Learn about grants for Southern California nonprofits by exploring the curated list of top funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities in Southern California using the search tool for GrantFinder. Become a member.
Funding Trends in SoCal
Southern California is a complex and diverse region, encompassing not only Los Angeles and San Diego, but also Ventura, Santa Barbara, Orange and several other counties. The region is famously expensive and home to great fortunes, and it is also home to ever-increasing economic inequality, a homelessness crisis, and formidable climate challenges. The region’s philanthropic landscape is as vast and varied as the region itself.
Across the region, the issue receiving the most philanthropic support is health, followed by arts and culture, K-12 education, and community and economic development. As in most regions, the organizations receiving the most grant money tend to be large institutions (like the Salk Institute or Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles). But there is a core group of locally focused foundations that reliably give to smaller nonprofits, including many social-justice-oriented and community-based groups.
Those leading foundations are a dominant force in Southern California philanthropy, and they often work together and have an influential voice in the civic sphere. These include The California Endowment (which makes grants statewide) as well as the Ahmanson, Annenberg, Parsons and Weingart foundations, which have locally or regionally focused programs.
California also has a strong network of community foundations, including in Southern California the California Community Foundation, the San Diego Foundation, and the Orange County Community Foundation. The Jewish Community Foundations of Los Angeles and San Diego are also important funders.
Trust-based philanthropy increased in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also growing trends of collaboration, community-led grantmaking, and support of movement-building among many of the region’s top funders.
Foundations for Southern California
Greater Los Angeles | San Diego | Santa Barbara | Southern California At-Large
Greater Los Angeles
ADAMS-MASTROVICH FAMILY FOUNDATION
This foundation makes awards for human services, the arts, education, religion, and health.
AHMANSON FOUNDATION
Ahmanson is a longtime Southern California-based funder. The foundation regularly awards grants for arts & culture, education, healthcare, homelessness, and human services in Los Angeles.
ANAHEIM COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Anaheim Community Foundation supports basic needs, at-risk youth, health, arts and culture and emergency assistance in Southern California.
ANAHEIM DUCKS FOUNDATION
The Anaheim Ducks Foundation supports education, children and families, the sport of hockey and health in Southern California.
ANGELL FOUNDATION
This foundation addresses food equity, leadership and education.
ARGYROS FOUNDATION
The Argyros Foundation funds grantmaking related to education, youth, health, human services, and the arts. Orange County, California serves as an important region of giving.
AWESOME FOUNDATION
This funder makes awards for the arts, technology, community development, human services, youth and recreation in Los Angeles.
AYRSHIRE FOUNDATION
The Ayrshire Foundation invests in youth opportunity, science and the environment, healthcare, elderly and disabled and community culture. Its philanthropy is concentrated in the greater Pasadena, California area.
LYNN & LES BIDER FOUNDATION
The Lynn & Les Bider Foundation’s grantmaking funds Jewish and arts organizations, among other interests.
BINDER FOUNDATION
The low-profile foundation funds education and youth, arts and culture, health and human services, and Jewish causes. Along with LA, a region of interest is Massachusetts.
BOLTON FOUNDATION
The Bolton Foundation supports community development, education, youth services and multiculturalism in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California.
OTIS BOOTH FOUNDATION
Past grants suggest arts, healthcare, and education are leading areas of interest, with a wide range of organizations receiving support.
ALBERT AND ELAINE BORCHARD FOUNDATION
This funder supports youth development, health and medicine, education, the arts and the environment in Los Angeles County.
WARREN AND ELAINE BRESLOW FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Breslow Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Jewish causes and human services organizations in L.A. County. It also supports health, arts, educational, and youth organizations.
RONALD W. BURKLE FOUNDATION
Ronald W. Burkle Foundation supports programs that “strengthen international understanding, foster worker’s rights, empower underserved communities, nurture the arts and architecture, engage children in learning and advance scientific research."
FRITZ B. BURNS FOUNDATION
The Fritz B. Burns Foundation supports education, health, medical research, human services and religion in Los Angeles, California.
