Common Counsel Foundation

Organization Overview

Common Counsel Foundation is located in Oakland, CA. The organization was established in 1995. According to its NTEE Classification (S50) the organization is classified as: Nonprofit Management, under the broad grouping of Community Improvement & Capacity Building and related organizations. As of 12/2021, Common Counsel Foundation employed 65 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Common Counsel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.

For the year ending 12/2021, Common Counsel Foundation generated $85.7m in total revenue. This organization has experienced exceptional growth, as over the past 7 years, it has increased revenue by an average of 53.7% each year . All expenses for the organization totaled $32.2m during the year ending 12/2021. While expenses have increased by 39.3% per year over the past 7 years. They've been increasing with an increasing level of total revenue. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.

Since 2015, Common Counsel Foundation has awarded 946 individual grants totaling $27,407,043. If you would like to learn more about the grant giving history of this organization, scroll down to the grant profile section of this page.

Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing

TAX YEAR

2021

Describe the Organization's Mission:

Part 3 - Line 1

CCF ADVANCES EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH A COMBINATION OF DIRECT GRANT MAKING AND STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPIC ADVISING FOR CLIENT MEMBER FUNDS AND MANAGES PROJECTS FOCUSED ON ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP SUSTAINABILITY AND DONOR EDUCATION.

Describe the Organization's Program Activity:

Part 3 - Line 4a

STRATEGIC AND VALUES-DRIVEN GRANTMAKING - IN 2021, COMMON COUNSEL FOUNDATION (COMMON COUNSEL) MANAGED JUST UNDER $20 MILLION IN GRANTS TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ADVANCING EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO LONGSTANDING SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INEQUITIES, THROUGH ITS DIRECT GRANTMAKING AND INFLUENCING INDEPENDENT FOUNDATIONS. FOUNDED IN 1988, COMMON COUNSEL ADVANCES EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH A COMBINATION OF DIRECT GRANT MAKING AND STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPIC ADVISING FOR CLIENT MEMBER FUNDS AND MANAGES PROJECTS FOCUSED ON ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND SUSTAINABILITY AND DONOR EDUCATION. COMMON COUNSEL PARTNERS WITH FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS TO EXPAND PHILANTHROPIC RESOURCES FOR GRASSROOTS GROUPS COMPOSED OF AND LED BY MEMBERS OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS. IN ORDER TO EXPAND THE SCALE OF PHILANTHROPIC RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY-LED GROUPS, COMMON COUNSEL UTILIZES TWO GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR ITS STRATEGIC GRANTMAKING. FIRST, COMMON COUNSEL INVESTS IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TO ADVANCE MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS TO CRITICAL SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL CHALLENGES. SECOND, COMMON COUNSEL SUPPORTS INCREASED COLLABORATION THROUGH SHARED CAMPAIGNS AND LONG-TERM ALLIANCES THAT SERVE TO AMPLIFY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LOCAL EFFORTS. FOR DECADES, THESE TWO STRATEGIES HAVE ALLOWED GROUPS TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, TO ADVANCE SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS DEFINED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THEMSELVES, AND TO ENSURE HEALTH AND EQUITY FOR EVERYONE. AS COMMON COUNSEL EMBARKS ON ITS 32ST YEAR, WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAY STEADFAST AS THE HUB OF PROGRESSIVE PUBLIC PHILANTHROPY ON THE WEST COAST AND BEYOND, WHILE ENTERING INTO A PHASE OF BOLD VISIONING FOR THE FUTURE.


FISCAL SPONSORSHIP - COMMON COUNSEL FOUNDATION'S FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM ENSURES THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF THE SPONSORED COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATIONS, AND PROMOTES STRATEGIC COORDINATION IN THE PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR. IN 2021, CCF ACTED AS FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE KINDLE PROJECT, THE WINDCALL INSTITUTE, ROADMAP, THE MOVEMENT 4 BLACK LIVES, AND COLOR CONGRESS. THE KINDLE PROJECT SEEKS TO FOSTER CREATIVE IDEAS TO INSPIRE AND SUPPORT POSSIBILITIES FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE. THE WINDCALL INSTITUTE SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF LEADERS, WHICH IS A KEY TO ENSURING STRONG, HEALTHY VISIONARY ORGANIZATIONS. ROADMAP IS A NATIONAL NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONAL-DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS DEDICATED TO SERVING SOCIAL-JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS. ROADMAP SERVES AS A FORUM FOR PEER EXCHANGE AND INNOVATION AMONG ORGANIZATIONAL-DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS. THE MOVEMENT 4 BLACK LIVES WAS CREATED AS A SPACE FOR BLACK ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO DEBATE AND DISCUSS THE CURRENT POLITICAL CONDITIONS, DEVELOP SHARED ASSESSMENTS OF WHAT POLITICAL INTERVENTIONS WERE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE KEY POLICY, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL WINS, CONVENE ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN ORDER TO DEBATE AND COCREATE A SHARED MOVEMENT WIDE STRATEGY. COLOR CONGRESS IS AN INTERMEDIARY AND A FUNDER THAT IS BUILDING A NATIONAL COLLECTIVE OF MAJORITY PEOPLE OF COLOR (POC) AND POCLED ORGANIZATIONS AIMED AT CENTERING AND STRENGTHENING NONFICTION STORYTELLING BY, FOR AND ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND TERRITORIES.


