Search Through California Grants for Nonprofits in the U.S.

The Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation (Parasol) is a non-profit, public charity that is dedicated to supporting the Lake Tahoe Region – now and into the future.  We are building a more prosperous community by partnering with donors to make their charitable giving more meaningful, by supporting quality programs provided by local nonprofit organizations and by providing community leadership on emerging issues.

Core Values

• Integrity: We are transparent in all of our transactions and maintain our commitments to our donors, partners, and the community.
• Stewardship: We ensure the resources entrusted to our care are protected and invested in positive, sustainable outcomes for our community.
• Inclusivity: We value all members of our community and act with respect and kindness to all.
• Partnership: We work closely with our donors and partners to deliver positive community impact.
• Innovation: We seek and stimulate new approaches, perspectives, and ideas to address what matters most to the people and communities we serve.

Donald W. Reynolds Community Non-Profit Center

The purpose of the Donald W. Reynolds Community Nonprofit Center (DWR Center) is to provide an economical and collaborative environment for nonprofit organizations. Since 2002, Parasol has operated the DWR Center as an innovative grant program providing nonprofit organizations with furnished office space, secure storage space and access to professional meeting rooms and event space. These grants are awarded to nonprofit, public charities and are annually renewable.

Since 1977, The Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation has focused on charitable giving. Because we value the importance of enhancing and improving the lives of others, the Foundation supports diverse programs in the fields of human services, education, Jewish causes, health, performing arts, scientific research and animal advocacy. While most of the organizations we support are in the United States, some of the programs provide support throughout the world.

We review every request submitted and make our decision after diligent and thoughtful consideration. Most grants awarded are for program development or specific project support as opposed to general operating expenses.

About the Henry T. Nicholas, III Foundation

The Foundation has been at the forefront nationally in supporting victims' rights, reflecting Dr. Nicholas' longstanding commitment to victims of violent crime. He has been a leader of the victims' rights movement since 1983, when his sister, Marsy, was murdered. He helped his parents found Justice for Homicide Victims, a leading non-profit organization that supports families of murder victims. Dr. Nicholas led the effort in 2008 to pass Marsy's Law, a state constitutional amendment that created a comprehensive Victims' Bill of Rights for California. Following this campaign, he formed Marsy's Law for All, an organization dedicated to enforcing the constitutional amendment, empowering victims' rights organizations, and creating a national movement to pass a victims' Bill of Rights as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Through Marsy's Law for All, the Foundation provides legal, technical, media and other resources to support victims' rights organizations and initiatives.

Read more about us.

Grant Information

The Henry T. Nicholas, III Foundation was created in 2006 with the vision of enabling and assisting communities and individuals to reach their highest potential. The Foundation is dedicated to improving lives through investment in Education, Youth Sports, Technology, Science, Medical Research, Victim's Rights, and National Defense.

Since its inception, the Foundation has provided more than $2.7 million to numerous public charities and non-profit organizations engaged in helping people build better lives for themselves and their neighbors.

The theme that unites the Foundation's various efforts into a single mission is investing in people and their futures:

• Grants are provided to help young people build strong educational and athletic foundations that will lead to healthy, productive and successful lives as adults.
• Advancement in science, technology and medicine is supported because these fields are the key to future health and prosperity for people and communities.
• Aid and support is provided to help violent crime victims and their families, and to assist the heroes who defend our nation and their families, because without safety and security there is no future.

About Amgen

Amgen is one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies. Amgen is a values-based company, deeply rooted in science and innovation to transform new ideas and discoveries into medicines for patients with serious illnesses.

Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

Our belief—and the core of our strategy—is that innovative, highly differentiated medicines that provide large clinical benefits in addressing serious diseases are medicines that will not only help patients, but also will help reduce the social and economic burden of disease in society today.

Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology innovator since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.

Non-Healthcare Donations and Sponsorships

Amgen Charitable Donations and Sponsorships are focused on humanitarian, social, education and community programs.