CALIFORNIA BLACK FREEDOM FUND
The California Black Freedom Fund supports racial equity through grants for Black-led organizations throughout the state of California.
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The CCF is often the crucial link between nonprofits and the community. Funding covers healthcare, education, human services, the arts, civic engagement, immigrants and housing.
CALIFORNIA HUMANITIES
California Humanities supports arts and culture, film, libraries and other humanities topics throughout the state of California.
CATHAY BANK FOUNDATION
The bank's philanthropic affiliate supports a variety of causes in the Greater L.A. area, with community, education and economic development as top priorities.
CHARTWELL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The foundation of media mogul Jerry Perenchio and his wife Margaret. Gifts mainly go to the Los Angeles area for arts, education and health.
COLBURN FOUNDATION
Endowed in 1999 by the late Richard D. Colburn, the Colburn Foundation aims to support the classical music community in Los Angeles.
CORMURA FOUNDATION
The Cormura Foundation supports education, immigrants, community recreation, and religious causes in Newport Beach and Santa Ana.
CRAIL-JOHNSON FOUNDATION
The foundation’s grantmaking funds improving the academic, emotional, and social well-being of disadvantaged youth in Los Angeles. It's very accessible to grantseekers.
ROBERT A DAY FOUNDATION
The Robert A. Day Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, cultural organizations, and health across Los Angeles.
DESERT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Desert Community Foundation supports education, arts and culture, human services and youth in Southern California.
CARL AND ROBERTA DEUTSCH FOUNDATION
This funder is best known for its Halo Award, which is designed to encourage volunteerism in the Los Angeles area. The foundation has made other recent grants to local nonprofits working in the fields of poverty, homelessness and veteran support.
CARRIE ESTELLE DOHENY FOUNDATION
Focusing on education, health, medicine, religion and vulnerable populations, this foundation supports about 300 different organizations each year, and funding is almost exclusively limited to Los Angeles and the surrounding communities.
DURFEE FOUNDATION
This Los Angeles-centric funder is best known for helping local nonprofit leaders be creative and avoid burnout, and encouraging new leaders to emerge in the region.
EDGERTON FOUNDATION
The Edgerton Foundation supports artistic, educational and cultural institutions across Los Angeles; however, it funds the development of New American Plays nationwide. Its grantmaking also supports efforts to deal with creative environmental and energy solutions, and security and international policy.
BEN B. AND JOYCE E. EISENBERG FOUNDATION
This funder supports Jewish organizations in Los Angeles and also education, health (with a cancer focus), human services (with a focus on the elderly), and the arts.
EISNER FOUNDATION
The Eisner Foundation has a strict funding focus on children and the elderly in Los Angeles County. Grants go to large, well-established organizations and also to small grassroots nonprofits.
FLETCHER JONES FOUNDATION
The Fletcher Jones Foundation supports higher education and general education in Los Angeles and elsewhere in California.
FRIEDA C. FOX FAMILY FOUNDATION
Gives out grants mainly in Los Angeles to education, but not just in the traditional way one might expect. The foundation strongly supports youth philanthropy, as well education and the arts.
GETTY TRUST
The Getty Trust's grantmaking arm, the Getty Foundation, is a major funder of organizations and individuals that advance understanding and preservation of the visual arts. Getty gives for research, conservation, and education & professional development.
ROSALINDE AND ARTHUR GILBERT FOUNDATION
Grants for college access and retention and arts & culture education are Los Angeles-specific, and the foundation also regularly gives for local Jewish causes, diabetes prevention, and Alzheimer’s research.
JOHN GOGIAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
This funder supports Los Angeles County nonprofits working for the developmental disabled, elderly, and abused and neglected youth. LOI deadlines happen twice a year.
GOLDRICH FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Goldrich Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related Jewish causes. It also earmarks funds for causes like education and health.
JERRY A. AND KATHLEEN A. GRUNDHORFER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Jerry A. And Kathleen A. Grundhorfer Family Foundation primarily funds education, youth, arts, and health.
WILLIAM H. HANNON FOUNDATION
Although this foundation’s primary focus is on Catholic causes in the Los Angeles area, it also awards grants to education, health, and social service nonprofits throughout the region.
HAUPTMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Hauptman Family Foundation’s grantmaking supports education and policy organizations.
HAVNER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Havner Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health and human services, arts and culture, and education.
JOHN RANDOLPH HAYNES AND DORA HAYNES FOUNDATION
This social science funder typically funds well-established organizations and universities in Los Angeles County, but smaller social science and local research organizations can definitely apply for grants, too.
HELD FOUNDATION
The Held Foundation funds grantmaking related to Jewish causes, education, health, human services, global, religious, the environment, civil rights, and the arts.
‘I HAVE A DREAM’ FOUNDATION - LOS ANGELES
The “I Have A Dream” Foundation – Los Angeles supports education in Los Angeles, California.
JAYASINHALA FOUNDATION
The Jayasinhala Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related Sri Lankan and religious causes, including Buddhism and Scientology.
JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOS ANGELES
This prominent L.A. funder supports both Jewish and secular causes through grantmaking. Areas of support include education, human services, education, Jewish causes, arts & culture, and civic life.
JUNE FOUNDATION
The June Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Jewish causes, particularly Torah education.
ALBERT AND TRUDY KALLIS FOUNDATION
The Albert and Trudy Kallis Foundation aims to foster, develop and create original documentary programming that educates and informs audiences in unique and entertaining ways. The foundation also supports educational and community service organizations by crafting special interest programs, making direct contributions, and endowing scholarships.
KARSH FAMILY FOUNDATION
Karsh funds pre-selected organizations in higher education, human services and Jewish community programs.
KAYNE ANDERSON CAPITAL ADVISORS FOUNDATION
This funder makes grants for education, human services, health and homelessness in Los Angeles.
KAYNE FOUNDATION
The family's giving focuses on Los Angeles, where they support education, the arts, and other causes. Kayne strongly supports his alma mater, UCLA.
W.M. KECK FOUNDATION
This is a well-known science research funder. For local fundraisers, though, Keck has a Southern California program prioritizing Los Angeles County organizations.
ROBERT J. KEOWN TRUST
The Robert J. Keown Trust supports health and human services for Christian-serving organizations in Los Angeles, California.
JOHN B. AND NELLY LLANOS KILROY FOUNDATION
The John B. and Nelly Llanos Kilroy Foundation's grantmaking includes support for educational and youth organizations in Los Angeles County.
SARAH KETTERER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Sarah Ketterer Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, youth, policy, and the arts. The foundation also earmarks funds for health and religious organizations.
JERRY AND TERRI KOHL FOUNDATION
The couple's philanthropy is focused on Los Angeles and its suburbs, particularly Pasadena and the Greater San Gabriel Valley. The Kohls have a strong interest in the arts.
L.A. CLIPPERS FOUNDATION
This professional basketball team funder supports children and youth causes in the Los Angeles area. Unsolicited applications are accepted from local groups once per year.
JOHN AND MARIA LAFFIN TRUST
The John and Maria Laffin Trust supports education, environment, animal welfare, health and human services in Los Angeles, California.
LA GALAXY FOUNDATION
This pro soccer team funder is devoted to at-risk children and youth in Los Angeles. Funding interests are education, health, and soccer programs for youth.
LAKERS YOUTH FOUNDATION
The Lakers Youth Foundation supports children and youth, education, health and sports in Los Angeles, California.
LA VIDA FELIZ FOUNDATION
The philanthropic vehicle of Wall Streeter Aaron Sosnick. Grantmaking includes support for arts and culture, education, and community projects.
THOMAS & DOROTHY LEAVEY FOUNDATION
Focusing on higher education, medical research, healthcare and human services, this is a foundation L.A. nonprofit fundraisers should know about.
LAUREN B. LEICHTMAN AND ARTHUR E. LEVINE FAMILY FOUNDATION
The finance couple directs much of its grantmaking to education, health & human services, arts & culture, and Jewish causes in Los Angeles.
LIBERTY HILL FOUNDATION
This funder supports social justice issues in Los Angeles, California. Funding interests are the local LGBTQ community and justice for all races, immigrants, the environment, and the economy.
