What California Transportation Foundation does

California Transportation Foundation (CTF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1988 and headquartered in Loomis, California. It is dedicated to supporting the California transportation industry through scholarships, grants, and recognition programs. The foundation primarily serves California's transportation workforce—students pursuing transportation-related studies and professionals within the public and private sector—and operates a portfolio of 47 scholarship programs that have collectively disbursed over $2 million in awards, alongside transportation employee recognition programs and infrastructure education initiatives. CTF runs a small staff of 1–10 employees and is currently led by Executive Director Marnie Primmer following the 2022 passing of founder Heinz Heckeroth (1925–2022).

Name

California Transportation Foundation

Legal name

California Transportation Foundation

Website

https://the-ctf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

California Transportation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1988 that administers scholarships, grants, and recognition programs serving California's transportation workforce and students, funded through corporate memberships, events, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Transportation Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Transportation scholarships
• Nonprofit foundation services
• Worker memorial grants
• Transportation industry awards
• Educational symposium programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual and corporate donations support CTF endowment and programs including scholarships, injured/fallen worker grants, and emergency relief. Tax-deductible donations to general funds.
2. Corporate Membership Sponsorships: Legacy Members, Sustaining Members, and Small Business Members provide year-round financial support in exchange for visibility, logo placement, event recognition, and networking benefits.
3. CTF Store Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, mugs, stickers, and notebooks. All proceeds support CTF programs. Unit pricing from $5 to $46.50.
4. Event Sponsorships and Registrations: Golf tournaments, awards galas, and educational events generate revenue through sponsorship packages (ranging from $500 tee sponsors to $10,000 diamond sponsors) and individual/foursome registrations ($300-$1,200).
5. Scholarship Establishment Fees: Endowed scholarships require minimum $18,500 to establish, providing annual scholarship awards of $750+. Also receives per-scholarship administrative support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The California Transportation Foundation (CTF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable foundation established in 1988 that supports the California transportation industry. Its core offerings include scholarships for students pursuing transportation careers, financial grants for injured and fallen transportation workers and their families, recognition awards for transportation professionals, educational programs including an annual symposium, and career development initiatives.