Background

Pentair believes it is our responsibility to make a positive impact on people and the planet – through our solutions, communities, and operations - as reflected in our Win Right Values. Since 1998, Pentair and the Pentair Foundation have contributed more than $80 million to philanthropic causes strengthening the communities in which we operate. The mission of the Pentair Foundation is to support and advance inclusive and sustainable communities by investing in the availability, quality, and enjoyment of water and by increasing the participation of youth and young adults in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.

Program Areas

In support of this mission, Pentair and the Pentair Foundation engage in giving across these key program areas:

Water

Pentair and the Pentair Foundation seek to help the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water by reducing water stress and building ecological resilience; improving the quality of drinking water; improving access to cleaner and safer water; and increasing water-related safety and well-being.

The Pentair Foundation focuses on programs that help to:

• Move: Reduce water stress and build ecological resilience
• Improve: Improve water quality and reduce single use plastic water bottles
• Enjoy: Increase swim safety and promote water-related well-being

Education

Pentair and the Pentair Foundation seek to help build the workforce of the future by investing in or supporting STEM career pathways, with a particular focus on engineering and manufacturing for youth and young adults.

Community

Pentair and the Pentair Foundation seek to advance vibrant, inclusive communities where we live and work by encouraging employee volunteerism and matching Pentair employee donations.

If you have an initiative you would like Pentair to consider, please contact Pentair. 

Shaping a stronger future for Southern California where all people can thrive

Our mission is to help create healthy, equitable, and vibrant communities throughout Southern California by supporting the nonprofits and institutions that have the greatest impact on critical areas of need.

Our Focus

We Are a Responsive Grantmaker

The Rose Hills Foundation provides grants to the most impactful organizations whose work supports underserved communities across Los Angeles County. We endeavor to be responsive to the region’s ongoing needs.

Education

The Foundation is committed to helping organizations that are working to expand access to educational opportunities and ensuring schools have the resources needed to prepare students to thrive in school, work, and life.

Arts, Culture & Community

The Foundation supports a variety of organizations working to ensure access for all to artistic, cultural, and community-based programs. We recognize that many artistic and cultural institutions serve as anchors in our region and support their efforts to enrich and enhance quality of life for generations to come.

At-Risk Youth & Families

The Foundation gives to a wide range of nonprofits working to support our community’s at-risk youth and families. We believe it is vital to help these organizations which are building stronger, healthier neighborhoods and communities across the region.

Human Services

The Foundation supports nonprofits working to uplift those who suffer from poverty, hunger, unemployment, and lack of healthcare to help meet the basic needs of residents within our region.

Please refer to FAQ for additional guidelines.

Education, Science and Health Grant

Education

Education grants focus on scholarships, targeted programs within educational communities, and general operating support for institutions demonstrating measurable impact.

• Scholarships: Providing opportunity for those who could not otherwise access the educational environment to not only benefit the student, but also enhance institutions by ensuring a robust and diverse community.
  • Castilleja School
  • Dartmouth College
  • Menlo School
  • Phillips Brooks School
  • Stanford University
  • Stanford Law School
• Program: Partnership with organizations with programs that enhance research and learning.
  • Stanford Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law
  • Stanford Law School Constitutional Law Center
• General Operating Support: Targeting specific small institutions to enhance their delivery of services through long-term support for operations.
  • Ragazzi Boys Chorus
  • College Track
  • Playworks Northern California
  • Eastside Prep
  • Child and Family Institute
  • Wood River Valley YMCA
  • Learning Matters

Science and Health

The purpose of our science and health grant-making is to enhance life experience through improved health outcomes.