BARI LIPP FOUNDATION
The Bari Lipp Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to the arts, education, youth, health, and Jewish causes.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS FOUNDATION
This Major League Baseball team funder supports underserved youth in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Interests are education, literacy, sports, recreation, and health.
MCCOURT FOUNDATION
The McCourt Foundation supports health, medical research and physical fitness in Los Angeles and beyond.
RICHARD C. AND MELANIE LUNDQUIST FOUNDATION
Richard C. And Melanie Lundquist Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, human services, and animal organizations.
GARY MAGNESS FAMILY FOUNDATION
LA-focused giving from the film producer and his family go to causes in human services and health, education and youth, arts and culture, and others.
MAJESTIC REALTY FOUNDATION
The real estate developer's foundation gives in eight regions where it operates. In SoCal, it's L.A., Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley. Grants for youth, education, health, violence prevention and families.
MAKOFF FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Makoff Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to human services, education and youth, health, and global causes.
MARINO FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Marino Family Charitable Foundation supports health and human services in Los Angeles, California.
MAYOR'S FUND FOR LOS ANGELES
Mayor Eric Garcetti created this fund to support city civic projects. Funding priorities are job access and creation, neighborhood resiliency, disaster preparedness, public spaces, traffic, and government efficiency.
KATIE MCGRATH & J.J. ABRAMS FAMILY FOUNDATION
The philanthropic vehicle of Hollywood mogul J.J. Abrams and his PR executive wife Katie McGrath. Funds education, policy, human services, and more.
MERKIN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The philanthropic vehicle of Richard N. Merkin focuses on education, health and the arts.
BARRY AND WENDY MEYER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Barry and Wendy Meyer Charitable Foundation funds grantmaking related to education, children's and civil rights, health, human services, humanitarian, and Jewish causes.
MILKEN FAMILY FOUNDATION
Milken funds human services, healthcare, medical research and Jewish community organizations, with the majority of grants made in Los Angeles County.
ALON AND ROSANA MILLER FOUNDATION
The Miller Foundation primarily funds causes related to the Jewish community across Greater Los Angeles.
MOSS FOUNDATION
The foundation of former music producer Jerry Moss and his wife, Ann, gives away a million or two annually, mainly to various Los Angeles-area outfits.
DAN MURPHY FOUNDATION
Murphy is a major L.A. funder of Roman Catholic churches and organizations in Greater Los Angeles, although they do make some grants nationally.
Y&S NAZARIAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The foundation's Los Angeles giving is focused on supporting educational causes, as well as policy, the arts, and more. The Nazarians are strong backers of Jewish causes.
C&R NEWMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The C&R Newman Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, health, and the arts.
NOLAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Nolan Family Foundation’s grantmaking funds educational and social services organizations.
EILEEN HARRIS NORTON FOUNDATION
The Eileen Harris Norton Foundation’s mission is to achieve social and environmental justice through supporting organizations dedicated to education, families, and the environment.
OPUS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
California funding is largely centered in the Los Angeles area. Funding is for affordable housing, community revitalization, education, financial literacy, community health, human services, and the arts.
ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Orange County Community Foundation supports Orange County, California in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment and animal welfare, human services, and health and wellness.
RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION
Parsons values transparency. Letters of inquiry for Parsons grants in health, higher education, civic engagement and social impact are accepted throughout the year.
PASADENA CHILD HEALTH FOUNDATION
This funder supports children’s health causes in the Greater Pasadena area and selected parts of Los Angeles County. Early childhood development, community and family strengthening, obesity, and access to care are key interests.
MARGIE & ROBERT E. PETERSEN FOUNDATION
The Margie & Robert E. Petersen Foundation supports children, foster youth, at-risk youth, health, and hospitals throughout Los Angeles County.
ANTHONY & JEANNE PRITZKER FAMILY FOUNDATION
This funder supports the Los Angeles community in the areas of education, environment, medicine, community, and foster youth. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted.
RESNICK FOUNDATION
Resnick keeps its portfolio pretty tight, working with a fixed group of organizations. There isn't a lot of information about grantmaking available.
