About Us
A Legacy of Support and Collaboration
The California Foundation on Aging (CFoA) was established from a clear and pressing need: to provide a robust, stable, and trustworthy financial backbone for the diverse efforts dedicated to improving the lives of older adults across our state. Our founders, a group of passionate advocates and leaders in the aging services sector, recognized that many smaller but highly effective organizations lacked the 501(c)(3) status required to attract significant philanthropic support.
The Foundation was created to be more than just a fiscal sponsor; it was designed to be a true partner. By offering its non-profit status and expert fiduciary management, CFoA enabled these component funds to focus entirely on their mission, delivering innovative programs, advocating for policy change, and providing direct services to seniors.
Our Approach
Our Guiding Principles: Professional, Approachable, Effective
Our work is guided by a set of core principles that inform every decision we make, from how we manage funds to how we communicate with our partners. These principles ensure we remain a trusted, transparent, and impactful organization.
Strategic Fiduciary Oversight
We are not passive custodians of funds. We provide active, expert financial management, ensuring that every dollar is accounted for, allocated responsibly, and used to maximum effect. Our Treasurer and volunteer Board offer a level of oversight that builds donor confidence and empowers our component funds.
Collaborative Partnership
We do not work in isolation. Our model is built on partnership. We support and further the work of our component funds and key collaborators like the California Commission on Aging. We believe that by working together, we can achieve far more than any single organization could alone.
Commitment to Innovation
While we honor our history, we are focused on the future. A key part of our mission is to support new and innovative programs that address the emerging needs of older Californians. We actively seek out and fund initiatives that promise to sustain and enhance the quality of life for seniors in new and meaningful ways.
Unwavering Transparency
Trust is our most valuable asset. We operate with full transparency, from our open financial records to our publicly available bylaws and governance documents. Our goal is to inspire confidence in everyone we work with donors, partners, and the seniors we ultimately serve.