• Research: Grants to research lead to medical breakthroughs for a healthier and more productive society.
  • UCSF General Clinical Research Institute: Salt Sensitivity; Chloride-sensitive Hypertension and Stroke, Comparative effects of potassium chloride and bicarbonate on thiazide-induced reduction in urinary calcium excretion
  • UCSF Gladstone Institute-Cardiovascular Disease
• Program: Supporting targeted programs that enhance an institution’s delivery of services.
  • Autism Center, Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health
  • Mosbacher Fellow, Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health
  • The impact of research in genetics
  • Hospital for Special Surgery, Patricia Mosbacher Flower Fund
  • Hospital for Special Surgery, Patricia Mosbacher Honorary Lecture in Orthopedic Trauma
• General Operating Support: Targeting specific institutions to enhance their delivery of services through long-term support for operations. 
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • Danny Thompson Memorial Leukemia Foundation
  • California Pacific Medical Center

Grant Funding Guidelines for Shaw's & Star Market

Our Foundation funds organizations that strengthen the neighborhoods we serve. 

Priorities

We support nonprofit organizations whose mission is aligned with our priority areas:

• Hunger
• Youth and Education
• Health and Nutrition

Organizations we fund must serve the community where we operate. To learn more about our operating area, please view our online map at Albertsons.com, found here. We work with existing and new partners that we proactively seek out and identify as collaborators to achieve our mission and goals. Grants made in a limited geography will be considered by the local Public Affairs Staff, found here. Amounts vary by region.

TIP: To Strengthen Your Application – Include an Employee Sponsor

On the online application, you will be asked if you have a sponsor and then offered the opportunity to provide their name. We will contact that employee to learn more about your work before the application is considered. Typically, an employee sponsor is a volunteer, board member or someone who has been helped by your organization. If you cannot identify an employee in your ranks, we recommend you speak to your local Store Manager to see if they would be willing to sponsor.

The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust is devoted solely to the funding of charitable, scientific, medical and educational organizations.

The Board endeavors to support soundly-managed charitable organizations that give service with a broad scope, have a substantial effect on their target populations, and contribute materially to the general welfare. The Board does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

Our Mission

The Smart & Final Charitable Foundation is committed to giving back, improving quality of life, and nourishing the communities we serve. We focus our giving Health & Wellness, Education, Hunger Relief, Team Sports & Youth Development, and Disaster Relief.

In addition to our large in-store campaigns, the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation also nourishes the communities we serve through donations to local organizations - PTAs, youth sports leagues, local food pantries, emergency services providers and more.

Pillars of Focus

The Smart & Final Charitable Foundation strives to give back to and nourish the communities we serve in California, Arizona and Nevada through our Pillars of Focus:

• Health & Wellness
• Education
• Hunger Relief
• Team Sports & Youth Development
• Disaster Relief

Mission and Vision

By fostering a charitable corporate culture and advancing the impact of effective aid organizations, we strengthen families and build prosperous communities.

The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation invests in outstanding local organizations and employee programs designed to build a philanthropic corporate culture and strengthen our communities.

Our primary focus is the care of vulnerable children and families and supporting nonprofit organizations that meet food, housing, health, safety, and education needs. The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation encourages bank employees to get involved through the Annual Mission Trip, Volunteer Grants, and Matched Donation programs.

Since inception, we have issued grants to organizations that meet the needs of homeless, hungry, abused, unemployed, at-risk, and otherwise disadvantaged children and families in Arizona, California, Idaho, and Utah.

Grant Guidelines

The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation builds prosperous communities by fostering philanthropic corporate culture and advancing the impact of effective charitable organizations. Through its Community Grants program, the foundation provides annual cash grants to nonprofit organizations benefiting the communities served by Sunwest Bank. These grants are aimed at addressing the unique needs of our communities. Community Grants are awarded through an open application process to eligible organizations. All organizations interested in applying for a Community Grant must apply through the Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation’s online grant portal, which is linked via the Sunwest Bank website. Incomplete applications or those that fail to comply with the Grant Guidelines will be disqualified. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding. 

The Bicycle Hotel Casino

Southern California's finest, The Bicycle Hotel & Casino is an oasis of state-of-the-art amenities and timeless luxury. A place where even a casual player can feel like a tuxedo-clad high roller.

