Here are the funds you can contribute to with your refund or as part of your payment for CA.
California Seniors Special Fund
If you and/or your spouse/RDP are 65 years of age or older as of January 1, 2014, and claim the Senior Exemption Credit on line 7, you may make a combined total contribution of up to $212 or $106 per spouse/RDP. Contributions made to this fund will be distributed to the Area Agency on Aging Councils (TACC) to provide advice on and sponsorship of Senior Citizens issues. Any excess contributions not required by TACC will be distributed to senior citizen service organizations throughout California for meals, adult day care, and transportation.
Alzheimer’s Disease/Related Disorders Fund
Contributions will be used to provide grants to California scientists to study Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. This research includes basic science, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, behavioral problems, and caregiving. With almost 600,000 Californians living with the disease and another 2 million providing care to a loved one with Alzheimer’s, our state is in the early stages of a major public health crisis. Your contribution will ensure that Alzheimer’s disease receives the attention, research, and resources it deserves. For more information go to cdph.ca.gov and search for Alzheimer.
California Fund for Senior Citizens (CSL)
Contributions will provide support to the California Senior Legislature (CSL). The CSL is made up of volunteers who develop statewide senior related legislative proposals in areas of health, housing, transportation, and community services to be presented to the State Legislature, for more information go to www.4cls.org.
Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Program
Contributions will be used to help protect and conserve California's many threatened and endangered species and the wild lands that they need to survive, for the enjoyment and benefit of you and future generations of Californians.
State Children's Trust Fund for the Prevention of Child Abuse
Contributions will be used to fund programs for the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse and neglect.
California Breast Cancer Research Fund
Contributions will fund research toward preventing and curing breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer to strike women in California. It kills 4,000 California women each year. Contributions also fund research on prevention and better treatment, and keep doctors up-to-date on research progress. For more about the research your contributions support, go to cbcrp.org. Your contribution can help make breast cancer a disease of the past.
California Firefighters Memorial Fund
Contributions will be used for the repair and maintenance of the California Firefighter's Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol, ceremonies to honor the memory of fallen firefighters and to assist surviving loved ones, and for an informational guide detailing survivor benefits to assist the spouses/ RDPs and children of fallen firefighters.
Emergency Food for Families Fund
Contributions will be used to help local food banks feed California's hungry. Your contribution will fund the purchase of much-needed food for delivery to food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens throughout the state. The State Department of Social Services will monitor its distribution to ensure the food is given to those most in need.
California Peace Officer Memorial Foundation Fund
Contributions will be used to preserve the memory of California's fallen peace officers and assist the families they left behind. Since statehood, over 1,300 courageous California peace officers have made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting law-abiding citizens. The non-profit charitable organization, California Peace Officer's Memorial Fund, has accepted the privilege and responsibility of maintaining a memorial for fallen officers on the state capital grounds.
Each May, the memorial foundation conducts a dignified ceremony honoring fallen officers and their surviving families by offering moral support, crisis counseling, and financial support that includes academic scholarships for the children for the children of those officers who have made the supreme sacrifice.
California Sea Otter Fund
The California Coastal Conservancy and the Department of Fish and Wildlife will each be allocated 50% of the contributions. Contributions allocated to the California Coastal Conservancy will be used for research, science, protection, projects, or programs related to the Federal Sea Otter Recovery Plan or improving the nearshore ocean ecosystem, including, program activities to reduce sea otter mortality. Contributions allocated to the Department of Fish and Wildlife will be used to establish a sea otter fund within the department’s index coding system for increased investigation, prevention, and enforcement action.
Municipal Shelter Spay-Neuter Fund
Contributions will be used to provide grants to eligible municipal shelters to provide low cost or free spay-neuter services for dogs and cats.
California Cancer Research Fund
Contributions will be used to conduct research relating to the causes, detection, and prevention of cancer and to expand community-based education on cancer, and to provide prevention and awareness activities for communities that are disproportionately at risk or afflicted by cancer.
Child Victims of Human Trafficking Fund
Contributions will be used to fund, through grants, eligible community-based organizations that agree to provide services to minors who are victims of human trafficking.
California YMCA Youth and Government Fund
Contributions will be used to support civic education programs operated by the YMCA Youth and Government Program, the African American Leaders for Tomorrow Program, the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project, and the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project.
California Youth Leadership Fund
Contributions will be used to support the activities of the California Youth Leadership Project for the purpose of promoting youth civic engagement.
School Supplies for Homeless Children Fund
Contributions will be used to provide school supplies and health-related products to homeless children.
State Parks Protection Fund/Parks Pass Purchase
Contributions will be used for the protection and preservation of California’s state parks and for the cost of a Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass valid at most park units where day use fees are collected. The pass is not valid at off-highway vehicle units, or for camping, oversized vehicle, extra vehicle, per-person, or supplemental fees. If a taxpayer’s contribution equals or exceeds $150 the taxpayer will receive a single Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass. Amounts contributed in excess of the parks pass cost may be deducted as a charitable contribution for the year in which the voluntary contribution is made. Any contribution less than $150 will be treated as a voluntary contribution and may be deducted as a charitable contribution. For more information go toparks.ca.gov/annualpass/ or email info@parks.ca.gov.
Protect Our Coast and Oceans Fund
Contributions will be used for grants and programs that preserve, protect, or enhance coastal resources and promote coastal and marine educational activities for underserved communities.
Keep Arts in Schools Fund
Contributions will be used by the Arts Council for the allocation of grants to individuals or organizations administering arts programs for children in preschool through 12th grade.
American Red Cross, California Chapters Fund
Contributions will be used by the American Red Cross, California Chapters for planning and implementing programs for disaster relief in California.