The Held Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Held Foundation funds grantmaking related to Jewish causes, health, mental health and housing, focusing on Los Angeles and the Southern California region.
IP TAKE: The Held Foundation maintains a low profile and does not articulate grantmaking goals or strategies. However, recent tax information shows an increase in grants for mental health and homelessness in Southern California, while it continues to support Jewish causes and health. The foundation does not accept proposals and does not provide a direct way of getting in touch. Networking with past grantees may provide a way in here. Contact information is provided below.
PROFILE: The Held Foundation was established in 1985 by siblings Robert, Joseph and Melissa Held. Their father, Harold Held, established Held Properties, a family-owned developer, owner and operator of premier office and medical buildings in Southern California. Robert now serves as CEO, Joseph as COO, and Melissa Held Bordy as CFO of the foundation. This funder lacks transparency and does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. Tax filings suggest the Held Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Jewish causes, education, health, mental health and housing. With a few exceptions, grants mainly stay in Southern California.
Grants for Jewish Causes
The foundation’s recent tax filings suggest a strong interest in Jewish causes in Southern California and elsewhere. For several years, the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles has ranked among the foundation’s top grantees. Other Jewish grantees in the region include the American Jewish University, the Jewish Free Loan Association, the Sinai Temple and Beit T’shuvah, a faith-based addiction treatment center in Los Angeles. Only a few grants for Jewish causes have supported organizations outside of California. Outside of California, the foundation provides ongoing support to the American Israel Education Foundation.
Grants for Public Health and Diseases
A significant number of Held’s grants support health and diseases each year. According to tax filings, the foundation demonstrates interest in cancer treatment centers, but funds other types of health organizations as well. The foundation has provided ongoing support to City of Hope, a cancer and diabetes treatment and research center in Duerte. Other grantees include the Rett Syndrome Research Trust, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Tower Cancer Research Foundation and the Bounce Children’s Foundation, which supports chronically ill children and their families.
Grants for Mental Health, Homelessness and Housing
The Held Foundation has supported a broad range of organizations working in the related fields of mental health, homelessness and supportive housing. One grantee, Didi Hirsch Psychiatric Services, is a faith-based addiction recovery organization that serves Jews and others. The foundation has also supported Wayfinder Family Services, Homes for Families, a Safe Place for Youth and Safe Parking LA, which provides “safe and secure overnight parking” along with other services to people living in automobiles in the Los Angeles area.
Grants for Education
Education is a smaller area of giving for this funder. In higher education, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles and the University of California Los Angeles have received grants. Other grantees include ScholarMatch, the Fairplex Child Development Center and Write Girl, “a creative writing and mentoring organization that promotes creativity, critical thinking and leadership skills to empower teen girls and gender-expansive youth.”
Important Grant Details
The Held Foundation’s grants mainly range from $500 to $100,000, although a majority of grants stay below the $50,000 mark.
This funder mainly gives to organizations in Southern California.
The Held Foundation has recently ramped up its giving for mental health and homelessness, although Jewish causes are another major giving focus.
For additional information about past giving, see the foundation’s tax filings.
The Held Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding.
Contact information for this funder is provided below.
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CONTACT:
The Held Foundation
1880 Century Park East, Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90067
310-300-2200