RESSLER/GERTZ FOUNDATION
The philanthropic vehicle of Antony Ressler and his wife, actress Jami Gertz, mainly supports education, arts, health, and Jewish causes.
RISE UP FOUNDATION
The Rise Up Foundation is dedicated to providing support to classrooms across the country by donating toward literacy projects targeting high-poverty inner-city and rural schools.
ROSE HILLS FOUNDATION
The Rose Hills Foundation was established from the sale of the largest cemetery in North America. Mainly funds programs related to higher education, the natural sciences, and engineering.
ROTARY CLUB OF LOS ANGELES FOUNDATION
This funder makes grants for education, children, youth, homelessness, human services and other community needs in Los Angeles.
CAPPY AND BETH ROTHMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Cappy and Beth Rothman Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health, Jewish, and environmental causes.
ROSENTHAL FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Rosenthal Family Foundation’s grantmaking includes support of educational and arts institutions.
RYZMAN FOUNDATION
The Ryzman Foundation mostly supports Jewish causes (education, religious, and community) in Los Angeles. It also supports health groups.
SABAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The philanthropic vehicle of entertainment executive Haim Saban and his wife Cheryl. The foundation's geographic focus is almost exclusively on Los Angeles and Israel.
GARY SALTZ FOUNDATION
The Gary Saltz Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to at risk youth and education. The foundation also earmarks funds for Jewish causes and the arts.
JOHN H. & CYNTHIA LEE SMET FOUNDATION
This funder's main focus is on K-12 education for young people in the Los Angeles area.
MAY AND STANLEY SMITH CHARITABLE TRUST
The Smith trust funds programs in four areas: foster youth, elders, veterans, and people with disabilities. It focuses on 14 states in the western U.S., including California, as well as British Columbia, Canada.
SNYDER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Snyder Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to arts and culture, Jewish causes, health, and youth organizations.
SPECIALITY FAMILY FOUNDATION
This funder has two primary grantmaking goals: K-8 Catholic education and alcoholism and substance abuse treatment. Both programs have a Los Angeles focus.
DWIGHT STUART YOUTH FUND
This funder focuses all grantmaking on youth in Los Angeles County. More specifically, it funds education enrichment, mentoring, youth leadership and early learning/literacy causes.
KEITH AND JUDY SWAYNE FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Keith and Judy Swayne Family Foundation supports Orange County, California and Hawaii in the areas of community wellbeing, immigrants, children and youth, domestic violence, arts and culture, mental health, civil engagement, access to justice, and job training.
TAPROOT FOUNDATION
The Taproot Foundation provides substantial in-kind professional consulting services to nonprofit organizations in several major cities, including Los Angeles.
TARSADIA FOUNDATION
The Tarsadia Foundation supports education, health and human services, and economic empowerment in Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area.
JOHN AND MARY TU FOUNDATION
The billionaire tech entrepreneur and his wife do most of their grantmaking in the Los Angeles area, where the family lives and works. Education and the arts are priorities.
PETER & GINNY UEBERROTH FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Peter & Ginny Ueberroth Family Foundation supports youth, education, health, and human services in Orange County, California.
VAN KONYNENBURG FOUNDATION
The Van Konynenburg Foundation funds grantmaking related to education, youth, religious institutions, health, and human services.
WASSERMAN FOUNDATION
Grants are made in four major domestic areas: education, arts and culture, service, and health. There are also global initiatives and a focus on volunteerism.
WEISMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Weisman Family Foundation funds grantmaking related to Jewish causes, largely in the Greater Los Angeles area.
WERTHEIMER FOUNDATION
The Wertheimer Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health, education, youth, Jewish causes, as well as other community organizations.
DAVYD WHALEY FOUNDATION
The Davyd Whaley Foundation supports arts and culture and the visual arts in Los Angeles, California.
MARGO AND IRWIN WINKLER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Funding areas include health, human services, education and youth, arts and culture, Jewish causes, and the Los Angeles community.
WINNICK FAMILY FOUNDATION
This foundation of a wealthy couple focuses funds education, literacy, healthcare, art, culture, animal welfare and the needs of the worldwide Jewish community.
