THE CALIFORNIA WELLNESS FOUNDATION
Promoting equity, advocacy and access
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We use our resources to advance our mission through grantmaking, investments, sharing our learning and lifting our voice. We fund direct services that address the urgent needs people are facing in their communities, particularly the needs of low-income individuals, people of color, youth and residents of rural areas. We recognize, encourage and strengthen leaders to be powerful agents of change. We support advocacy and civic engagement so that communities can build power and create public policies that reflect their vision, will and needs. We trust and invest in nonprofit organizations so that they can operate at full capacity. We partner with community-led organizations, philanthropic organizations, businesses, government and individuals who want to improve health and wellness for Californians.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Advancing Wellness
Our vision is that every person in California enjoys health and wellness like living in a safe and healthy community, has access to quality education, good jobs, clean drinking water and healthy foods. But we know that many systemic barriers get in the way of people enjoying health and wellness. Wellness is directly affected by our race, class, gender and disability, by our zip code, by our family history, by our immigration status and past involvement with the criminal justice system. Through our Advancing Wellness grantmaking program we support organizations that are increasing access to health care, advocating for quality education, fighting for good jobs with fair wages and benefits, working to make our streets and neighborhoods safe. We support direct services, public policy, leadership and capacity building in specific priority areas also listed below that serve target populations including low-income communities, people of color, youth, immigrants & residents of rural areas.
Community Well-being
Our Community Well-being portfolio will provide resources that support the health, safety and resilience of communities of color, especially those that have been disproportionately affected by unhealthy environments and community violence.
This is our work:
Violence Prevention
Youth Justice
Community Environments
For more information: https://www.calwellness.org/money/what-we-fund/community-well-being/
Equity in Access
Our Equity in Access portfolio champions health care coverage and access for all and defends the rights of immigrants to enjoy access to health services, coverage and other benefits. All people, regardless of immigration status, deserve access to public benefits. Our portfolio also supports the rights of women to access comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services.
We support:
Universal coverage and access to care
System transformation
Priority populations
For more information: https://www.calwellness.org/money/what-we-fund/equity-in-access/
Economic Security and Dignity
Our Economic Security and Dignity portfolio aims to advance the economic well-being of Californians, especially those from low-income communities and communities of color. Our areas of focus include:
Economic Mobility & Wealth Creation
Post Secondary Education & Health Professions Training
Economic Safety Net
For more information: https://www.calwellness.org/money/what-we-fund/economic-security-and-dignity/
Leading for Power and Change
To advance systemic and progressive change while improving community outcomes and health, our Leading for Power and Change portfolio seeks to amplify the voices, leadership, and power of people of color, and other people who have historically been excluded from full participation in civic society.
We support:
Equity in the Nonprofit Sector
Mobilizing Movements and Power Building
Reimagining Social Justice
For more information: https://www.calwellness.org/money/what-we-fund/leading-for-power-and-change/
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of funded nonprofit organizations that contribute to equitable health and wellness for underserved Californians.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Ethnic and racial groups, Economically disadvantaged people, Immigrants and migrants
Related Program
Advancing Wellness
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Nonprofit organizations awarded grants that contribute to equitable health and wellness for underserved Californians.
Number of grantee organizatons that are minority-led nonprofits.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Ethnic and racial groups, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Advancing Wellness
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Nonprofit Organization that are minority-led.
Number of nonprofit organizations that received core operating support to fortify their missions related to advancing wellness for underserved Californians.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Ethnic and racial groups, Economically disadvantaged people, Immigrants and migrants
Related Program
Advancing Wellness
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Nonprofit organizations that benefitted from core operating support to advance their missions related to improved health and wellness for underserved Californians.
Annual grant dollars contributed to nonprofit organizations that are advancing wellness for underserved Californians.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Ethnic and racial groups, Economically disadvantaged people, Immigrants and migrants
Related Program
Advancing Wellness
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
million in grant dollars contributed to nonprofits advancing wellness for underserved Californians.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The foundation's grantmaking is grounded in the social determinants of health research that states that where people live and work, their race and ethnicity, and their income can impact their health and wellness. It's the Foundation's desire to help “level the playing field" so that everyone has access to good-paying jobs, safe neighborhoods and quality health care services.
To learn more, visit http://www.calwellness.org/.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
In pursuit of our mission, Cal Wellness' Advancing Wellness grants program includes four grantmaking portfolios:
Bridging the Gaps in Access and Quality Care
Promoting Healthy and Safe Neighborhoods
Expanding Education and Employment Pathways
Opportunity Fund
Building on our past, we remain committed to the Wellness Approach: responsive, statewide grantmaking; core operating support; funding of direct services, public policy and capacity building; and prioritizing the health of underserved populations.
To learn more, visit http://www.calwellness.org/.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Throughout its philanthropic history, Cal Wellness has built its grantmaking programs based on the health and wellness needs of underserved California communities. Our current Advancing Wellness grants program went through a rigorous strategic planning process that included the perspectives of grantees and other community partners, social determinants of health research and coordinated its focus with other grantmaking institutions to identify those issues overlooked within the broader health philanthropy landscape in California. In this way, Cal Wellness continues to build on its history of identifying funding priorities based on the most pressing wellness needs of underserved populations in California.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The Advancing Wellness grants program addresses health equity through advocacy and access. In terms of assuring equitable access to health and wellness services there are still great divides in terms of access to care for undocumented Californians and access to providers in more rural parts of California. Other areas where we have a lot of work ahead is: ensuring that all Californians have equitable access to sufficient income to sustain a healthy life; and that all California communities have access to healthy food, parks and other places for exercise and recreation, as well as adequate access to clean water. California communities have seen a reduction in deaths by gun violence more than 50% over the past 20 years, but there are still far too many gun violence incidents to say that the work to keep communities safe from gun violence is over.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
THE CALIFORNIA WELLNESS FOUNDATION
Board of directorsas of 11/03/2023
Dr. Pamela Simms-Mackey
Joseph M Lumarda
Debra Nakatomi
Ernest J Wilson III
Xóchitl Castañeda
Arnold X.C. Perkins
Pamela J. Simms-Mackey, M.D., FAAP
Terence Mulligan
Angelica Salas
Geri Yang-Johnson
Virginia Hedrick
Katherine Katcher
Irma Cota
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 10/19/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.