on four main areas:
Each area has its own goals and funding priorities. To be considered for a grant, your work must align with at least one of these goals. Visit the What We Fund section of our website to learn more.
What is core operating support, and how is it different from project support?
Core operating support is flexible, unrestricted funding. It helps organizations stay strong, respond to emerging needs, and carry out their missions. We believe our grantees know best how to use funds to advance our shared goals. Core support can be used for staff salaries, office expenses, planning, outreach, and more.
Project support is funding for a specific program or activity. It can also be used for projects that are fiscally sponsored.
What does “health equity” mean?
Health equity means everyone has the opportunity to be well—regardless of race, ethnicity, education level, gender identity, sexual orientation, employment status, income, neighborhood, or disability. We work to help level the playing field so that everyone has access to good jobs, safe communities, and quality health care.
What are “social determinants of health”?
Social determinants of health (SDoH) are the conditions in which people live, learn, work, and play that are determined by the distribution of money, power, and resources and that affect a wide range of health and quality-of-life risks and outcomes.
Section 2: How to Apply – It starts with an LOI
When can I apply?
You can only submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) during an open LOI cycle. LOIs submitted outside of an open cycle will not be reviewed.
- Current LOI cycle: Now through April 30, 2025
- Next LOI cycle: July 1–31, 2025
Please check our Apply for a Grant page regularly for the most up-to-date information.
Are all funding areas always open?
No. Some goal areas may be closed during certain LOI cycles. Before submitting, visit our Apply for a Grant page to see which areas are currently accepting requests.
What is an LOI?
A Letter of Interest is the first step in the grant process. It’s a short online form where you tell us about your organization and your funding request. If your LOI is accepted, we’ll invite you to submit a full proposal online. You should hear back from us within 60 days after the cycle closes. While we receive more LOIs than we can fund, we do our best to offer feedback if we’re not able to move forward.
Can I talk to someone to see if my organization is a good fit?
To ensure equitable access to funding opportunities, we are no longer offering calls with program officers to discuss whether your work would fit under our grantmaking priorities. If you believe your work aligns with our strategic priorities, we encourage you to submit an LOI directly for our review.
How do I submit an LOI?
Go to the Apply for a Grant page and click “Start a Letter of Interest” after reviewing the instructions provided. We recommend using our Word version of the form to prepare your responses ahead of time.
Can I save my LOI and return to it later?
No. The online form must be completed in one sitting. That’s why we suggest downloading the fillable LOI template first.
How will I know if my LOI was received?
You’ll receive a confirmation email with your responses after submitting your LOI.
What happens after I send my LOI?
If your request aligns with our goals and funding is available, we may invite you to submit a full proposal. You’ll hear from us within 60 days after the cycle ends. If we’re not able to accept your LOI, you’ll receive clear and thoughtful feedback about our decision, specifically through the declination email.
Section 3: Determining Eligibility
My request doesn’t fit within the Foundation’s grantmaking programs, but we think it’s something Cal Wellness might fund. May we still apply?
We appreciate your interest, but if your request does not align with our current grantmaking priorities, it is unlikely to be funded. We encourage you to review our funding areas carefully before applying.
If I submit a request for one funding area, but it fits better within a different funding area, will my request be denied or reassigned?
Our program officers work together to reassign a request if it better fits a different funding area.
Are you interested in funding organizations with particular budget sizes or that serve particular geographic areas?
We welcome requests from organizations of all sizes and from all parts of the state.
Can a program under an umbrella organization or fiscal sponsor apply for funding?
Yes. The organization doing the work may apply. We ask you to upload your fiscal sponsorship agreement in the letter of interest form.
Are government entities eligible to apply directly, or do they need a nonprofit partner?
Government entities, including public school districts, may apply directly for funding. A nonprofit partner is not required.
May we request funding for a program that has been funded by Cal Wellness in the past?
Yes, as long as the request fits within our Advancing Wellness grantmaking guidelines. However, past grantees do not receive special priority.
Our organization has never received funding from Cal Wellness. Are we at a disadvantage compared to organizations that have?
We encourage all eligible organizations to apply. We make decisions based on fit with our priorities, community need, available funding, and organizational capacity.
May we apply to more than one portfolio at the same time?
If your request fits in more than one funding area, you do not need to submit multiple LOIs. If our team thinks your request would be a better fit elsewhere, we’ll route it appropriately. If you have two or more distinct requests for different purposes, you may submit separate LOIs.
Are we eligible for funding if our headquarters is not in California, but we have an active program or presence here?
Yes. As long as the work benefits people in California, you may apply.
May a collaborative apply for funding?
Yes. One lead organization should submit the LOI and explain the nature of the partnership or collaboration.
My organization’s LOI was denied. Do we need to wait a certain amount of time before applying again?
No. You may apply again at any time. We encourage you to review the feedback in your denial letter and revisit our funding priorities before submitting a new LOI.
Is there a limit to how many times an organization may apply in a year?
No. There is no limit.
Does an organization need to have been around for a certain length of time to apply?
No. There is no minimum time requirement for applying.
If we request an amount that is too high for Cal Wellness to consider, will our request be denied or partially funded?
You might be offered a different amount than requested. If you’re invited to submit a proposal, your program officer will discuss the appropriate funding level.
For more information, who can we contact?
Please email us at [email protected] or call (818) 702-1900 and ask for the Grants Management Department.
Section 4: After You Receive a Grant
How often do you require grantee reports?
We typically ask for grantee reports annually.
I got an email saying my grantee report was excused. What does that mean?
If you received that email, then any report that was originally due through March 31, 2026 does not need to be submitted. This includes both narrative and financial reports.
I need help accessing the Cal Wellness Grantee Portal. What do I do?
Please email us at [email protected] and we’ll help you get access.
Section 5: Contacting The California Wellness Foundation
How can I contact Cal Wellness?
Call our Downtown Los Angeles headquarters at (818) 702-1900 or the Oakland branch at (415) 908-3000, or click Contact Us on CalWellness.org for other email addresses based on your inquiry.