San Diego
4SRANCH~DEL SUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The 4SRanch~Del Sur Community Foundation supports the 4SRanch~Del Sur region of Southern California through STEM education and the mental, physical, and nutritional health of local groups, such as children, seniors, veterans, low income and homeless.
THOMAS C. ACKERMAN FOUNDATION
This funder supports San Diego area nonprofits in the areas of K-12 education, STEM education, arts, music, and economic development. Letters of inquiry are accepted throughout the year.
LISA & STEVE ALTMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Lisa & Steve Altman Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health and medical research, particularly diabetes research. It also earmarks funds for causes like education, Jewish causes, and cultural institutions.
COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This funder supports the North County coastal communities of San Diego County, including Encinitas, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Del Mar, and Solana Beach. Mental health, women and girls, and music are topics of interest.
DAVID C. COPLEY FOUNDATION
This private family funder supports the San Diego area in the fields of human services, military, youth development, medical research, arts and culture, education, and animal welfare.
DONALD C. & ELIZABETH M. DICKINSON FOUNDATION
The Donald C. & Elizabeth M. Dickinson Foundation primarily funds grantmkaing related to education, cultural organizations and medical research.
GIRARD FOUNDATION
This private family funder is focused on K-12 education in San Diego County, California. Funding interests are charter schools and career readiness.
LARRY HIMMEL NEIGHBORHOOD FOUNDATION
This funder supports individuals and nonprofits in San Diego County, California in the areas of homelessness, neighborhoods, brain and spinal injuries, and youth.
LA JOLLA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The La Jolla Community Foundation predominately supports beautification projects that enhance the environment, arts and culture, and social engagement in La Jolla, California.
MCCARTHY FAMILY FOUNDATION
The McCarthy Family Foundation supports child abuse prevention, K-12 science education, HIV/AIDS research, and assistance to homeless people in San Diego County, California.
OCEANSIDE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Oceanside Charitable Foundation supports the community of Oceanside, California in the areas of at-risk youth, arts and culture, community development, health and human services, education, community engagement, environment, hunger and homelessness, connecting to the outdoors, civic society, and science and technology.
PARKER FOUNDATION
This funder supports San Diego County organizations in the areas of community, arts and culture, education, medical, and social causes. Grant applications are accepted at various times of the year, online and via mail.
L. ROBERT & PATRICIA L. PAYNE FAMILY FOUNDATION
The L. Robert & Patricia L. Payne Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to organizations that provide medical or educational services and youth activities.
PRICE PHILANTHROPIES
This private family funder is focused on the San Diego area, especially the City Heights region of 16 inner city neighborhoods. Price funds work in education, youth, health, housing, human services, and environment.
RANCHO SANTA FE FOUNDATION
This community grantmaker supports Coastal North County San Diego. Interests include workforce development, youth, human trafficking, and the needs of vulnerable seniors.
RANCHO SANTA FE WOMEN'S FUND
This is a women’s giving circle focused on Northern San Diego County and the needs of women and families here. Local grants are awarded annually.
SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION
This funder supports San Diego, California-area nonprofits in age-friendly communities, civic engagement, climate, arts, outdoors, science and technology, and families and community. Most competitive grants are awarded through their regional affiliates.
SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S FOUNDATION
This women’s foundation supports San Diego-area nonprofits in health and human services, civil society, economic development and employment, environment, arts and culture, and education. Grants are awarded once per year.
Santa Barbara
HUTTON PARKER FOUNDATION
This private family funder is exclusive to Santa Barbara County and is a big supporter of nonprofit longevity and sustainability. Funding interests are arts and culture, education, health and human services, children, youth and families, and civic and community.
LEHRER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Lehrer Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to the arts and culture, Jewish causes, and other community organizations in Santa Barbara.
SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION
This community funder supports nonprofits in Santa Barbara County, California, in many areas, including youth, organizational capacity, education, blood research and education, landscapes, ecosystems, agriculture and food systems, and community caregiving.