PHILANTHROPIC SERVICES - COMMON COUNSEL FOUNDATION PROVIDES STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPIC ADVICE, GRANTS MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION, AND ACCOUNTING SUPPORT TO INDEPENDENT FOUNDATIONS THAT SHARE A COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. CCF ASSISTS ITS CLIENTS IN STREAMLINING THEIR GRANTMAKING PROCESSES AND DEEPENING THEIR IMPACT. IN ADDITION TO THE SERVICES ALREADY NOTED, CCF HELPS CLIENTS REFINE THEIR GRANTMAKING STRATEGY AND PROVIDES RESEARCH, DUE DILIGENCE, GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS, TRUSTEE SUPPORT, AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE. CCF TAPS COMMUNITY ADVISORS, EACH OF WHOM HAS DEEP CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY-LED ORGANIZATIONS AND WHOSE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE ADDS TO THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE OF CCF'S STAFF. CCF'S COMMUNITY ADVISORS AND STAFF ENSURE THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS AWARE OF THE LATEST INNOVATIONS EMERGING FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND OF PIONEERING SOLUTIONS DEVELOPED BY LOCAL LEADERS. CCF'S STAFF AND ADVISORS ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO HAVE EXCITING VISION AND ORGANIZATIONS WITH PROMISING NEW MODELS AND APPROACHES.


Get More from Intellispect for FreeCreate a free account to get more data, nonprofit salaries, advanced search and more.

Outside Vendors & Contractors

Vendor Name (Service)Compensation
Bowers Consulting Firm
Communications Project Managment
$311,352
Berlin Rosen Ltd
General Communication Support
$261,413
Glymph Consulting Llc
Recruitment Consulting Service
$148,914
Matters Of The Earth Ltd
Production And Design
$153,200
Do Big Things Llc
Application Development/design
$218,341
View All Vendors

Financial Statements

Statement of Revenue
Federated campaigns$0
Membership dues$0
Fundraising events$0
Related organizations$0
Government grants $148,100
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above$84,386,515
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f $0
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar$84,534,615
Total Program Service Revenue$1,139,550
Investment income $66,163
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Net Rental Income $0
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales -$51,895
Net Income from Fundraising Events $0
Net Income from Gaming Activities $0
Net Income from Sales of Inventory $0
Miscellaneous Revenue$0
Total Revenue $85,692,119

Grants Awarded

Over the last fiscal year, Common Counsel Foundation has awarded $14,982,915 in support to 406 organizations.

Grant RecipientAmount

Madison, WI

PURPOSE: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

$505,500

New York, NY

PURPOSE: PROJECT SUPPORT FOR CYPRESS FUND

$500,000

BLACK FARMER FUND INC

Org PageRecipient Profile

New York, NY

PURPOSE: GENERAL SUPPORT

$350,000

AGRARIAN LAND TRUST

Org PageRecipient Profile

Weare, NH

PURPOSE: PROJECT SUPPORT FOR EASTERN WOODLANDS REMATRIATION

$250,000

ACORN CENTER FOR RESTORATION AND FREEDOM INC

Org PageRecipient Profile

Covington, GA

PURPOSE: PROJECT SUPPORT FOR THE LAND ACQUISITION PROJECT

$250,000

Los Angeles, CA

PURPOSE: PROJECT SUPPORT FOR HOUSING NOW!

$215,000
View Grant Profile

Grants Recieved

Over the last fiscal year, we have identified 96 grants that Common Counsel Foundation has recieved totaling $26,580,073.

Awarding OrganizationAmount
Foundation To Promote Open Society

New York, NY

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES, A PROJECT OF THE GRANTEE THAT CREATES ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HARMFUL INSTITUTIONS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES FOR ALL BLACK COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION

$3,000,000
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc

Washington, DC

PURPOSE: General operating support

$2,963,000
Impactassets Inc

Bethesda, MD

PURPOSE: GENERAL SUPPORT

$1,797,500
Schwab Charitable Fund

San Francisco, CA

PURPOSE: PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT

$1,233,850
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Foundation

Palo Alto, CA

PURPOSE: NATIVE VOICES RISING FUND

$1,000,000
John D & Catherine T Macarthur Foundation

Chicago, IL

PURPOSE: FOR FLEXIBLE SUPPORT OF ITS COLOR CONGRESS INITIATIVE PROJECT.

$1,000,000
View Grant Recipient Profile

Create an account to unlock the data you need.

or