California ChangeLawyers
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California ChangeLawyers
EIN: 94-3104546
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The organizations working diligently to address issues of inequity in our justice system need support. They're doing important work providing free legal services to Californians in need, setting up show in rural areas where lawyers are few and far between, and working towards a California where no one is treated unfairly in our justice system. They are the boots on the ground, and we need their activism. But these organizations are often understaffed with little time to look up from the case at hand to look far down the road. That's where we come in. We have our finger on the pulse of California's biggest challenges to better understand which regions need the most funding, which groups are doing the most impactful work, and which issues are about to explode on the national scene. These organizations--and all Californians--need a strategic legal foundation to maximize impact and funnel resources where they will make the biggest difference.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Next Gen Scholarships
California ChangeLawyers awards Scholarships to first and third year law students from diverse backgrounds at California law schools. By supporting the brightest changelawyers of tomorrow right when they begin their pursuit of a legal career, we eliminate one more roadblock that exist between them and success.
Where we work
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?
California ChangeLawyers (formerly California Bar Foundation) is a statewide foundation that invests in the next generation of lawyers, judges, and activists to create a more diverse legal profession, fair justice system, and a better California. Righting historical wrongs in our courtrooms, classrooms, and beyond will allow us to truly deliver our ultimate goal: Justice for All.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our primary strategy is to invest in bright, diverse scholars so that they have the opportunity to become tomorrow's legal changemakers. These change makers--we call them changelawyers--are the ones who will right historical wrongs in the justice system.
Our strategy is to harness the power of lawyers for social impact.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
California ChangeLawyers has a network of over 1000 fellows and scholars throughout the state. These include lawyers and activists who run the state's top nonprofits, work in all levels of California's government (including the California Justice Department), and at top private and public companies. We leverage this diverse, powerful network to fundraise, and to connect our newest crop of fellows and scholars to the industry's best opportunities.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
California ChangeLawyers has developed a network of over 1000 Brown, Black, Queer, first-generation, immigrant, undocumented fellows and scholars throughout the state.
Up next: to leverage this army of lawyers to tackle systemic inequities including a criminal justice system that too often harms communities of color, an education system that excludes anyone who can't afford tuition, and a justice system that does not reflect and represent the communities of California.
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2022 info
17.47
Months of cash in 2022 info
13
Fringe rate in 2022 info
15%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
California ChangeLawyers
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
This snapshot of California ChangeLawyers’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
Created in partnership with
Business model indicators
Profitability info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | -$325,158 | $439,704 | $131,110 | $386,207 | $304,296 |
As % of expenses | -17.9% | 24.9% | 7.3% | 18.0% | 14.8% |
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | -$325,158 | $439,704 | $131,110 | $386,207 | $304,296 |
As % of expenses | -17.9% | 24.9% | 7.3% | 18.0% | 14.8% |
Revenue composition info | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $1,428,733 | $2,118,704 | $1,754,652 | $2,784,200 | $3,438,232 |
Total revenue, % change over prior year | -34.6% | 48.3% | -17.2% | 58.7% | 23.5% |
Program services revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Investment income | 2.5% | 3.0% | 2.5% | 40.5% | 40.5% |
Government grants | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 18.3% | 12.4% |
All other grants and contributions | 91.5% | 83.0% | 97.2% | 33.4% | 40.4% |
Other revenue | 6.0% | 14.0% | 0.3% | 7.9% | 6.6% |
Expense composition info | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total expenses before depreciation | $1,817,390 | $1,763,098 | $1,800,069 | $2,146,183 | $2,052,215 |
Total expenses, % change over prior year | 1.9% | -3.0% | 2.1% | 19.2% | -4.4% |
Personnel | 40.5% | 41.0% | 30.3% | 30.6% | 32.0% |
Professional fees | 6.9% | 3.1% | 4.5% | 6.2% | 8.7% |
Occupancy | 2.8% | 3.5% | 4.2% | 4.4% | 5.3% |
Interest | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Pass-through | 41.5% | 41.7% | 54.9% | 54.1% | 48.9% |
All other expenses | 8.4% | 10.7% | 6.1% | 4.8% | 5.1% |
Full cost components (estimated) info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total expenses (after depreciation) | $1,817,390 | $1,763,098 | $1,800,069 | $2,146,183 | $2,052,215 |
One month of savings | $151,449 | $146,925 | $150,006 | $178,849 | $171,018 |
Debt principal payment | $0 | $0 | $0 | $99,800 | $0 |
Fixed asset additions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Total full costs (estimated) | $1,968,839 | $1,910,023 | $1,950,075 | $2,424,832 | $2,223,233 |
Capital structure indicators
Liquidity info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Months of cash | 3.9 | 5.6 | 8.7 | 7.2 | 13.0 |
Months of cash and investments | 13.4 | 17.3 | 18.4 | 20.1 | 22.8 |
Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 10.9 | 14.2 | 14.8 | 14.6 | 17.0 |
Balance sheet composition info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cash | $591,139 | $824,872 | $1,297,591 | $1,283,906 | $2,225,167 |
Investments | $1,441,268 | $1,724,148 | $1,455,594 | $2,312,596 | $1,677,466 |
Receivables | $333,784 | $455,671 | $558,828 | $176,687 | $164,237 |
Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 10.2% | 12.5% | 13.9% | 15.4% | 5.3% |
Unrestricted net assets | $1,651,740 | $2,091,444 | $2,222,554 | $2,608,761 | $2,913,057 |
Temporarily restricted net assets | $491,675 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Permanently restricted net assets | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Total restricted net assets | $491,675 | $561,456 | $651,745 | $606,401 | $1,095,874 |
Total net assets | $2,143,415 | $2,652,900 | $2,874,299 | $3,215,162 | $4,008,931 |
Key data checks
Key data checks info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Executive Director
Christopher Punongbayan
Christopher Punongbayan is the Executive Director of California ChangeLawyers, a statewide foundation that invests in bright, diverse legal changemakers to ensure they have the opportunity to become tomorrow’s legal changemakers.
Over the last twenty years, Chris has gained deep experience in social justice issues. He profoundly believes in giving voice to the unheard, breaking down barriers, and creating strategic alliances to advance equity. Prior to joining the California ChangeLawyers, Chris was the executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus and held positions at Northern California Grantmakers, Positive Resource Center, and Filipino Advocates for Justice.
In 2003, Chris received a scholarship from California ChangeLawyers, which first set him on his social justice path in California. He has never looked back.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
California ChangeLawyers
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
California ChangeLawyers
Highest paid employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
California ChangeLawyers
Board of directorsas of 08/29/2023
Board of directors data
Rasha Gerges Shields
Jones Day
Term: 2023 - 2024
Rasha Gerges Shields
Jones Day
Alexis Amezcua
Morrison & Foerster
Bennie Mackey, II
Office of the Attorney General
Roger Perez
Gitlab Foundation
Mark Selwyn
WilmerHale
Marci Rubin
retired
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
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Contractors
Fiscal year endingProfessional fundraisers
Fiscal year endingSOURCE: IRS Form 990 Schedule G