WOMEN'S FUND OF SANTA BARBARA
This is a women’s giving fund that is affiliated with the Santa Barbara Foundation but that researches and awards its own annual grants. Grants are largely focused on the needs of women and children in the Santa Barbara area of California.
Southern California at Large
ARCHSTONE FOUNDATION
This funder supports programs to keep seniors safe in their homes, prevent senior depression, support caregivers and train a qualified elder care workforce in California.
BERGMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Bergman Family Foundation's grantmaking funds educational, religious, and global humanitarian causes. The Foundation’s global giving appears to focus on African poverty and economic development.
KOBE BRYANT FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (KVBFF) aims to improve the lives of youth and families in need, both domestically and globally, and encouraging young people to stay active through sports.
CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
The endowment is a major funder in terms of its grantmaking footprint and the assets it controls, and in Los Angeles—and throughout California—it's the largest funder of healthcare initiatives and organizations.
CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT RESILIENCE FUND
The California Immigrant Resilience Fund supports immigrants, economic security, hunger, homelessness and emergency relief in Los Angeles County, Orange County, the Inland Empire and the Border Region of Southern California.
CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence supports violence prevention and domestic violence intervention in California.
CALIFORNIA WELLNESS FOUNDATION
The California Wellness Foundation funds causes that benefit California residents. Interests are gaps in care, health education and employment, clean water and safe neighborhoods.
CARLSBAD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Carlsbad Charitable Foundation supports youth, families, K-12 education, health and human services in Southern California.
CHULA VISTA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Chula Vista Charitable Foundation supports community development, older adults, emergency needs, youth, homelessness and education in Southern California.
GILBERT & JACKI CISNEROS FOUNDATION
The Cisneros Foundation works to cultivate a community that supports Latino education and to identify and support the key factors that lead to Latino student success. It also funds some work benefitting veterans.
CAROL AND JAMES COLLINS FOUNDATION
The Carol and James Collins Foundation aims to enrich the lives of children, youth and families, particularly the underserved, in the Southern California area.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE VERDUGOS
The Community Foundation of the Verdugos supports children and youth, human services, health, education, arts and culture, animal welfare and community development in Southern California.
PETER DOUGLAS FOUNDATION
The Peter Douglas Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, youth, and health. It also earmarks funds for other community causes.
EDISON INTERNATIONAL
Through its Community Giving Program, Edison International, the electric power company, gives to causes including education, the environment, civic engagement, and emergency preparedness to 15 counties in southern and central California.
EPSTEIN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Epstein Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, health and social support, and cultural centers. Geographic areas of interest include San Diego, Los Angeles and Palm Springs.
ESCONDIDO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Escondido Community Foundation supports STEM education, access to the outdoors, arts and culture, community development and emergency needs in Southern California.
ETHEL FRENDS FOUNDATION
The Ethel Frends Foundation supports animal welfare, canine care, and canine education in Southern California.
ROBERT A. FOX FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Robert A. Fox Family Foundation supports the blind and those with low-vision in workforce development, education, poverty-fighting efforts and vision and literacy screenings in California and beyond.
WALTER AND MARY FROME FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Walter and Mary Frome Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to social services, education, medical research, and the arts.
FRY FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Fry Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to arts, education, health, and human services.
FUND FOR SANTA BARBARA
The Fund for Santa Barbara supports social, political, economic and environmental justice in Southern California.
CLEM C. GLASS FOUNDATION
The Clem C. Glass Foundation is a Southern California funder that supports local organizations in the fields of youth, environment, civil and human rights, immigrants, and reproductive rights.
JOHN F. GRUNDHOFER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The John F. Grundhofer Charitable Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to the arts, education, youth, and health. It also earmarks funds for other causes, like the environment.
HOPE AND HEAL FUND
The Hope and Heal Fund takes a community-based approach to preventing gun violence in California.
HOWARD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Howard Charitable Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, policy, healthcare, and domestic humanitarian causes. It also earmarks funds for cultural and environmental outfits.
INLAND EMPIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Inland Empire Community Foundation supports equity, economy, education, environment, youth, women and nonprofit capacity building in Southern California.
