Search Through Grants for Youth Programs in Los Angeles County in the U.S.

Dwight Stuart Youth Fund Grant

Originally established as an independent foundation in 2001, the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund (DSYF) was endowed by Dwight L. Stuart, Sr. (1924-1998) to benefit and serve the needs of children and youth in Los Angeles County. Since 2010, DSYF has been a grantmaking arm of the San Francisco-based Stuart Foundation. 

Our mission is to support organizations that provide direct services and experiences to underserved children and youth so they may gain the skills, values, and confidence to achieve their potential.

Funding Areas

Invest I Empower I Develop

We support educational enrichment programs that provide youth with a well-rounded experience, build their skills, and support their growth. These programs strengthen the leaders of tomorrow in communities that have been historically marginalized and under-resourced due to systemic, economic, and racial inequality. 

Programmatic grant areas include: 

• Arts & CultureSports
• Recreation & Camps
• Academic & Tutoring
• Career Guidance & Youth Employment
• College Readiness & Educational Planning
• Mentoring & Leadership

Capacity Building

We encourage capacity building requests that improve capacity to deliver services and programs effectively, and that enhance programs leading to higher impact outcomes.

Capacity grant areas include: 

• Board Training
• Creation of New Staff Positions
• Facilities Development
• Fundraising Capabilities
• Staff Training
• Technology Purchases

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company

Qualifying charitable or educational organizations can apply for grants from the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company, which has been empowering employees to pool their tax-deductible donations for greater impact for more than 60 years. Employee advisory boards work to locally distribute combined employee donations, which are made through recurring payroll deductions or one-time gifts, to nonprofits in their community. Boeing pays all administrative costs so 100 percent of every employee dollar helps strengthen local communities.

ECF grants have gone toward community projects such as aiding the homeless, stocking food banks, helping at-risk children succeed in school, providing job training for the unemployed, funding critical health services, supporting veterans programs and more.

Southern California Chapter

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of Boeing, Southern California chapter is an employee owned and operated nonprofit organization. ECF of Boeing California funds organizations from the contributions of Boeing employees made through payroll deductions to support charitable organizations in areas where contributors live and work in the Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura, Riverside, San Diego and Santa Clara counties.

The Employees Community Fund is a unique employee giving program that allows employees and retirees to support the needs of their local communities through tax-deductible recurring payroll deductions or one-time gifts. The Boeing Company provides administrative and system support as an in-kind donation. The ECF pledge to its members is that 100% of the dollars contributed will be returned to the areas where contributors live and work.

Under ECF funding guidelines, all requests for support are studied and reviewed by the Chapter Grantmaking Committee for consideration. Review of grant applications includes compliance with basic funding guidelines, tax exempt status, service area, services provided, as well as financial information to ensure that ECF dollars provide meaningful and necessary services in the most efficient manner.

Focus Areas : Arts & Culture, Civic, Health & Human Services, Education, Environment.

Crystal Vision: The Crystal Vision Grant Award is an annual ECF grant program established in 1990 to direct special funding to specific areas of community need. ECF CA invites organizations closest to the need to suggest new and innovative programs they believe could make significant positive impact in communities. Crystal Vision Awards have focused on youth-mentoring, services to veterans and senior citizens, the homeless, children at risk, environmental and arts education.

The Legacy Foundations

Our foundations support the work of a wide variety of non-profit organizations that serve our communities. The foundations are guided by the values of the Milgard family and represent the passions of the individual board members.

Ruth Foundation

The Ruth Foundation supports organizations primarily in Pierce County, Washington that focus on and provide direct services for animal welfare and marine life preservation. The foundation also supports some pre-selected homelessness initiatives.

The Ruth Foundation funding priority areas are animal welfare, marine life preservation and some pre-selected homelessness initiatives.

Whisper Foundation

The Whisper Foundation supports Pierce County, Washington organizations that work to improve the quality of life and impact a positive change in the under-served community.

The Whisper Foundation serves the Pierce County, Washington area with grant requests over $50,000.

The funding priority areas include animal welfare, education, health and social services.

Windows of Hope Foundation

The Windows of Hope Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the residents of Pierce County, Washington. We passionately support programs and organizations that work toward the betterment of our community by having a direct, meaningful impact on those they serve.

The Windows of Hope Foundation serves the Pierce County, Washington area with grant requests from $1,000 up to $50,000.

The funding priority areas include social service programs, senior services, youth, homelessness, health and wellness, and education

Skylight Foundation

The Skylight Foundation focuses on the improvement and health of the greater Los Angeles, California community by supporting organizations that provide well managed programs and projects.

The Skylight Foundation serves the greater Los Angeles, California area.

The funding priority areas include social service programs, education, health and wellness and youth programs.

Mission

The mission of the Hearst Foundations is to identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States can build healthy, productive and satisfying lives. Through its grantmaking, the Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of focus—culture, education, health and social service—and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support.

Whether providing a scholarship to a deserving student, supporting a rural health clinic or bringing artists into schools so children can see firsthand the beauty of the arts, the Foundations’ focus is consistent: to help those in need, those underserved and those underrepresented in society. Since the Foundations were formed in the 1940s, the scale and capabilities of the grant making have changed, but the mission has not.

Culture Grant

The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer meaningful programs in the arts and sciences, prioritizing those that enable engagement by young people and create a lasting and measurable impact. The Foundations also fund select programs nurturing and developing artistic talent. Supported organizations include arts schools, ballets, museums, operas, performing arts centers, symphonies and theaters.

