Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

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OVERVIEW: The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation runs grantmaking and signature programs for education, homelessness, health and youth development in Los Angeles County.

IP TAKE: The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation is a surprising accessible source of grants and other supports for education, health, basic needs and youth development organizations in Los Angeles County. Across all areas, the foundation prioritizes underserved communities. It runs two annual application cycles and accepts nominations for its Dodgers Dreamfields revitalization program via its website at any time.

PROFILE: The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) is the grantmaking branch of the Los Angeles Dodgers major league baseball team in Southern California. It was established in 1995 by the team’s owner at that time, Peter O’Malley. The foundation “envisions a city where everyone regardless of ZIP code has the opportunity to thrive.” It makes grants in the areas of education, healthcare, homelessness and youth development, working mainly in the state of California.

Grants for K-12 and Higher Education, Work and Opportunity

The foundation’s education funding targets both K-12 and higher education initiatives. K-12 giving focuses on reading, math and science as kids “hit the age where their interests and test scores tend to decline.” For older students, the foundation focuses on “opportunities for young adults to see themselves on a solid path, whether it's college or a clear vocation.” In addition to making grants to educational organizations and schools, the foundation runs three signature programs.

  • LA Reads is an online reading challenge that encourages kids to read at least 30 minutes each day, especially during summer months. The program aims to “address the literacy crisis in Los Angeles and get children excited about reading” and involves Dodgers-themed rewards, videos of players reading children’s books and book distribution in the Los Angeles area.

  • The Science of Baseball program “provides hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum and programming to elementary and middle school teachers and students in Los Angeles.” Free educational materials and resources are provided on the program’s webpage.

  • The Dodgers’ College & Career Accelerator works “to expose high school and college students to college and career opportunities” with the goal of making “college & career pathways exciting.” Through this program, the foundation runs “career panels, college workshops and on-site college tours and work force development opportunities serving students from our LADF Grantee and Dodgers Dreamteam networks.”

In addition to these programs, the foundation makes grants for education focusing on literacy, STEM, college access and enrichments. Grantees include the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, College Track, KIPP LA Schools, Aquarium of the Pacific, the Partnership for Los Angels Schools and the Kidspace Museum.

Grants for Public Health, Mental Health and Diseases

The Dodgers Foundation’s health grantmaking focuses on health disparities and providing “services that support interventions for our most vulnerable populations.” The foundation names areas of interest including nutritional education, fitness, health services, trainings, research and mental wellness.

Among the foundation’s health grantees are the FIT Kids Foundation, Vision to Learn, the Orthopedic Institute for Children, Peer Health Exchange, Fans for the Cure and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Grants for Housing and Homelessness

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation recognizes the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles County and makes grants to area organizations working to prevent homelessness among vulnerable people and mitigate circumstances for those who are already homeless. Specifically, the foundation names affordable housing, foster care, food insecurity, education and job training and basic needs as priorities for its giving.

Past grant recipients of this program include Habitat for Humanity LA, the Los Angeles Food Bank, Homeboy Industries, Shoes that Fit and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), which serves foster youth in the Los Angeles area.

Other Grantmaking Opportunities

The Dodgers Foundation’s youth development giving makes grants and runs signature programs that focus on youth involvement in sports, but also address issues of mental health, gender equity, racial justice and more.

  • The Dodgers Dreamteam is a signature program that “uses the power of sport to provide critical resources and services to communities who are experiencing social injustices.” The program partners with 16 affiliate organizations to provide “sports-based programming and wraparound services” for children and teens, emphasizing “social and emotional learning opportunities” and “participation of underrepresented groups.”

  • Dodgers Dreamfields helps underserved Los Angeles neighborhoods revitalize ball fields and greenspaces. Since the program’s inception in 2003, the foundation has supported more than 40 projects around the Los Angeles. The program accept field nominations via its online application portal.

The youth development giving area also names focus areas for sports accessibility, racial equality, gender equality, and development training and resources. Grants have supported organizations including Students Run LA, YMCA Play, the City of Compton Department of Parks and Recration, the Venice Boys and Girls Club, the Natasha Watley Foundation and Positive Coaching Alliance Los Angeles.

Important Grant Details:

Grants mostly range from $5,000 to $640,000, although a few have reached the $1 million mark.

  • This funder supports organizations of all sizes in Los Angeles County. Small and medium-sized outfits number significantly here.

  • The Dodgers Foundation accepts appplications for grants, renewals, sponsorships and in-kind donations via links on its application page.

  • The foundation runs two annual grantmaking cycles, with applications due on Marh 1 and August 1.

  • For information about past grants, see the foundation’s individual program pages.

  • Keep up with new opportunities by signing up for the fondation’s newsletter.

For general inquiries, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation can be reached via email at info@dodgersfoundation.org or telephone at 323-224-4260.

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