The California Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA California) established the California Planning Foundation (CPF) in 1970 as a nonprofit, charitable corporation with the goal of furthering the professional practice of planning in California. The primary focus is providing scholarships and awards to university students in financial need. The scholarship recipients come from many backgrounds and are selected because they are talented and motivated and have demonstrated academic excellence at university planning programs in California. 

A secondary, but vitally important function is fostering professional development through the sponsorship of workshops, publications, research studies and other continuing educational and professional programs. CPF promotes the objectives of equal opportunity and social equity in all programs supported by contributions and fund-raising activities.