Funding Priorities in Culture

In the recent past, 25% of total funding has been allocated to Culture. Organizations with budgets over $10 million have received 60% of the funding in Culture.

The Hearst Foundations are only able to fund approximately 25% of all grant requests, of which about 80% is directed to prior grantees and about 20% is targeted toward new grantees.

Types of Support

Program, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Junior Board Grants

The Junior Board of the Frieda C. Fox Family Foundation is proud to support nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County that “maximize the potential of youth”. Each year, the Junior Board chooses a grantmaking theme to guide the focus of its giving.

Past themes have been:

• S.T.E.M. Through the Arts
• Life and Leadership Ready
• Mentoring: Support to Success
• Girls, Forward

Funding

The grant amounts vary, but do not exceed $10,000.

LATLC Youth Sports

In an effort to broaden our reach and provide assistance directly to local communities, the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities launched the Youth Sports Sponsorship Program in 2014.

LATLC makes direct financial grants to organized youth sports and public school athletic programs in Los Angeles County. LATLC is proud to support everything from boys and girls baseball and soft ball leagues to soccer, football, cheer, dance,and even synchronized swimming. Since we began in 2014, we have provided grants to more than 125 groups for a total of $186,700. 

The funds may be used for any league expense, including but not limited to the purchase of equipment, team clothing, or help provide or maintain a location to play games. LATLC will also provide a banner. 

The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation strives to support and facilitate the work of the region's best nonprofit organizations, recognizing that many of those in need today will go on to shape the future of Southern California, to define it, redefine it, and help it set and achieve new goals.

Los Angeles County is one of the most exciting, dynamic, quickly evolving and challenging environments in the United States. In our diversity — racial, ethnic, cultural and economic — Greater Los Angeles presents extraordinary challenges and opportunities for the nonprofit community.

We are a responsive grantmaker.

Program Areas:

As a responsive grantmaker, we invite organizations serving Los Angeles County to come to us for what they need to do their best work. More than half of our grantmaking is for general support; organizations also come to us for funds to renovate or purchase buildings and equipment, specific programs, and staff positions. Funding is prioritized across four program areas:

Civic & Cultural

Grantmaking in this area values enriching cultural experiences and active civic engagement as essential ingredients for a healthy society. We support organizations and institutions that contribute to Los Angeles’ cultural and civic vibrancy, including performing arts organizations, museums, botanical gardens, arts education programs, and those that promote civic engagement and leadership.

Education

Our Education grantmaking underscores the importance of access to quality learning opportunities for all, with a special focus on underserved populations. Our grantees reflect the full continuum of learning from “cradle to career,” and include organizations that support early care and education, K-12 education, charter schools, academic enrichment, college access and persistence, higher education, and vocational training.

Health

The Foundation’s work in this area is rooted in our belief that all the residents of Los Angeles County need access to essential health services that offer a greater quality of life. We invest in organizations that promote health and well-being among vulnerable populations, placing an emphasis on community clinics, mental health providers, prevention services, emergency and trauma centers, and improvements to health care facilities.

Human Services

Our work in Human Services reflects our commitment to improving the lives of Los Angeles’ most vulnerable community members, including low-income children, families, foster youth, seniors, the working poor, and homeless populations. We fund a broad range of services and programs, including child welfare, youth development, supportive services, and basic needs.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

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.

We have strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country that are working to advance economic mobility and social progress in low- and moderate-income communities. Our focus areas include basic needs like food and housing, workforce development and education, and community development. In addition to our philanthropic investments, we also encourage our employees to make a difference by offering robust employee giving and volunteering programs, including the opportunity to direct funds to organizations they support through volunteer efforts, and a matching gifts program that doubles their individual giving to causes they care about. Last year, we invested $350 million in the communities we serve, and employees contributed more than 1 million volunteer hours and directed $65 million through individual giving and matching gifts to support nonprofits.Through our regional U.S. sponsorships, we support the economic, social and cultural life of the places we live and work. We provide an extensive program of arts and sports sponsorships to help maintain vibrant, healthy communities.Sponsorships supporting communitiesBank of America welcomes your sponsorship proposal for opportunities that make our communities a better place to live and work. We are particularly interested in providing support to address needs vital to the health of our communities through a focus on:

• preserving neighborhoods;
• educating the workforce for 21st century jobs;
• addressing critical needs such as hunger and emergency shelter;
• arts and culture;
• the environment; and
• diversity and inclusion programs.

Grants are made at the Foundation’s discretion based on our current funding strategies focused on housing, jobs and hunger. 

Crail-Johnson Foundation Grant Making

The Crail-Johnson Foundation (“The Foundation”) has defined itself as a children’s charity, and the vast majority of grant-making is directed toward programs benefiting children, youth and families in the greater Los Angeles area. Proposals which are not relevant to the foundation’s mission and funding priorities will not be considered.

The Foundation provides financial support primarily through grants to public non-profit organizations that are exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code and are not a private foundation under Section 509(a). The Foundation provides grants for program/project support and general operating support. On occasion, the Foundation will consider grants to support capital projects as well as selected endowments. In addition, the Foundation provides technical assistance to selected community-based initiatives benefiting children and families.

Support is not granted for programs and projects benefiting religious purposes, university level education, research, events recognizing individuals or organizations, political causes or programs attempting to influence legislation. No grants are made directly to individuals.

In general, the Foundation does not consider multi-year grants. Grants are made to nonprofit organizations for one year, and grantees are eligible to reapply each year. However, in general, the Foundation does not provide grants for more than three consecutive years.