Sponsorship/Donation Requests

While we would like to contribute to your worthy cause, our company funnels all requests and donations through a Board Review Committee. This committee requires a formal written request in order to identify projects we can support within our Mission Statement goals.

Perdue Farms is a fourth-generation, family owned U.S. food and agricultural company. We were founded on trust—a value that carries through everything we do. Through our two operating divisions, Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness, we’re making steps every day toward our goal of becoming the most trusted name in food and agricultural products. Our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger.

We're Committed to Being Careful Stewards. Stewardship is one of our company's core values. Our stewardship platform, "We believe in responsible food and agriculture®," challenges us to continually improve. Learn more about the progress we've made in the areas of food, environment, animal care, people, community and our partners.

What we support

We believe in putting our resources where there is a direct benefit to a broad-based spectrum of the community.

• We strive to strengthen our communities by focusing our efforts on agriculture and the environment, education, fighting hunger and poverty, health and social services, and public safety
• We also support organizations that celebrate the heritages and cultures of our communities

Our Responsibility

• Food Producing: Quality Food
• Environment: Protecting the Environment
• Animal Care: Providing for the Welfare of Animals
• People: Caring About Others

Founded in 1999, the Sundt Foundation was created to give Sundt employee-owners a way to give back to the communities where they live and work. Today, the Sundt Foundation remains true to its original mission, fostering a sense of connection and belonging in our local communities. The Sundt Foundation provides volunteer and grant opportunities to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in its regional areas.

Giving Guidelines

Employee-owner committees are responsible for Foundation grantmaking designated in the areas of youth development, hunger & nutrition, basic needs & social services, and military & veterans.

Our Mission

The Del E. Webb Foundation invests in productivity that results in long-term benefits.

Our Vision

We believe that investing in results-based programs will impact the future of our society by allowing it to reach its maximum potential.

Our Values

Following Del E. Webb's legacy, our giving is defined by new ideas and innovative adaptations. We invest in results by committing to programs operating within Arizona, California or Nevada that create or enhance opportunities for permanent improvements. We focus primarily on child and health initiatives.FundingThe range of grants is $5,000 to $3,000,000. Round the amount to the nearest $1,000.

Perdue Farms is the family-owned parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. Perdue Farms are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone we touch through innovative food and agricultural products.

Through Perdue Farms Perdue, Harvestland and Coleman Natural food brands; through Perdue Farms agricultural products and services; and through Perdue Farms stewardship and corporate responsibility programs, Perdue Farms are committed to making Perdue the most trusted name in food and agricultural products. At Perdue, Perdue Farms believe in responsible food and agriculture.What We Support

• We strive to strengthen our communities by focusing our efforts on agriculture and the environment, education, fighting hunger and poverty, health and social services, and public safety
• We also support organizations that celebrate the heritages and cultures of our communities
• We may give additional preference to organizations in which our associates have direct involvement, but the overarching consideration is the betterment of the community

Within Judaism, there are two different but interrelated concepts or moral action and behavior – Tzedakah (sacred practice of charity) and gemilut hasadim (sacred practice of loving kindness). Jewish tradition distinguishes between them in several ways. The essential difference is already evident in the roots of the words: Tzedakah derives fromtzedek (justice, righteousness), and gemilut hasadim derives from hesed (loving kindness, grace, steadfast love.) The Hesed Foundation believes tzedakah to be a core component of social justice. According to the Talmud, the most virtuous form of giving comes through the promotion of self-sufficiency by offering employment and assisting a person in need; in short, the improvement of the human condition.

About the Hesed Foundation

The Hesed Foundation is dedicated to the improvement and enhancement of human life and the strengthening of communities. Hesed seeks to achieve these goals by supporting programs that enhance the lives and welfare of all people, particularly those in underrepresented populations and communities. Specifically we fund programs relating to youth and education, health, and community building. In addition we reserve a percentage of our annual giving for discretionary projects of interest to the board.

