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Californians for Energy Independence at a glance

· Public charity

Californians for Energy Independence

To combat community deterioration, defend human and civil rights secured by law, and promote the common good and social welfare of the people by educating the public and advocating on sensible energy policies which promote economic development and energy security.

$240k
Granted FY2024still arriving
6
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$118k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0197% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2024.

Science & Tech$1.3MHuman Services$131kEmployment$117kEducation$69kCivil Rights$60kCommunity Improvement$60kArts & Culture$48kPublic Benefit$24kOther$0
02FY2024 · 6 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 6 grants below total $169,499, the rows itemized in this filing. The $239,876 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $70,377 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k4 grants · $26k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $25k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $118k
$7,500
Median grant
1
States reached
$3.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Ventura Working Families$118,499
Working Californians Research$25,000
Los Angeles LGBT Center$7,500
Fresno Area Hispanic Fdn$6,500
Los Angeles Fire Dept Found$6,000
Ventura County Taxpayers Fdtn$6,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY18–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 88% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%CAs Dedicated to Education F: $19k → 7%First Tee of Silicon Valley: $12k → 8%Ventura Working Families: $118k → 8%California LULAC Foundation: $50k → 10%The Play Equity Fund: $15k → 14%Fresno Area Hispanic Fdn: $12k → 19%LULAC Natl Education Service: $50k → 14%Tri-Counties Central Labor Co: $17k → 10%Los Angeles LGBT Center: $8k → 14%Fresno Area Hispanic Fdn: $7k → 19%LULAC Natl Education Service: $50k → 14%Los Angeles Fire Dept Found: $6k → 14%LULAC Natl Education Service: $50k → 14%Los Angeles Sentinel Inc: $20k → 14%Los Angeles Sentinel Inc: $10k → 14%Los Angeles Sentinel Inc: $10k → 14%Los Angeles Urban League: $20k → 14%Working Californians Research: $1.3M → 14%Working Californians Research: $25k → 14%Working Californians Research: $25k → 14%Working Californians Research: $10k → 14%Women in NonTraditional E R: $6k → 14%Greater Los Angeles AA C of C: $12k → 14%ARMS: $15k → 14%Art Active Inc: $8k → 14%AmVets Post 2: $7k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

78%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.5M · 4 repeat orgs$415k to everyone else

4 repeat relationships: 2 still active in FY2024, 2 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

4
17

Total granted

$1.5M
$277k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

-11%
+25%

Still filing today

75%
71%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 19% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $138k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Community ImprovementEmploymentPhilanthropyHuman ServicesPublic Safety & DisasterYouth DevelopmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • WC
    WORKING CALIFORNIANS
    4× · 2019–2024 · $1.3M · revenue -96% · 50% of their budget
  • LN
    LULAC NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTERS INC
    2× · 2020–2021 · $100k · revenue +28%
  • LA
    LOS ANGELES SENTINEL INC
    3× · 2018–2023 · $40k

Funded once

  • LN
    LULAC Natl Education Service
    one grant, 2018 · $50k
  • CL
    CALIFORNIA LULAC FOUNDATION INC
    one grant, 2023 · $50k · revenue -1%
  • LA
    LOS ANGELES URBAN LEAGUEgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $20k · revenue +36%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Latino Business Chamber of Greater La Foundation Inc

To facilitate economic structures and policy initiatives that empower Latino business development and foster economic growth across Los Angeles.

Human Services
2
Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles Inc

Economic development of the latino community

Community Improvement
3
League of Women Voters of Los Angeles

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and…

—
4
The City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board

The Workforce Development Board promotes workforce development activitieswhich connect Los Angeles jobseekers and youth to training, workforce preparedness and employment opportunities. Facilitates placing youth into private,public &…

—
5
California Dvbe Alliance Us Veteran Business Alliance Inc

To be the partner of choice for all US veterans, ensuring success in their business.