The Foundation’s funding supports organizations providing services and programs primarily in Los Angeles County Service Planning Areas (SPA) 4, 6, 7, and 8. The Foundation gives priority to the following target communities: San Pedro, Wilmington, Compton, Watts, Carson, Long Beach and South Los Angeles.

National organizations providing services in these areas are also considered. Occasionally, grants are made to programs and projects that are regional or national in scope.

Funding Priorities

The Crail-Johnson Foundation (Foundation) supports organizations providing services and programs primarily in Los Angeles County Service Planning Areas (SPA) 4, 6, 7, and 8. The Foundation gives priority to the following target communities: San Pedro, Wilmington, Compton, Watts, Carson, Long Beach and South Los Angeles.

The Foundation supports programs as a means to address the long-term well-being of children, youth and community. It is through the support of Education, Human Services and Health that the Foundation hopes to assist in providing children, youth and their families with the tools necessary to build a life of quality. Support is exclusively focused on programs that address the needs of economically, socially and physically disadvantaged children. The Foundation supports both proven approaches and innovative programs aimed at systemic change and provides support for new, continuing, or expanding programs. Programs and services may be school-based, school-linked, or other community-based places. Funding priority is currently given to initiating, continuing or expanding programs in the following areas:

Human Services

: Comprehensive efforts directed toward the prevention and treatment of family violence including community and educational outreach, counseling and shelter services.

: Efforts directed toward the collection and distribution of food to relieve hunger in our communities.

: Organizations providing assistance to homeless children, youth and/or their families which may include temporary, short-term and/or long-term housing, and may include programs to assist families with job skills, nutritional education, housing security, parenting skills, among others.

: Programs which serve to continue and improve foster care services, juvenile crime prevention and diversion, mentoring, camp activities, recreation and specific populations, in particular developmentally and physically challenged children and youth.

Education

Find the grant page for Education here. 

Health

Find the grant page for Health here. 

Southern California Program

The Southern California Program has a broad mission to support projects in five areas: Arts and Culture, Civic and Community Services, Early Childhood Care and Education, Health Care, and Precollegiate Education. Within these areas of interest, the Foundation seeks to promote the healthy development of children and youth, strengthen families, and enrich the lives of people in the region.

We prioritize organizations that strengthen the resiliency of under-resourced communities in Los Angeles County. We place a special emphasis on projects that focus on children and youth from low-income families and special needs populations, including the developmentally disabled, foster children, and homeless families.

Arts and Culture: 

Promoting civic and cultural life through support of museums, performing arts organizations, and public media. Providing opportunities for students to explore the visual and performing arts through support of in-school and out-of-school programs.

Civic and Community

Meeting basic needs through support of social service organizations that address food insecurity and homelessness. Helping children at risk of entering or already in the foster care or probation systems through funding for organizations focused on youth development, children’s rights, and family strengthening.

Early Childhood

Increasing access to quality early care and education programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Providing timely intervention to address developmental delays and other risks through support of multiservice agencies and schools.

Health Care

Expanding access to holistic, integrated health care by supporting federally qualified health centers. Addressing the social determinants of health and adverse childhood experiences.

Precollegiate Education

Increasing access to quality K-12 education through support of effective programs that meet the needs of the whole child. Helping first-generation and low-income students navigate the college admissions process and graduate through support of college access and success programs. Improving STEM instruction through teacher pipeline and training programs. Providing opportunities for students to explore concepts and careers in STEM fields by supporting in-school and out-of-school programs.

Program Overview

The Foundation supports capital projects, expansion of programs that are promising or part of a larger effort, piloting new models, and systems change initiatives. We award grants for projects that strategically address compelling issues and have the potential for significant impact on the target population, region, or field. Please see our grant abstracts for examples of recently funded projects.

The Southern California Program’s process consists of an optional concept review, an application, and an invitation-only site visit.

Ameriprise Financial Grantmaking

At Ameriprise Financial, giving back is deeply rooted in our culture. We’ve initiated positive change in the communities where we live and work for more than 120 years. We believe our community involvement enables us to actively live our values. Through grant making, volunteerism and employee and financial advisor gift matching programs, we support a diverse group of over 6,000 nonprofits across the country.

Focus Areas

Awarding grant dollars to nonprofits is one way we strengthen our communities and help individuals on a path to financial independence. To ensure we're meeting the needs of our communities and making an even greater collective impact, we focus on three key giving areas when awarding grants.

Volunteer engagement is a priority across all focus areas:

The engagement of Ameriprise employees and financial advisors is a critical component of our philanthropy. Whether it’s serving on a nonprofit board, engaging friends, clients and community members in volunteering or providing skills-based support, our relationships with nonprofits go deep. For this reason, we give priority across all focus areas to applications where there is active volunteer engagement of Ameriprise advisors and employees. 

Meeting Basic Needs

At Ameriprise Financial, we help clients achieve financial security and peace of mind. That’s satisfying, meaningful work. We also help the people in our neighborhoods who struggle to meet basic needs such as where their next meal comes from, where they’ll sleep tonight or how they’ll find a higher wage job. We’re here to help them through the three platforms of our Meeting Basic Needs focus area.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Hunger
• Food banks, food shelves and food pantries, daily meal programs or meal services for the homebound
• Hunger-relief programs targeted to meet the special needs of children, ethnic populations or veterans
• Food programs run by nonprofits where hunger is not their sole focus, for example a youth meal program at the YWCA or a backpack program run by a Boys & Girls Club
• Shelter
• Emergency shelter, including youth homelessness
• Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and efforts to end chronic homelessness
• Housing-first models (programs quickly providing housing and then addressing needed services)
• Achieving and maintaining home ownership, repair and maintenance efforts helping keep seniors, veterans and other populations in their homes 
• Adult Self-Sufficiency: Programs serving adults age 21 and older that help address the following areas:
• Basic hard and soft skills that help adults achieve economic and family stability
• Basic financial and budgeting skills
• Increase employability and wages, including work readiness and job transitions
• Employment of disabled adults