STEAVEN K. AND JUDITH G. JONES FOUNDATION
The Steaven K. and Judith G. Jones Foundation funds grantmaking related to education, youth, health, human services, arts and media, and religious causes.
KERN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Kern Community Foundation supports children and youth, women, the environment, human services, community development, education, arts and culture and health in California.
LA84 FOUNDATION
This funder supports youth sports organizations for kids six to 17 years old in the eight southernmost counties of California. There are three grant cycles per year.
LAGUNA BEACH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Laguna Beach Community Foundation supports human services, arts and culture, youth, education, recreation and other community needs in Southern California.
LEGACY ENDOWMENT
The Legacy Endowment supports education, health, youth, seniors, basic needs and other community services in Southern California.
LONG BEACH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Long Beach Community Foundation supports Education, youth, health, human services, arts and culture, historical preservation and other community needs in Southern California.
LUDWICK FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Ludwick Family Foundation assists a broad array of groups that are working to make a positive difference in the world.
MCCUNE FOUNDATION
The McCune Foundation supports projects that address critical issues in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties by empowering and mobilizing excluded populations.
KENNETH T. AND EILEEN L. NORRIS FOUNDATION
Norris supports Southern California nonprofits in areas of community, culture, youth, education/science, and medical. Takes unsolicited applications but competition is tough.
ORNEST FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Ornest Family Foundation supports education, youth, Jewish causes, health, community, environment, and animal organizations across multiple southern California counties.
PASADENA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Pasadena Community Foundation supports capital needs, K-12 education, children’s health, the elderly, the blind and visually impaired and disaster relief in Southern California.
RADY FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Rady Family Foundation supports education, human services, health and Jewish causes in San Diego and Southern California.
RAMONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This foundation makes grants for community development, education, arts and culture, health, and seniors in SoCal.
RANCHO BERNARDO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Rancho Bernardo makes grants for arts and culture, education, human services, youth, music, seniors and community development.
ANITA B. AND HOWARD S. RICHMOND FOUNDATION
The Anita B. and Howard S. Richmond Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health associations, education, and social services.
RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION
The Riverside Community Health Foundation supports health, disease prevention, exercise and health education in Southern California.
ROSSO FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Rosso Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, health, human services, youth and the arts.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY FOUNDATION
The Santa Ynez Valley Foundation supports basic needs, human services health, seniors, youth, arts and culture and education in Southern California.
WARREN AND KATHERINE SCHLINGER FOUNDATION
The Warren and Katherine Schlinger Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to higher education, arts and cultural programs, animal and human services, and Congregational churches.
SILK FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Silk Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, youth, and health. It also earmarks funds for human services and religious organizations.
SOCALGAS
This corporate funder supports education, workforce development, environment, active military, veterans, emergency preparedness, safety, economic and business development efforts in Southern California.
CHAN SOON-SHIONG FAMILY FOUNDATION
The foundation of Patrick Soon-Shiong, L.A.'s wealthiest citizen, gives heavily to hospitals in southern California, but some funds go to other causes, too.
TIMOTHY AND JUDITH SMITH FOUNDATION
The Timothy and Judith Smith Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Catholic schools and educational foundations, as well as medical research and human services.
EUGENE AND MARILYN STEIN FAMILY FOUNDATION
Eugene and Marilyn Stein Family Foundation supports education, youth, the arts, health, human services, and Jewish causes.
DONALD T. STERLING CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Donald T. Sterling Charitable Foundation's grantmaking primarily focuses on poverty, homelessness, education, and literacy for at-risk children and families in Los Angeles and Southern California at large.
THORNTON FOUNDATION
The Thornton Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to arts and cultural institutions, as well as education and youth.
UNIHEALTH FOUNDATION
UniHealth is a major healthcare funder in Southern California. It has two funds—a general support fund for qualifying organizations and a hospitals fund. Grants are approved three times per year.
VENTURA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Ventura County Community Foundation invests in public health, arts, human services and education.
WEINGART FOUNDATION
Weingart provides funding focused in three main areas, including health, human services and education, and they fund mostly in Southern California, though giving occasionally throughout the state.
Additional Resources
Example Additional Resource is an example of what can go in this space as additional resource listing.
