Intersections: Reflecting on highlights of 2025

Our newsletter, Intersections, explores the connectedness of health in our communities and imagines a better future.

This is a summary of the December 2025 edition. Sign up to receive the full, bimonthly newsletter in your inbox.

As we close 2025, we’re spotlighting the work of grantees, partners, and communities who advance equity and work to prevent domestic violence across California. With 97 grants totaling nearly $20 million, these leaders have driven policy and systems to change, strengthened public health, elevated survivor-centered supports and practices, and expanded narrative power statewide. Together, these accomplishments reflect our mission in action. They show what’s possible when communities shape solutions and philanthropy stands with them, especially in tough times.

— Debbie I. Chang, President and CEO

Listening to people who drive our work

Our 2025 opinion poll documents trends in Californians’ needs and experiences with domestic violence. Nearly two-thirds of Californians have personal ties to domestic violence, and one-third identify as survivors. We found overwhelming support for increased funding for prevention and survivor resources. Look for this report to inform our work in 2026, as we share more of what Californians are experiencing.

Putting expertise into powerful words

Some fellows of the OpEd Project gathered in November to celebrate their work.

A group of 20 experts from across California used their voices to bring attention to economic security issues that survivors of domestic violence face. Through the 2025 Public Voices Fellowship on Domestic Violence and Economic Security, this impressive cohort crafted personal narratives and published 70 op-eds, bringing awareness to critical issues facing survivors and the policy and system changes that could help.

Advancing community-led health equity

This April, we spotlighted California community grantees driving health equity, from the Central Valley to statewide coalitions, through advocacy, partnerships, and policy. These grantee partners remind us that, with or without national recognition, the work continues. Read more in our blog: National minority health month has been erased. The need for it hasn’t.

Stepping up and standing together

We joined 10 other California foundations to co-host the Health Matters forum in November at UC Riverside, where four leading candidates for governor addressed the major health issues shaping California’s future. Together we succeeded in centering community needs and voices, reflecting a broad definition of health. Watch the forum here.

Partnering to change policy and systems

Advocates with California Partnership to End Domestic Violence and VALOR rally in Sacramento to preserve services for survivors.

In 2025, various Foundation partners achieved several policy wins on behalf of California communities. Among the highlights: they secured $100 million to backfill federal cuts for domestic violence services. They preserved $276 million in state funding for the Future of Public Health initiative. They made sure that more than 4 million Californians have better access to paid family leave.

Showing that healing is possible

Therapist Spencer Mattox reads a book to students during a small group therapy session at Mi Escuelita in San Diego on May 20, 2025. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters

In 2025, our grantee partners raised awareness about preventing childhood adversity and healing from domestic violence as critical parts of breaking the cycle of domestic violence. CalMatters reported on Mi Escuelita, a leader among therapeutic preschools, and the solutions they offer students who are survivors. California Health Report also highlighted the role of parents in children’s advocacy and how Children Now is preparing for potential cuts to Medi-Cal, which provides health coverage for about half of the state’s children.

Growing a community of practice

Our Journalist Playbook supports a growing community of journalists and survivors working together to learn, teach, and use trauma-informed practices in storytelling about domestic violence. We saw it in a Center for Health Journalism symposium, in workshops with the Pivot Fund, in videos from AfroLA, and at the Association of Health Care Journalists conference. In 2026, we’ll continue to showcase strong examples of excellent reporting on domestic violence.