Supporting Community Vitality

We believe communities should be strong, healthy and resilient. We want livable places for all, where neighbors look out for one another, cultural events are well-attended and people pull together in times of crisis and joy. We work to create economic vitality and cultural enrichment through the following areas of focus.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Community Development
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Economic development
• Strengthening and supporting small businesses and nonprofits through technical expertise
• Cultural Enrichment
• Arts education
• Access for underserved populations
• Diverse artists and performances that spark topical community conversations 

Volunteer Driven Causes: Ameriprise employees and financial advisors are outstanding volunteers who serve in teams and also as individuals bringing personal skill-sets to nonprofits. Volunteering is part of the culture at Ameriprise and we are proud to support communities through contributions of both service and financial resources. 

Funding for Volunteer-Driven Causes is determined by current Ameriprise volunteerism. In general, funding is in proportion to the size of the Ameriprise volunteer team supporting a nonprofit. A team may include employees, financial advisors and/or staff or a combination of any Ameriprise volunteers. 

Who We Are

Our goal is to assist individuals in becoming successful, self-sustaining, contributing citizens. We are interested in programs that break down any barrier that prevents a person from continuing to grow and learn.  

Focus Areas

Education

Education is the primary focus of the Foundation. The Foundation believes that equity and opportunity are best addressed through quality public education and supports programs that work toward solutions for the myriad of existing problems in Los Angeles area schools. The Foundation is not wedded to any single reform model, but supports programs that seek to successfully educate children and youth in grades K-12. Areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to, charter schools, teacher professional development, and college access. These education reform grants can be made directly to the schools or to nonprofit organizations working in the field. In addition to the work in the public schools system, the Foundation provides some grants to independent secondary schools for student financial assistance. 

Community, Health & Social Services

The Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life in the local community. The Foundation supports programs that encourage all individuals to reach their fullest potential. The best chance a young person has to reach that goal is to stay in school and inside a functioning family. To that end, the Foundation supports programs that include, but are not limited to, education and family support services, health services, leadership, and character development. The Foundation considers programs that address poverty issues and assist the economically disadvantaged with the intent to promote social mobility. Programs aimed at solutions to or the prevention of these problems are favored. Although the Foundation recognizes the importance of Community, Health, and Social Services, it is not the Foundation's primary funding focus.

Arts & Humanities

Although it is not the emphasis of the Foundation, grants are made for the arts and humanities and are made primarily for outreach and education programs.

Special Projects

The Foundation may initiate grants for projects of interest to the Board which are related to the mission of the Foundation but which fall outside its established areas of interest or geographic limitations. The emphasis upon individual categories might vary in any given year and exceptions to these guidelines may occur at the discretion of the Foundation.

The Venable Foundation envisions that its philanthropic investments provide essential resources to nonprofit organizations in communities across the country. Guided by the belief that everyone has the right to equitable employment opportunities, healthcare, housing, food, and a vibrant cultural community, Venable grantees ensure that economically disadvantaged people are given the tools they need to thrive.

The average size of a Venable Foundation grant is approximately $10,000. First-time awardees are usually on the smaller end of the spectrum. It is up to the organization to determine what it feels is an appropriate request.

Funding Priorities

Grant support is provided to assist with general operations and projects. Currently, the Venable Foundation’s funding priorities include:

• Human Services
• Legal Services
• Education
• Workforce Development
• Youth Impact
• Health
• Environment
• Arts and Culture

You can learn more about each of these funding priorities below:

Human Services – The Foundation has a strong track record of supporting a breadth of essential human services, including programs that impact people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, incarcerated and returning citizens, LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities, and those affected by domestic violence and housing insecurity.

Legal Services – We support the delivery of free or affordable legal services in our communities. Pro bono consulting and representation focus on a variety of issues, including domestic violence, housing, immigration, public benefits, and discrimination, among other areas. Legal service nonprofits providing “know your rights” training and other activities are also supported. The Foundation also supports training for youth and adults to ensure diversity and access to careers in the legal profession.

Education – The Foundation supports a wide array of early childhood, in-school, and out-of-school time initiatives that provide in-depth opportunities for learning and engagement to position children for success and level the playing field for economically disadvantaged youth.

Workforce Development – We believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to pursue gainful employment. Thus, we support organizations with the goal of developing the workforce of today and tomorrow. Successful programs recruit and train individuals and place them in relevant jobs so that they can earn a sustainable living wage for themselves and their families. Skill development is focused on low-income, underemployed, and unemployed community members, and on preparing youth for careers after their schooling is complete.

Youth Impact – The Foundation invests in services that impact children in each of our communities. These initiatives ensure economically disadvantaged youth are healthy and safe and have opportunities to thrive.

Health – The Foundation is committed to improving wellness and increasing access to care for economically disadvantaged individuals in the region. Successful organizations and programs work to eliminate barriers to healthcare for all ages and provide accessible and no-stigma testing for a variety of diseases. We support pediatric to geriatric services that address a variety of health concerns.

Environment – We support organizations involved in the preservation of our natural resources and those that are addressing natural or man-made disasters in our target regions. Programs educate communities and work for change on a variety of environmental issues, from wildfires to pollution.