About

The Robert & Toni Bader Charitable Foundation was created in 2010 to provide philanthropic support to help make the world a better place. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, our mission is to help further Jewish ideals in the areas of education, science and the arts. 

Since our beginning, we’ve funded projects from New York to California, Michigan to Florida. We have helped teachers educate, helped children learn, helped feed the hungry, helped people earn a living, helped provide work for the unemployed, and helped find new ways to treat illness and improve quality of life. If you are engaged in any of these activities, let us hear from you.

Our logo, the Tree of Life, is a universal symbol of growth and re-growth, providing benefits to the present and future. The circle represents unity and continuity within our communities and our lives.

Guidelines

The Robert & Toni Bader Charitable Foundation (rtbcf) was created to help achieve the Jewish Ideals of improving the world through Science, Education and the Arts.

We do not have minimum or maximum grant amounts. Grants are made based on our evaluation of your project, the number of grants we are considering, and the amount of funds we have to distribute.

About Teichert

We are a construction company operating in California since 1887. Over the years, Teichert has grown into a diverse mix of businesses, most notably Teichert Construction and Teichert Materials. With our commitment to our family of employees, high quality of work, strong customer satisfaction, and giving back to the community, Teichert will continue to flourish in the 21st century and beyond.

Teichert Foundation

Teichert Foundation expresses the company’s commitment to build and preserve a healthy and prosperous region.

We make grants to organizations that create beauty, foster culture, nurture children, provide access to food and housing for those in need, preserve nature, increase awareness of our environment, build an educated citizenry and a well-prepared workforce, and strive to provide better health for all.

Teichert Foundation will consider grant requests in the following categories:

• Civic improvement and historical restoration
• Community and social services
• Culture and the arts
• Education and workforce development
• Environmental sustainability
• Rehabilitation and health service
• Youth and elderly

The Foundation directors may also, from time to time, identify areas for special emphasis when emerging needs require extraordinary attention.

While deciding how much to grant to whom, the Foundation will give careful consideration to:

• The number of people that will benefit from the project
• The number of local volunteers supporting the organization and the project
• The extent to which the applicant complements the services of other community organizations
• The extent to which the program addresses underlying causes, rather than just symptoms of specific problems
• The outcomes of monitoring and evaluating the organizations projects
• The commitment and composition of the organization’s Board of Directors or Board of Trustees
• The current budget and the prior year actuals to show the organization’s fiscal responsibility and management qualifications; and
• The ability of the organization to provide ongoing funding after the term of the grant

Grants are generally made for one year only.

S. Mark Taper Foundation

The S. Mark Taper Foundation, founded in 1989, is a private family foundation dedicated to enhancing the quality of people's lives by supporting nonprofit organizations and their work in our communities.

Funding Areas

The S. Mark Taper Foundation is a responsive grantmaker that typically provides funding in the following areas:

• Arts
• Civic Affairs
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Social Services

Types of Grant Funding Provided

• General Operating Support (GOS): unrestricted, core operating support that bolsters an organization's overall mission and can be allocated as the organization sees fit.
• Program: funding is allocated to a specific program or project within the organization.
• Capital: funding is allocated to a physical project, such as the purchase of a building and/or land, renovating an existing building, constructing a new building, or purchasing equipment.
  • Capital funding is currently restricted to Los Angeles County-based nonprofit organizations and for capital projects based in and serving Los Angeles County only.

