The California Wellness Foundation will increase its 2020 grantmaking budget by $10 million to support nonprofits working to promote health equity and racial justice in California communities.

The additional grant dollars, which boost the foundation's total annual payout from $37 million to $47 million, will support COVID-19 recovery work, civic engagement initiatives, and nonprofits working to address the twin crises of COVID-19 and systemic racism. The funds also will support immigration policy advocacy, gun violence prevention research by researchers of color, advocacy focused on universal health care, and innovation in nonprofit service delivery and design. 

"COVID-19 has upended the way our grantees work. There's so much uncertainty, especially when it comes to fundraising," said Cal Wellness vice president of programs Fatima Angeles. "As a health funder, we're doing our utmost to pay attention, listen to our grantees, and innovate to best support them. We're increasing our annual grantmaking budget to allow our grantees a little more breathing room, while continuing to provide core operating, multiyear, and flexible grants. Finally, we're exploring ways to not only increase this year's grant allocation, but our allocations for the next two years."

"We find ourselves at an inflection point," said Cal Wellness president and CEO Judy Belk. "The COVID-19 pandemic. Protests against police brutality. The Black Lives Matter movement gaining momentum. Ravaging wildfires. From the perspective of our board and staff, there's never been a more urgent time to step up and increase our annual giving."

(Photo credit: California Wellness Foundation)