Higher Education Grant Funders in California
3365 foundations with a documented higher education focus have made grants to California nonprofits in recent years, together directing $5.7B to organizations across the state. Below are the most active — every funder links to a public funder overview, and Bespoke Grants will match all 3365 against your nonprofit's specific mission. One lifetime free search includes up to three sourced matches; further searches and the full workflow are $19/month. No credit card is needed for the preview.
Most active higher education funders in California
| # | Funder | Based in | Total California giving | Grants | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ucla Foundation | California | $1.9B | 6 | 2023 |
| 2 | University of California Irvine Foundation | California | $496.0M | 7 | 2024 |
| 3 | Uc Santa Barbara Foundation | California | $218.5M | 8 | 2025 |
| 4 | California Polytechnic State University | California | $156.6M | 27 | 2024 |
| 5 | San Diego State University Foundation | California | $106.1M | 5 | 2024 |
| 6 | Uc Santa Cruz Foundation | California | $92.7M | 4 | 2023 |
| 7 | The San Francisco Foundation | California | $87.6M | 257 | 2023 |
| 8 | Anderson Stewart Family Foundation | California | $83.0M | 11 | 2024 |
| 9 | United Negro College Fund Inc | District of Columbia | $78.6M | 6 | 2025 |
| 10 | The Andrew W Mellon Foundation | New York | $58.1M | 58 | 2024 |
| 11 | University Corporation at Monterey Bay | California | $50.6M | 14 | 2025 |
| 12 | The Community Foundation of Louisville | Kentucky | $50.0M | 4 | 2024 |
| 13 | Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation | California | $45.2M | 55 | 2024 |
| 14 | Cal Poly Corporation | California | $41.6M | 21 | 2024 |
| 15 | Crankstart Foundation | California | $36.0M | 107 | 2024 |
This list is ranked by size. Yours should be ranked by fit.
The funders above are the biggest higher education funders in California — not necessarily the right ones for you. Bespoke Grants ranks all 3365 against your nonprofit's actual mission, service area, and budget, and shows you why each one matches. One lifetime free search includes up to three sourced matches; further searches and the full workflow are $19/month. No credit card is needed for the preview.
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