Arts and Culture – The Foundation supports initiatives in the arts that promote deeper public engagement and build up the creative economy, with an emphasis on low-income and underserved communities.

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

The Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation, established in 1963, is a private foundation incorporated under California law.

The mission of the Foundation is to improve the quality of life within the communities associated with the career and legacy of California pioneer Henry Mayo Newhall. These communities include San Francisco, the Santa Clarita Valley of Los Angeles County and the Santa Maria Valley in central California.

Funding Priorities 

The Foundation accepts proposals for the following program priorities:     

• Academic and cultural enrichment programs for children and youth (e.g., math and science; fine and visual arts; performing arts; computer literacy; tutoring and mentoring).    
• Agriculture, animal welfare and conservation programs.    
• College scholarship programs.    
• Historical preservation programs.    
• Outreach programs for the disadvantaged (e.g., homeless shelters, food banks, health centers, domestic violence shelters, care for the elderly).

Grants are typically awarded for one year in the range of $5,000 to $20,000 and may be renewed based on grantee performance and program effectiveness. The Foundation does not assume any obligation to provide continuing support to grantees beyond the initial grant.

The Foundation will consider requests for multi-year funding to facilitate effective program planning by supported institutions.

Advancement Grant Program for School Districts

The Advancement Grant Program offers flexible matching grants to support Los Angeles County school districts aiming to provide quality arts education for public school students. Grant funds assist school districts in achieving key action items in their district arts plans, helping districts invest in launching or expanding projects that align with priority goals, and cultivating skills and practices that can be sustained beyond the term of the grant. Districts may apply for matching funds of up to $25,000.

What Is The Goal Of This Grant?

The Advancement Grant offers financial support to Los Angeles County school districts working to provide quality arts education to all students. The goals of the grant are to:

• assist school districts in achieving key action items in their strategic plans for arts education
• generate resources, practices, skills, or knowledge that will be sustained beyond the term of the grant
• direct resources and investments into historically underserved communities to increase learning in the arts for youth who continue to face structural and systemic barriers to high quality, culturally sustaining arts education

What Are We Trying To Achieve?

The new Arts Ed Blueprint sets new targets for providing arts education for every child across all of LA County. The Advancement Grant seeks to address the following:

• Scale - Every young person in every neighborhood has year-round opportunities for learning in and through the arts in school, after school, and in their community
• Equity - Every young person, regardless of race, culture, language, income, religions, national origin, legal status, place of residence, gender identity, LGBTQ+ status, or ability receives high-quality, culturally sustaining arts education. Young people who have been historically excluded or precluded from learning in the arts receive the resources and investments required to meet their needs.
• Quality - Arts instruction is thoughtfully and intentionally designed to:
• build artistic, technical, and creative skills;
• encompass a variety of art forms and genres;
• connect arts learning to other areas of study, growth, and development;
• reflect the culture, language and heritage of the learner;
• introduce the learner to the cultures, languages and heritages of others;
• expose young people to creative careers; and
• recognize the region’s rich cultural diversity.
• Culturally Relevant, Responsive, and Sustaining Instruction - Asset-based teaching practices that view diversity in thought, culture, and traits as strengths. Instruction is designed to accept and affirm the backgrounds of students of color (Culturally Relevant); connect to students’ cultural knowledge, prior experiences, and frames of reference (Culturally Responsive); and sustain cultural ways of being in communities of color while supporting students to critique dominant power structures in society (Culturally Sustaining).
• In-School Arts Education - Learning in the arts takes place during the school day as part of an integrated or discrete, sequential arts curriculum.
• After-School Arts Education - Learning in the arts takes place outside of school hours, either on a school campus or for youth who are part of a specific school community, and intentionally augments or deepens in-school arts education.

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

Annual Grant Focus

Each year, we seek to partner with and support non-profit organizations making an impact in the focus areas listed here.  The focus areas for 2025 are:

• Animal Wellbeing: We are dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that nurture compassion and respect for all living animals. We must have animal-focused organizations that advocate for animal rights and provide humane treatment across all spectrums.
• Early Childhood Education: We are looking for schools that are providing young children with a creative and balanced approach to education. Things we love in early childhood curriculums:
  • Life Skills
  • Collaboration With Their Peers and Teachers   
  • Having Fun   
  • Montessori Teachings   
  • Project Based Teachings   
  • Diversity   
  • More Time Outside   
  • Less Screen Time
• Teachers: Teachers are essential to providing children with the best possible education. We must invest in their future and are always looking for teams that help them succeed in educating future generations.
• Get Outside: Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure, and more! We support organizations that facilitate and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities. 

About the Imagine Learning Foundation

Imagine a world where the well-being of learners is a priority.

At the Imagine Learning Foundation (ILF), our mission is to foster the well-being of learners and the people who support them at home and in their communities.

Imagine Learning, our primary sponsor, ignites learning breakthroughs with innovative and accessible digital-first K-12 products and services. The Imagine Learning Foundation embraces and extends this mission by focusing on the powerful connection between the well-being of students and the people who support them to bolster academic success.

Schools are better able to develop healthy and supportive learning environments when social and emotional learning (SEL) programs are extended from classrooms into homes and communities. At the Imagine Learning Foundation, we aim to bridge connections between classroom learning and positive learning environments outside the classroom by promoting and expanding access to SEL at home and in the community.

At the Imagine Learning Foundation, we aim to tap into this meaningful connection between SEL in the classroom and SEL outside the classroom by facilitating access to social emotional learning at home and in the community. By bringing SEL into life beyond the classroom, we activate a learner’s full community and support system to ignite more breakthroughs in every learning environment.

