The Rosenberg Foundation prioritizes support for California based organizations fighting for long-term statewide and local policy reform in Immigrant Rights and Low Wage Workers’ Rights, Criminal Justice Reform, and Civil Rights and Civic Participation.

The foundation works closely with social justice advocates, policy makers and other thought leaders throughout the state to identify the strategies that will best help achieve positive impact in California within each program area. As such, the vast majority of our grantee partners are identified and contacted by foundation staff first.

Please note that, while we do accept unsolicited inquiries, our limited grants budget means that we can fund only a few of them.

Fit and Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Work toward missions and project goals that are clearly aligned with the Foundation’s grantmaking priorities.
• Our priority is to fund organizations that have budgets that do not exceed $2M.
• Nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code and not classified as a private foundation under Section 509(a) of the Code; or public agencies. The Foundation also can make grants to 501(c)(4) entities restricted to c3 activities.
• Be based in, or managing significant activities, in California

The Rosenberg Foundation’s policies Exclude funding for:

• Direct services
• Fundraisers or sponsorship of events
• Individuals, for-profit entities or scholarships
• Projects focused outside of California
• Endowment campaigns
• Construction, equipment, capital projects or campaigns
• Research, curriculum development, publication of materials
• Production of films and distribution
• Operating expenses for colleges or governmental agencies

Letter of Inquiry

Please send your Letter of Inquiry by email to our Grants and Special Projects Manager, at: contact@rosenfound.org.

Letters of inquiry should be no more than two pages that includes the following information:

• A brief description of your organization including major objectives
• A brief description of the project (if applicable)
• Legal name and EIN of 501c3 organization
• The name and EIN of Fiscal Sponsor organization (if applicable)
• Total amount of Organizational and Project budget (if applicable).
• Total request amount

Letters of Inquiry are accepted on an on-going basis. Applicants will be contacted as quickly as possible after the review process.