Grant Sizes

The S. Mark Taper Foundation has three size categories as follows:

These categories are meant to serve as a guide to assist organizations in determining an appropriate request amount. We encourage each organization to request an amount that is proportionate to the size of its past grants from other foundations and the size of its overall fundraising and budget.Due to the scope of the capital grant application process, the minimum request amount for a capital grant is  $100,000. If the planned request amount is under  $100,000, we recommend applying for General Operating or Program support. Category Grant Size Small Up to $50,000 Medium $50,001-$100,000 Large $100,001 and above

The Lahontan Community Foundation was founded in 2002 by the members, homeowners and employees of the Lahontan Community. Each year, the Lahontan Community Foundation brings the community together, to have fun and raise money to support the efforts of local non-profit organizations and community programs making a difference in the Truckee and North Tahoe Region.

The Lahontan Community Foundation Fund will award grants to non-profit organizations working toward the betterment of our community.

Is your nonprofit working to create positive change in your local community? 

Presented by the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation in partnership with NBC and Telemundo stations in 11 markets, NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants Program is strengthening our communities by providing funding to local nonprofit organizations that are solving everyday problems. This year, our station will award $225,000 to exceptional nonprofit programs focused on local impact.

Grant Categories

Youth Education and Empowerment - In-school and out-of-school programs that equip youth with the tools they need to succeed, including STEM/ STEAM education and youth entrepreneurship.

Next Generation Storytellers - Programs that promote access and develop pathways for emerging talent, diverse voices, and underrepresented youth to explore careers in arts, news, sports and entertainment.

Community Engagement - Programs that enable individuals to engage and volunteer in their communities.

Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, NBCUniversal Local and Telemundo stations are committed to supporting a culture of inclusion whereby organizations encourage equitable access, opportunities, and resources for traditionally underrepresented communities.

About the Foundation

The foundation was created by James Stewart who grew up in Arizona and had strong ties to his community even after moving to Los Angeles, CA. He was passionate about helping those who wanted to succeed in life, but weren’t given the same opportunities as others. He also had a deep love and appreciation of the arts. He gave generously to many charities and set up his foundation to continue to support the causes that made him so happy during his lifetime.

Grant Guidelines

The foundation supports a variety of charitable causes to organizations primarily located in Tucson, Arizona and Southern California.

Average Giving

• Average grant size: $10,000 
• Average number of grants per year: 5 
• Average total giving per year: $50,000

Program Areas

• Arts, culture, and humanities
• Education
• Environment, animals
• Health
• Human services
• Public/society benefit
• Religion

Community Solutions Challenge 

The Community Solutions Challenge (CSC), launched in 2021, works to advance health equity through the support of community-based nonprofit programming that prioritize the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of historically excluded and disenfranchised populations. To date, CSC has provided more than $2.6 million to over 100 local nonprofit programs working to address health inequities and advance opportunities in STEM among underserved communities.

Program Focus: Community-based programs must cover one of the following areas:

Nutrition

Address nutrition as a social determinant of health, including reducing food insecurity and providing comprehensive nutritional education to improve health outcomes.

Healthcare Access

Improve access to quality healthcare by addressing barriers, including health education, access to preventive screenings, and transportation services.

Lung Health

Improve lung health and achieve improved health outcomes for those impacted by asthma, COPD and lung cancer

About the Foundation

A firm handshake, a clear steady gaze, a welcoming smile, a persuasive energy and a dynamic achiever… this was Frank Doyle. He attended Fordham and Rutgers Universities and he, along with his wife Gertrude R. Doyle combined education with a dedication to the belief that when opportunity knocks, it’s wise to open the door. From New Jersey to Nevada, Florida to California, Frank found challenges and embraced them with a zest and vigor that never said, “it can’t be done.” The seventh son of immigrant parents his was a life well lived. After the passing of Frank M. Doyle in 1996, Gertrude R. Doyle founded The Frank M. Doyle Foundation, Inc. Initially, the foundation provided scholarships to students in the Huntington Beach, California area. As described by Gertrude R. Doyle,

Over the years, the foundation expanded the scholarship application pool to include students from Orange County, California Community Colleges, Washoe County, Nevada students, and certain vocational school students to its application pool. The foundation also branched out beyond the academic world and began providing grants to nonprofit organizations in an effort to fulfill Mr. and Mrs. Doyle’s dream of a better world for all. In late 2008, after the passing of Gertrude R. Doyle, the foundation adopted the name, The Frank M. and Gertrude R. Doyle Foundation, Inc., and in 2018 became “The Doyle Foundation, Inc.”