As we expand SEL into life beyond the classroom, we ignite more learning breakthroughs by engaging a learners’ broader family and community support system -making every space a positive learning environment.

What We Do & How We Work

Social and emotional learning has the power to create positive environments and more engaged communities. We work to introduce SEL knowledge and skills to families and community leaders to better equip them to deal with the emotional and social challenges facing our youth. Our efforts are geared to drive family and community support for the well-being of learners and the people who support them so that these students thrive both in and out of the classroom.

SEL is the process of learning and applying the knowledge and skills to care for emotions, social relationships, and each individual’s sense of self which has the potential to foster healthy learning environments and address longstanding disparities in student opportunities and outcomes. Learner well-being fuels learning success. SEL skills and knowledge help improve learner well-being. These tools become more powerful when they extend into the home.

In addition, community support —be it from family, allies or educators —has a meaningful positive impact on students’ social and emotional health. Students will be in a better position to succeed personally and academically if their learning environments and experiences at school and beyond include social and emotional learning. We engage students and connect families and communities to SEL outside the classroom to help students apply these foundational life skills and strategies in all aspects of their lives and relationships.

Imagine Signature Grant Program

Part of our funding and resources will be directed toward the Imagine Signature Grant Program, which seeks to amplify national non-profit organizations’ efforts aligned with the ILF’s mission.

The Imagine Signature Grant Program has established two funding priorities to advance our mission:

• supporting social, physical, mental, and emotional well-being programs, activities or services that foster the learning well-being of youth, families and educators within the home and community environments; and
• studying the current impacts that social, physical, mental, and emotional well-being has on accelerating student achievement across diverse communities.

The foundation will release a national competitive grant application for eligible participants and ultimately fund national organizations whose activities align with our mission and can make the greatest impact.

ILF will fund and partner with a variety of national or regional organizations that align to our mission and whose activities can make the greatest impact. To be eligible for a grant as part of the Imagine Signature Grant program, organizations must meet one or more of the funding priorities identified, and meet the current grant guidelines established under the Imagine Signature Grants Program.

Founded in 2022, ILF is entering the third year of its $5 million grant campaign and will award $400,000 or more in Imagine Signature Grants in 2024 to organizations dedicated to ILF’s mission of supporting the well-being of learners outside of the classroom, either at home or in their communities.

2025 Funding Priorities

Support eligible organizations addressing and/or studying critical issues related to chronic absenteeism and student housing insecurity in K-12 learning environments. In 2025, the ISGP grants will continue to prioritize the areas that ISGP funded in 2024, such as basic needs support and wraparound services for students and families experiencing homelessness, and also other needs in line with our mission and addressing chronic absenteeism and housing insecurity's impact on K-12 learning.

Additionally, in response to the recent wildfires and rebuilding efforts in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area and San Diego County, ISGP will allocate a portion of its 2025 grants to initiatives that are both aligned with its mission and focus on recovery and support in affected communities. 

Community Ties Giving Program

As part of the Community Ties Giving Program, Local Grants help us achieve our mission by providing small and medium-sized grants within our priority cause areas to local organizations spread widely across Union Pacific's footprint.

Funding Priorities & Objectives

Throughout its existence, the success of Union Pacific's business has been inextricably linked to the economic and community wellbeing of cities and towns across the nation. We take pride in the role we have played in helping communities thrive and believe the impact we can have on local communities is greatest when it is authentic to our history and reflective of the diverse company we are today.

As such, we have carefully aligned our Local Grants cause areas to our company's unique heritage, strengths, and assets. Specifically, we prioritize funding for direct services and efforts that build the capacity of organizations focused on the following causes within our local operating communities. Within each focus area, we aim to support programs and organizations working to advance the diversity, equity and inclusion of underrepresented populations within the local context and issue areas addressed. Find more information about our commitment to DEI in our FAQs.

Safety

In order for communities to thrive, all residents must feel safe. Just as the safety of our employees and community members is paramount to how we operate, Union Pacific is committed to helping communities prevent and prepare for incidents and emergencies, and helping residents get home safely at the end of each day. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to: 

• Encourage safe behaviors and prevent incidents through education and awareness, particularly projects which focus on rail, driver, bike, and pedestrian safety, and ensure outreach efforts reach underserved populations.
• Eliminate risks and improve safe and equitable access to community spaces through infrastructure improvements, such as signage, proper lighting, and public trail improvements.
• Prepare and equip residents and emergency responders* to effectively respond to incidents and emergencies if or when they occur.
  • *Union Pacific supports publicly funded emergency responders through a variety of corporate programs; only independent nonprofit, 501(c)(3) emergency response organizations, such as volunteer departments, are eligible for funding through this grant program
• Prevent crime and violent incidents and support survivors of domestic violence through efforts that address the root causes of these issues and seek to mitigate their occurrence.
• Build the capacity of safety-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience. 

Workforce Development

For more than 160 years, Union Pacific has helped stimulate economic growth in cities and towns throughout the nation by training and providing employment to millions of workers. More than ever, we are committed to helping underrepresented residents in our communities achieve family-supporting careers like those offered by Union Pacific. As such, we prioritize funding for programs that seek to:

• Put youth on the right track by creating awareness of and pathways toward employment opportunities; building foundational skills, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); establishing necessary technical skills and life skills; and providing mentorship and positive role models for the future.
• Raise awareness of, educate and prepare young adults for middle skills jobs like those Union Pacific offers, for instance through community colleges, vocational and career training programs, workforce readiness initiatives, and programs that assist with job placement and/or on-the-job experience.
  • Programs that develop proficiency in areas relevant to Union Pacific operations such as welding, electrical work, machine operations, and civil and electrical engineering are given priority.
• "Up-skill" the existing workforce by providing training and resources that enable them to reach the next level of their career.
  • Programs that develop proficiency in areas of relevance to Union Pacific operations are given priority.
• Resolve barriers to employment such as transportation, childcare, acquiring necessary equipment for work, and second chance employment programs.
• Build the capacity of workforce development-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience. 

