Who funds Wellness & Wellbeing in California
If you run a health or wellness nonprofit in California, you're working in a state where major foundations take this work seriously. The funders below have made substantial commitments to wellness and wellbeing across the state. Knowing who they are, what they actually fund, and how they think about grants is the foundation of a real fundraising strategy.
William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Based in Menlo Park, the Hewlett Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the country, distributing over $600 million annually. Health and wellness sits alongside education, arts, and human services in their portfolio. Their giving is broad and deep. Typical grants tend to run around $200K, but that's an average across a wide range of award sizes. If your work aligns with their stated priorities in health and wellness, this is a funder worth building a relationship with early, before you need the money.
Crankstart Foundation
Crankstart distributes roughly $199 million annually and funds across education, youth and family services, criminal justice reform, arts, and health and wellness. Grants from Crankstart tend to run around $325K. They're a substantial funder with a portfolio that spans multiple cause areas, which means they're looking for organizations doing serious work in wellness that also connects to their other priorities. If your wellness program touches youth, family services, or community health, this is worth researching.
The Ahmanson Foundation
Based in Beverly Hills, Ahmanson gives roughly $64 million annually across education, arts, human services, community development, and health and wellness. Typical awards run around $100K. Ahmanson's giving reflects a commitment to strengthening Los Angeles and Southern California communities. If your wellness work is rooted in that region and connected to community development or human services, they're a funder to know.
Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
The Parsons Foundation, based in Los Angeles, distributes about $17 million annually across human services, education, health and wellness, and arts. Typical grants are in the low five figures, around $29K. Parsons is smaller than the foundations above, but that doesn't make them less important. Smaller awards can be lifelines for specific programs or pilot work. If you're in LA and doing health or wellness work connected to human services, they're worth knowing.
Additional Ventures Foundation
Additional Ventures gives roughly $16.7 million annually, focusing on education, health and wellness, youth and family services, and human services. Grants tend to run around $160K. They're a mission-driven funder with a focus on outcomes and impact. If your wellness program serves youth or families and you can articulate clear outcomes, this is a funder to build a relationship with.
These five foundations represent different scales of giving and different approaches to wellness funding in California. The real work now is getting to know them. Read their guidelines, follow their giving patterns, and look for natural connection points in your own work. If you'd like Funding Findr to keep an eye on a specific funder relationship you're building, or if you want us to brief you on funders in a different cause area, let us know.
Funding Findr is a fundraising & development operating system for people who are on the ground doing the work. Enterprise-grade funder intelligence, grant listings with no dead links, built for nonprofits. Start for free at fundingfindr.co.