The Doyle Foundation, Inc. awards grants for the betterment of life.

Mission 

To provide grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations supporting education, animal welfare, medical research, and human services.

Foundation Information

The John and Maria Laffin Trust was created under the Will of Valentina Laffin in honor of her parents. The Trust provides support for education at the college and university level, animal welfare, medical research, and human services. Ms. Laffin died on March 19, 1985. She was a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, California.

Grant Guidelines

The John and Maria Laffin Trust awards grants to organizations supporting education, animal welfare, medical research, and human services, as follows:

• 20% Education Funds shall be granted to educational institutions at the college and university level in the Los Angeles City and County areas that are dedicated to maintaining and raising the standards of scholastic excellence.
• 30% Animal Related Funds shall be granted to animal welfare organizations or foundations within Los Angeles City and County that are demonstrably dedicated to the preservation and humane placement of abandoned and/or homeless small domesticated animals.
• 25% Medical Research Funds shall be granted to medical research organizations that do not exclude from consideration any alternative or seemingly radical and/or controversial treatment that the American Medical Association may currently oppose.
• 25% Human Services Funds shall be granted to humanitarian organizations to alleviate human misery, suffering, and starvation in any part of the world.

Our Focus Areas

Our goal is to have a positive impact on our communities through the power of our giving. We can only do this because of the strength of the relationships we have with our nonprofit partners. We are proud to invest in them to support their missions and their passions. We are also proud of the legacy of Pacific Life, its employees, and our participation in helping make our communities healthier, safer, and stronger. 

Supporting communities where Pacific Life employees live and work, the Pacific Life Foundation community impact-driven grants are focused on the areas of arts and culture; civic, community and economic development; environment; education; and health and human services. National and international philanthropic investments are focused on the areas of college and career readiness, food security, disaster relief, and ocean health, and mobilize our employees for social good.

Program Overview

The Pacific Life Foundation’s mission with our grants program is:

• To strategically support issue areas that align with the Foundation's interests and serve the communities where a concentration of Pacific Life employees work and live
• To support programs that recognize and encourage positive change in our local communities and populations served
• To respond to the greatest needs of our communities by partnering with organizations that can best identify opportunities or challenges, bringing forward proven strategies or finding innovative ways to have a meaningful impact on those most in need

Online grant applications are accepted from nonprofits seeking funds for programs or capital projects in the areas of arts and culture; civic, community & economic development; education; health and human services; and the environment. 

Every year, the Pacific Life Foundation receives more requests than it can fund. For this reason, the Foundation has established guidelines that allow it to use its resources as wisely as possible. Receiving and reviewing grant requests at a predetermined time each year provides the framework for a thorough and thoughtful grant making process.

Length of Funding Period

Nonprofits may reapply annually for funding; however, grants are made to any one nonprofit for no more than three consecutive years. Support may again be requested after a two-year interim period. Exceptions are made for nonprofits where a Pacific Life officer serves on the board of directors. During the two-year interim period, a nonprofit may submit an application for a capital grant

Types and Ranges of Funding - Program Grants and Capital Grants

Program grants range up to $15,000 for a one-year period of funding and are given to support programs, operating expenses, or collaborative programs with other nonprofits. If your organization would like to be considered for multi-year funding, you will have an opportunity to explain why your program should be considered for funding for up to a three-year period.

Capital grants typically range from $25,000 to $100,000 and are given to a nonprofit with an organized campaign already under way to raise substantial funds; for example, to finance a building or for major renovation. More than 50 percent of the campaign goal (excluding pledges of in-kind donations, anonymous gifts, and loans) must be pledged prior to consideration by the Foundation.