Community Vitality

Union Pacific Railroad is committed to establishing vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities for employees, customers and residents to work, visit and call home. Just as the railroad opened avenues for economic development and opportunity more than 160 years ago, we maintain this tradition by cultivating unique cultural and recreational experiences and equipping community members with opportunities to live healthy, vital lives. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:

• Create, sustain or expand artistic and cultural experiences offered to a broad and diverse audience (e.g., museums, theaters, zoos, cultural and local heritage, visual and performing arts, etc.)
• Provide recreational opportunities that foster wellbeing, enrichment and/or an appreciation for our natural environment (e.g., parks, libraries, senior centers, recreation centers, learning centers, etc.).
• Revive neighborhoods and main street areas, especially in historically underinvested neighborhoods, to improve livability, promote commerce and attract more residents, businesses and visitors to town.
• Ensure residents’ basic needs are met and barriers are overcome (e.g., safe shelter and homelessness prevention, hunger relief, mental health and community health needs, etc.).
• Offer youth development and educational opportunities to ensure young people can thrive into healthy and productive community members (e.g., mentoring, leadership development, tutoring, services for youth in foster care, etc.).
• Build the capacity of community vitality-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience. 

Environmental Sustainability

The future of our business, communities and planet depends on bold, collective action to reduce and slow the impacts of climate change while building a more sustainable economy for the next generation. Union Pacific is taking deliberate steps to reduce our environmental impact and helping our partners improve their own. Extending this commitment to our community investments, we seek to support leading environmental nonprofits and community-based organizations to advance the health of our environment. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:

• Preserve and restore nature, including programs focused on natural habitats, ecosystems, and biodiversity.
• Protect and enhance water, soil and air quality through innovative and proactive solutions such as water conservation, carbon sequestration and emission reduction programs.
• Reduce waste through initiatives focused on promoting recycling and circularity throughout the community, including recycling and composting programs and other efforts that reduce waste.
• Develop environmental stewards through youth programs focused on fostering environmental appreciation, responsibility, and leadership.
• Advance a sustainable economy by helping communities accelerate their transition to environmental jobs and renewable energy, as well as helping nonprofits and small businesses build their own capacity to operate more sustainably.
• Promote environmental justice through initiatives that ensure access to clean air, water, and land and protect underserved populations from disproportionate and adverse environmental effects.
• Build the capacity of sustainability-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience.

Lawrence and Vivian Hahn Foundation Scholarship

Our 'Why'

The Lawrence and Vivian Hahn Foundation recognizes and awards outstanding church community service achievements and

academic excellence by Korean American Catholic youth and young-adults who demonstrate community service and exceptional leadership within their own parish. They will be carefully selected by their priest of their own parish. We provide monetary scholarships that assist them in their college and professional certification endeavors. We believe in helping students plant healthy seeds in their local church community in ways that honor God. 

Funding

We award $2,000 to the candidates. For seminary students, we award $1,000 to each recipient.

The In-N-Out Burger Foundation’s mission is to assist children and youth who have been victims of child abuse and neglect, and to prevent others from suffering a similar fate. The Foundation will only consider requests from organizations that closely align with our mission and that serve communities where In-N-Out Burger does business.

The In-N-Out Burger Foundation is happy to consider the following types of grants:

Traditional Grants: Grant awards range from $5,000 - $25,000.

Program: Restricted funding to support the development, expansion, or enhancement of programs within an existing organization.

General Operating Support: Unrestricted funding to support the overall operations and sustainability of your nonprofit. Applicants must present a strong case on how this funding will help sustain the organization’s mission and provide benefits to the children in their care. *Please note that all of your organization’s programs must align with our mission to be considered for this type of support.

Capital Grants: Grant awards range from $5,000 - $50,000.

Capital Campaign: Restricted funding for the construction of new facilities, renovations or upgrades to existing buildings, and other special projects that will enhance the organization’s mission.

Capital Purchase: Restricted funding to purchase equipment, furnishings, or any other major material purchases that will enhance the organization’s mission.

Capital grants are awarded on a very limited basis each year. The Foundation will only consider requests from organizations that meet all other funding criteria and who already have an established long-term funding relationship with the Foundation (minimum of 2 years).

Please carefully review the Capital Grant Guidelines above to ensure that your organization meets the requirements to apply. Capital Grants are invitation-only. Please contact us to set a 30-minute meeting to discuss your project and be prepared to send a draft summary of the project for review beforehand. 

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant

The Foundation will consider requests to support museums, cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training and other programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs.

Crail-Johnson Foundation Grant Making

The Crail-Johnson Foundation (“The Foundation”) has defined itself as a children’s charity, and the vast majority of grant-making is directed toward programs benefiting children, youth and families in the greater Los Angeles area. Proposals which are not relevant to the foundation’s mission and funding priorities will not be considered.

The Foundation provides financial support primarily through grants to public non-profit organizations that are exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code and are not a private foundation under Section 509(a). The Foundation provides grants for program/project support and general operating support. On occasion, the Foundation will consider grants to support capital projects as well as selected endowments. In addition, the Foundation provides technical assistance to selected community-based initiatives benefiting children and families.

