Trust Funds
This section provides information on how and why consumer trust funds are created and brief descriptions of the trust funds that have been or are currently administered by the Foundation. To access more detailed information about specific funding priorities or restrictions, click on the trust funds that have been highlighted.
Creating a Consumer Trust Fund
Consumer trust funds are similar, but not exactly the same as charitable trust funds. Creating a consumer trust fund is
actually very easy to do, and a significantly more effective and efficient than distributing the funds directly. If you are interested in learning
more, please visit the section on this site with information on how to create a consumer trust fund. To view
the funds that are administered by the foundation, check the list below. Please note that only those funds denoted
with the following image (
) are actively accepting applications.
Trust Funds Administered by CCPF
Auto Advertising Fund
Created by the law firm of Westrup, Klick & Associates in Long Beach, California to receive and distribute settlement funds from auto advertising cases. Funds are restricted to providing information and education regarding automobile and truck leasing and financing.
Auto Consumers Fund
Created by the law firm of Azimy & Nathan in Norwalk, California to receive and distribute settlement funds from auto advertising cases. Funds are restricted to consumer education and protection regarding automobile leasing and financing.
Bank of America Consumer Trust
Created from the settlement of Bank of America v. Lallana. Funds are restricted to grants to support consumer advocacy in the State of California.
Community Collaborative Fund
Created by the signatories to an agreement between community groups and Verizon Communications, approved California Public Utilities Commission, to receive and distribute $25 million over ten years. The purpose of the Fund is to increase access to telecommunications service in underserved communities in California, preferably communities in Verizon California’s current and future service areas.
Consumer Auto Advertising Fund
Created by the Lexington Law Group in San Francisco to receive and distribute settlement funds from auto advertising cases. Funds are restricted to providing information and education regarding automobile advertising, leasing and financing.
Electric Education Trust
Created by Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric to support a statewide consumer education program regarding electric industry restructuring. Funds are provided by the investor-owned utilities, as directed by the California Public Utilities Commission, as needed to pay EET expenses and grants up to $13 over two years. The participating utilities will recover these funds from ratepayers
Khorrami Trust
Created by the law firm of Shawn Khorrami (Van Nuys) and mandated by the court in the civil procedure Ho v. Samsung . Funds are restricted to providing consumer education regarding false and misleading advertising and other issues as contained in the Settlement Agreement.
Lemon Law Defense Fund
Created by Mark Anderson of the Kemnitzer, Dickinson, Anderson & Barron law firm in San Francisco to receive and distribute funds to strengthen and protect auto lemon laws.
Levi Strauss Consumer Trust Fund
Created by the parties to litigation, as approved by the Superior Court of the State of California, to receive and distribute $5 million remaining in settlement funds from State of California v. Levi Strauss & Co. The trust is restricted to antitrust activities and other activities to benefit and protect consumers in California.
Montgomery Wards Consumer Trust
Created by the California Department of Consumer Affairs to receive and distribute a portion of the legal settlement in State of California v. Montgomery Wards & Co. Funds are restricted to providing consumer or merchant education regarding false and misleading advertising in furniture sales.
Privacy Rights Fund
Created from the settlement of UCAN v. Capitol One. Funds are restricted to grants supporting organizations that advance policy issues and education regarding privacy rights.
Public School Computer Systems Fund
Created by the Lexington Law Firm to provide computer technology hardware in public schools.
Telecommunications Consumer Protection Fund
Created by the California Public Utilities Commission to distribute $6 million from the settlement of an investigation of GTE California, now VerizonCalifornia, and Communications TeleSystems International regarding abusive marketing practices. Funds are restricted to telecommunications consumer education and protection for limited-English speaking consumers in California.
Telecommunications Consumer Trust Fund
Created from the settlement of Utility Consumer\'s Action Network v. Prodigy. Funds are restricted to grants to non-profit organizations to assist consumers in resolving claims involving their rights and obligations in connection with telecommunications service issues.
Utility Consumer Protection Trust Fund
Created by the law firm of Rosner Law & Mansfield in San Diego. Funds are restricted to grants to non-profit organizations to assist consumers in resolving claims involving their rights and obligations in connection with telecommunications and other utility service issues.