The California Wellness Foundation is a California-based private foundation that funds and invests in work aimed at improving health and wellness through equity, access, economic security, community well-being, and public policy change.
The foundation aims to promote and strengthen the health and well-being of people across California
The foundation was established in September 1990 ahead of Health Net’s transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit company. When that conversion was completed in February 1992, the foundation received funding to carry out its charitable purpose. It began grantmaking in 1992 and describes itself as California’s largest health conversion foundation at that time. Its history highlights early work connecting public health with gun violence prevention, teen pregnancy prevention, healthy working conditions, and place-based approaches to health. In 2023, Richard Tate was appointed president and CEO.
Cal Wellness says it advances its mission through grantmaking, investments, sharing what it learns, and using its public voice. Its stated approach includes responsive statewide grantmaking, core operating support, funding for direct services, public policy work, and capacity building, with priority given to low-income people, people of color, youth, rural residents, and other underserved communities. The foundation also uses mission-related investments and program-related investments alongside grants. Its grantmaking is organized under the Advancing Wellness grants program, and its PRI activity includes below-market loans and equity investments tied to its charitable purpose
• Advancing Wellness grants program — the foundation’s core grantmaking structure.
• Equity in Access
• Community Well-being
• Economic Security & Dignity
• Leading for Power & Change
• Mission-Related Investments (MRIs)
• Program-Related Investments (PRIs)
Cal Wellness reports that it has made more than 9,000 grants and awarded more than $1 billion in grants since 1992, while distributing $40+ million in grants each year. Its history points to a long-standing role in treating violence prevention as a public health issue and supporting gun violence prevention. It also highlights initiatives advancing the health of Black women, including women living with HIV-AIDS, and formerly incarcerated women facing reentry challenges. In 2025, the foundation framed its work around protecting health, defending democracy, and advancing wellness through justice.
The foundation says it works with community-led organizations, philanthropic organizations, businesses, governments, and individuals seeking better health and wellness outcomes in California. On the investment side, it cites Ilumen Capital, Impact America Fund, New Energy Capital, and HCAP Partners as MRI examples. It also states that early PRIs went to Rural Community Assistance Corporation and Opportunity Fund, and that Everytable received a PRI in 2020.
Cal Wellness describes wellness as going beyond the absence of illness to include body, mind, spirit, justice, equity, and voice. In 2017, it began aligning more of its endowment with mission goals, and in 2020 its board approved investing the full endowment in alignment with mission and vision. The foundation says 100% of its endowment is committed to mission-related investing, with $48 million invested in MRIs since 2017 and $10 million committed to PRIs on the investments page. Its history page also says it awards about $43 million annually in grants and program-related investments and that more than 45% of its asset managers are people of color and women. The 2023 audited financial statements report $1.0168 billion in investments, $11.09 million in net program-related investments, and no outstanding balance on its $25 million revolving line of credit at year end.