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Grant funders / California / Common Counsel Foundation

Common Counsel Foundation

Oakland, California  ·  EIN 943214166  ·  Private foundation

Common Counsel Foundation is a private foundation based in Oakland, California. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $9.8M in grants paid and $40.8M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 1,945 individual grants from this funder — $190.3M awarded across 2017–2024 — including its support for arts & culture. Below is its full funding profile.

$9.8M
Annual giving (FY2020)
$40.8M
Total assets
1,945
Grants tracked
2024
Most recent grant

What Common Counsel Foundation funds

Common Counsel Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, arts education, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, criminal justice, and related causes.

Arts & CultureArts EducationCivil Rights & Social JusticeCommunity ImprovementCriminal JusticeEarly Childhood EducationEducationEnvironment & ConservationFaith-Based (Muslim)Financial Empowerment

Populations it has supported include black communities, families, immigrants & refugees, indigenous, men boys, women girls.

black communitiesfamiliesimmigrants & refugeesindigenousmen boyswomen girlsyouth pop

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Common Counsel Foundation, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Impactassetsinc
FUND CLOSEOUT
Bethesda, MD$37.2M2024
Movement 4 Black Lives Inc
FUND CLOSEOUT
Lawrenceville, GA$15.8M2024
Native Land Conservancy Inc
GENERAL SUPPORT
Mashpee, MA$4.0M2024
See Attached Grants Listing
See attached grants listing
Various, CA$3.9M2019
See Attached Grants Listing
See attached grants listing
Various, CA$3.9M2018
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation
PROJECT SUPPORT TO ADVANCE ORGANIZATIONAL MISSION
Washington, DC$3.5M2022
Black Farmer Fund Inc
GENERAL OPERATING
Bronx, NY$3.3M2022
Center for Third World Organizing
PROJECT SUPPORT FOR PERSIMMON COLLECTIVE
Oakland, CA$3.0M2023
The Accomplis Collective Inc
PROJECT SUPPORT 80 ACRES
New York, NY$2.5M2023
The Accomplis Collective Inc
80 ACRES
New York, NY$2.5M2024
The Accomplis Collective Inc
PROJECT SUPPORT BLACKYARD
New York, NY$2.0M2023
See Attached Grants Listing
See attached grants listing
Various, CA$2.0M2017
Neo Philanthropy Inc
CYPRESS FUND
New York, NY$1.5M2024
Freedom Org
GENERAL OPERATING
Rocky Mt, NC$1.5M2023
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation
TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PURPOSES
Washington, DC$1.3M2023

Common Counsel Foundation giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2017$2.0M
2018$3.9M
2019$3.9M
2020$9.4M
2022$33.9M
2023$36.2M
2024$101.0M

How to apply for funding from Common Counsel Foundation

Common Counsel Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at commoncounsel.org.

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Frequently asked questions about Common Counsel Foundation

Does Common Counsel Foundation accept grant applications?
Common Counsel Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
What does Common Counsel Foundation fund?
Common Counsel Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include Impactassetsinc, Movement 4 Black Lives Inc, Native Land Conservancy Inc. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does Common Counsel Foundation give in grants?
Common Counsel Foundation reported $9.8M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $190.3M over 1,945 grants.
Where is Common Counsel Foundation located?
Common Counsel Foundation is based in Oakland, California. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 943214166.
How can I find foundations similar to Common Counsel Foundation?
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Foundations similar to Common Counsel Foundation

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About this profile. This page is built from Common Counsel Foundation's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with Common Counsel Foundation. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.