Support is not granted for programs and projects benefiting religious purposes, university level education, research, events recognizing individuals or organizations, political causes or programs attempting to influence legislation. No grants are made directly to individuals.

In general, the Foundation does not consider multi-year grants. Grants are made to nonprofit organizations for one year, and grantees are eligible to reapply each year. However, in general, the Foundation does not provide grants for more than three consecutive years.

The Foundation’s funding supports organizations providing services and programs primarily in Los Angeles County Service Planning Areas (SPA) 4, 6, 7, and 8. The Foundation gives priority to the following target communities: San Pedro, Wilmington, Compton, Watts, Carson, Long Beach and South Los Angeles.

National organizations providing services in these areas are also considered. Occasionally, grants are made to programs and projects that are regional or national in scope.

Current areas of emphasis

The Foundation supports programs as a means to address the long-term well-being of children, youth and community. It is through the support of Education, Human Services and Health that the Foundation hopes to assist in providing children, youth and their families with the tools necessary to build a life of quality. Support is exclusively focused on programs that address the needs of economically, socially and physically disadvantaged children. The Foundation supports both proven approaches and innovative programs aimed at systemic change and provides support for new, continuing, or expanding programs. Programs and services may be school-based, school-linked, or other community-based places. Funding priority is currently given to initiating, continuing or expanding programs in the following areas:

Health

Community Health:

 With a focus on whole person/whole family health, and overall goals to improve access to care, provide education, screening, and treatment, and improve health outcomes, the Foundation funds programs and services focus on Mental Health and Wellbeing, especially for students, the homeless and unhoused, and special needs individuals and their caregivers/families; Direct Medical Services (especially Pediatric Care) provided at Community Clinics/Federally Qualified Health Centers) and School-Based Health Centers; and Dental Care.

Human Services

Find the grant page for Human Services here. 

Education

Find the grant page for Education here. 

Water Buffalo Club: We Benefit Children Grant

We Benefit Children (WBC) is a Los Angeles-based charitable organization that aims to improve the well-being of underserved and at-risk children through its members’ commitment of time and financial resources. WBC directly impacts smaller charities by providing grants, hosting events, and supporting youth programs.

What Sets WBC Apart

We Benefit Children (WBC) is a force for good across greater Los Angeles! For over 35 years, WBC has been supporting youth in need by providing direct services and supporting projects with our community partners. However, what sets WBC apart is that our members are doers, not just donors.

We Benefit Children (WBC) is an incubator for charities that are doing great things but are too small to garner the attention of most donors or foundations. We aim to help these charities grow so they no longer need our support. Since 1989, we have assisted more than 300 charities, many of which have since outgrown WBC.

Not only do we help fund organizations that are “under the radar” due to their small size (budgets of less than $500,000), but WBC goes a step further—through members giving of their time. From the very start, we have believed that our time is perhaps just as important as funding any grant proposal.

Our members participate in various ways, from sourcing and vetting the organizations and programs we support to accompanying the kids who participate in our field trips, sorting and shelving books at the libraries we refurbish in Title 1 elementary schools, and giving out food at Thanksgiving at selected schools in some of Los Angeles’ most challenged neighborhoods. In doing so, WBC members, along with their families, impact our community far more than the funds we provide.

We Benefit Children is funded by its members, donations from private foundations, corporations, and generous individuals. However, unlike most charitable organizations that use a portion of the donations they receive to pay for overhead expenses, 100 percent of all donations received by WBC go directly to the charities we support. Our members pay WBC’s overhead and administrative costs through their annual membership dues!

Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

Established in 1995, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) is the official team charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Harnessing the power of the Dodger brand and a passionate fan base, LADF works to significantly impact underserved youth in some of the most challenged neighborhoods of Los Angeles. LADF leverages key partnerships to administer direct programs serving youth and communities at large and provides grants to local nonprofit organizations. LADF uses three pillars to guide its work: Sports + Recreation, Education + Literacy and Health + Wellness.

Annual Grant Program

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation's annual grants program disseminates funds three times a year to organizations who fall within its three pillars. In addition to grants, LADF activates with grantees, co-hosts grantee events, digitally showcases the work of grantees and conducts "Giving Moments" in stadium to further highlight grantees work to millions of fans.

LADF Pillars

Education

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) knows that quality education is the best indicator of future financial and social success. We use our platform to get kids excited about reading. We created a first of its kind curriculum to keep students engaged about science and math just as they hit the age where their interests and test scores tend to decline. We provide opportunities for young adults to see themselves on a solid path, whether it's college or a clear vocation.

Healthcare

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) knows that health disparities exist along racial, class and gender lines. We invest and partner with organizations that identify these disparities and provide services that support interventions for our most vulnerable populations.

Homelessness

In Los Angeles County, for every 130 people we house, an additional 150 become homeless, further highlighting that this crisis is fueled by a broken economy. The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) seeks to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place by providing services and resources that keep families intact and roofs over their heads. We distribute basic needs to LA’s homeless and food insecure; directly serve young people and their families living in housing facilities through sport programming and green space; and have granted nearly $100,000 to partners on the front lines.

Youth Development

62% of youth living in poverty have experienced at least one traumatic event. Through social and emotional learning the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) provides youth with the tools they need to be better equipped in the classroom, on the field, and for whatever endeavor their future holds for them. We place a special emphasis on engaging girls in sport, because we know that by adolescence, girls' confidence drops about twice as much as boys', their perception of their academic ability declines, and participation in physical activity plummets.