—
6
Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles County

The function of the corporation shall be to ease the burdens of government by assisting, implementing, supporting and/or contributing to the support of programs, projects and activities of a public nature. which are directed toward…

—
7
United Latino Fund

United latinx fund is los angeles' leading foundation and philanthropic resource created for and by latinx that transforms, uplifts and improves our community's quality of life. with generous support from workplace giving campaigns, united…

Human Services
8
Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation

Promotion and support of latino culture in california, increased participation of latinos and latinas in california society, to educate the public about latino culture and heritage issues of importance to latinos and latinas in california.

Arts & Culture
9
Latino Community Foundation

Lcf exists to unleash the civic and economic power of latinos in california. lcf fulfills the mission by building a movement of critically engaged philanthropic leaders, investing in latino-led orgs, and increasing civic participation of…

Human Services
10
California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce

To promote hispanic business, create an atmosphere that encourages the growth of the hispanic business community and to act as an advocate for the hispanic business community.

—
11
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber is the platform for business to provide leadership, education and advocacy so that the Long Beach area thrives in the 21st century.

—
12
Water Education for Latino Leaders

Well educates and trains local latino elected officials about california water policy to promote timely and equitable actions that serve to develop a robust economy, healthy communities, and a resilient environment for all californians.

Human Services
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is California Lulac Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is Santa Paula Community Fund Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

18 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 18 of the 25 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
18/18
Grantees still filing
10/18
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

WORKING CALIFORNIANS: $1,315,000 · EmploymentWORKING CALIFORNIANSVentura Working Families: $118,499 · OtherVentura Working FamiliesLULAC NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTERS INC: $100,000 · OtherLULAC NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL S…LULAC Natl Education Service: $50,000 · OtherLULAC Natl Education ServiceCALIFORNIA LULAC FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 · OtherCALIFORNIA LULAC FOUNDATION …LOS ANGELES SENTINEL INC: $40,000 · OtherLOS ANGELES SENTINEL INCLOS ANGELES URBAN LEAGUE: $20,000 · OtherCENTRAL COAST LABOR COUNCIL: $17,000 · Other+10 more: $82,500 · Other+10 moreFresno Area Hispanic Foundation: $18,000 · Community ImprovementGreater LA African Amer Chamb of Commerce: $11,500 · Community ImprovementDOWNTOWN VENTURA ORGANIZATION: $10,000 · Community ImprovementCalifornians Dedicated to Education Foundation: $19,444 · Youth DevelopmentTHE PLAY EQUITY FUND: $15,000 · EducationFuture Talent of Silicon Valley: $11,500 · Recreation & SportsSANTA PAULA COMMUNITY FUND INC: $10,000 · Philanthropy
Employment$1,315,000Other$477,999Community Improvement$39,500Youth Development$19,444Education$15,000Recreation & Sports$11,500Philanthropy$10,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetWORKING CALIFORNIANS: $1,315,000 over 4y, 50% of budgetLULAC NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTERS INC: $100,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetCALIFORNIA LULAC FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 over 1y, 23% of budgetLOS ANGELES URBAN LEAGUE: $20,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetCalifornians Dedicated to Education Foundation: $19,444 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetFresno Area Hispanic Foundation: $18,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetTHE PLAY EQUITY FUND: $15,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetGreater LA African Amer Chamb of Commerce: $11,500 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetVENTURA COUNTY TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 23% of budgetDOWNTOWN VENTURA ORGANIZATION: $10,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetLOS ANGELES LGBT CENTER: $7,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetART ACTIVE INC: $7,500 over 1y, 5.3% of budgetAMVETS DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA: $7,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetVENTURA COUNTY TAXPAYERS FOUNDATION: $6,000 over 1y, 5.9% of budgetLOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT FOUNDATION: $6,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

California Community …Gs Donor Advised Phil…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
California Community FoundationCA12.8× affinity5 shared granteesties to 4 of 4Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: California Community Foundation · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Californians for Energy Independence funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Californians for Energy Independence. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%13%28%50%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    1report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Californians for Energy Independence?

    Find your warmest path to Californians for Energy Independence through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 25 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Californians for Energy Independence’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home