Product overview

California Transportation Foundation (CTF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable foundation supporting the California transportation industry through a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include: (1) Scholarships Program administering 47 scholarships for students in transportation-related fields; (2) Awards and Recognition including the Annual Transportation Awards ceremony; (3) Injured and Fallen Worker Support providing grants and memorial funds; (4) Educational Programs featuring the Education Symposium, Transportation Forum, and Mobility Symposium; (5) Career Development including internship partnerships with Caltrans, LA Metro, MTC, and private firms; (6) CTF Store selling memorial merchandise; (7) Charity Golf Tournaments in SoCal and NorCal as major fundraisers; and (8) Membership tiers (Legacy, Sustaining, Small Business) providing corporate sponsorship pathways. The Foundation hosts multiple signature events annually and provides emergency financial assistance to transportation workers and families in crisis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CTF Scholarship Program Funded scholarships for students pursuing careers in the California transportation industry; the program has awarded 47 scholarships. Open to qualified students in transportation-related fields of study.
• Injured and Fallen Worker Support Program Financial grants and assistance provided to California transportation workers who have been injured on the job and to families of fallen transportation workers, offering emergency relief and ongoing support.
• CTF Transportation Awards Program Annual recognition awards honoring individuals, teams, and projects for outstanding contributions to the California transportation industry, including career achievement, innovation, and public service categories.
• CTF Educational Symposium Annual educational symposium bringing together California transportation professionals for learning, networking, and professional development sessions on industry topics.
• CTF Annual Golf Tournament Annual fundraising golf tournament held in California that brings together transportation industry participants and sponsors to raise funds for CTF programs.
• CTF Store Online merchandise store selling branded apparel and accessories to supporters of the California Transportation Foundation, with proceeds supporting foundation programs.
• CTF Membership Program Tiered membership program for individuals and organizations supporting CTF, with levels including President's Club, Patron, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and General memberships that provide varying levels of recognition and benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $2.0 Million in scholarships awarded to date
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTF partners with SCAG to fund a scholarship award for high school or college students from the SCAG region. SCAG provides a $4,000 scholarship award for each of seven students, with CTF funding one award to an applicant demonstrating interest in transportation.
• WTS (Women in Transportation Seminar)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTF supports WTS scholarship programs for students pursuing transportation careers through undergraduate and graduate programs. Scholarships are competitive based on transportation goals, academic record, and transportation-related activities. Minority candidates are encouraged to apply.
• AECOMflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLegacy Member sponsor providing substantial funding and leadership on CTF Board of Directors. AECOM provides presenting sponsor recognition at CTF signature events and premium advertising placement.
• HDRflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLegacy Member sponsor. HDR is honored to be a Legacy Sponsor due to CTF's focus on investing in future leaders and helping those in need through workers' assistance programs and recognizing exceptional transportation leaders and projects.
• HNTBflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLegacy Member sponsor. HNTB is a CTF Legacy Sponsor because it means giving back to an industry they are passionate about - supporting talent attraction, recognizing accomplishments, and supporting families of fallen workers.
• JacobsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLegacy Member sponsor. CTF's mission to recognize the best and brightest in the industry, provide funding to workers in their time of need, and educate the next generation through scholarships and mentoring aligns perfectly with Jacobs values.
• Mark Thomas & CompanyflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLegacy Member sponsor. Mark Thomas & Company is proud to be a CTF Legacy Sponsor because it provides an opportunity to give back to the transportation community by supporting CTF's mission to help those in need and develop industry leaders.
• WSPflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLegacy Member sponsor. WSP is a Legacy Sponsor because of CTF's investment in future members of the industry and support for families of those in need - exemplary missions that CTF has demonstrated commitment to for over 30 years.
• CaltransflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLegacy Member and primary government partner. CTF provides funding for Caltrans service pins (25 and 40 year), management awards, diversity days, and innovation fairs. Also coordinates Caltrans Fallen Worker Memorial Ceremony.
• DeloittecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining Member providing year-round visibility and logo recognition through 2026 membership.
• Metro (LA Metro)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining Member and internship partner. Metro offers college internships through their Career Ladder Program, with CTF facilitating student participation.
• MTC (Metropolitan Transportation Commission)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining Member and internship partner. MTC provides both college and high school internship programs in transportation planning, finance, and operations in Oakland, California.
• Kimley-HorncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining Member and internship partner providing visibility and access to CTF year-round.
• Granite ConstructioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining Member providing year-round support and visibility.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Mineta Transportation Institute: Mineta Transportation Institute is a California-based transportation research and education center at San Jose State University offering scholarships and policy research. Comparable to CTF as a California-focused transportation education entity, though primarily a research institute rather than a scholarship-granting foundation.

Direct peers

• American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF): APTF is the charitable foundation of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), providing scholarships and grants to students and transit professionals. Comparable to CTF in structure as an industry-specific foundation offering scholarships and recognition, with a public transit focus rather than California's broader transportation remit.
• Eno Transportation Foundation: Eno Transportation Foundation is a DC-based 501(c)(3) focused on transportation leadership development, policy education, and scholarships. Comparable to CTF as a transportation-specific charitable foundation with scholarship and professional development programs, though Eno operates nationally with a stronger policy focus.
• WTS International (Women's Transportation Seminar) Foundation: WTS International is a 501(c)(3) transportation professional association with a foundation arm that administers scholarships for women pursuing transportation careers. Directly comparable to CTF in mission, scholarship program structure, and transportation industry focus, though WTS has a national footprint and gender-specific mission.
• ARTBA Transportation Development Foundation: The ARTBA Transportation Development Foundation supports education, training, and scholarship programs for the U.S. transportation design and construction industry. Directly comparable as a transportation industry charitable foundation offering scholarships and worker safety programs, with a national scope focused on infrastructure construction.
• COMTO (Conference of Minority Transportation Officials): COMTO is a 501(c)(3) transportation professional association offering scholarships, training, and career development focused on minority participation in the transportation industry. Comparable to CTF in scholarship administration and industry workforce development mission, though COMTO has a national footprint and diversity-focused mission.

Broad incumbents

• ITE (Institute of Transportation Engineers) Foundation: ITE is a global professional association for transportation engineers with scholarship programs for students. Comparable to CTF in transportation industry focus and student scholarship support, though ITE serves an international membership and is a membership organization rather than pure foundation.
• ASCE Foundation: ASCE Foundation is the charitable arm of the American Society of Civil Engineers, supporting civil engineering education, scholarships, and programs. Comparable as an engineering-related scholarship-granting foundation, though much larger in scale and broader in scope than CTF's transportation-specific focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CTFCharity
• Facebookfacebook.com/CTFCharity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Transportation Foundation