Jayasinhala Foundation

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OVERVIEW: The Jayasinhala Foundation primarily funds grantmaking public health, Sri Lankan and religious causes. Grantmaking focuses on Southern California.

IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. Some of its beneficiaries are nonprofits that were also founded by Dr. Walter Jayasinghe. This funder does not accept applications for funding, so a connection to the family or one of its other philanthropic entities will be key here.

PROFILE: The Jayasinhala Foundation was established in 2013 by Sri Lankan-American physician and plastic surgeon Dr. Walter Jayasinghe and his wife, Aeshea, the executive director of Primanti Montessori School in Whittier, California. Now retired, Dr. Jayasinghe is widely known as the owner and operator of many affordable care clinics in the Los Angeles. He also operated “a free clinic every Saturday for many years to the homeless population of Downtown Los Angeles, providing free outpatient medical services and medications to all patients.” The foundation 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 the Jayasinhala Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to public health, human rights and religious causes. Grantmaking is mainly limited to California.

Grants for Public Health

The main recipient of the Jayasinhala Foundation’s health grants is the Dr. Jayasinghe-founded Los Angeles Medical Center Foundation, which aims “to provide healthcare services to the low income residents in and around Downtown Los Angeles.” The foundation receives ongoing support from Jayasinhala, usually in amounts of over $1 million a year.

Grants for Human Rights, Arts and Culture

Dr. Jayasinghe is also the founder of the Sri Lanka Foundation, which works “to help rebuild the community and lives of Sri Lankans and inspire hope worldwide by promoting Sri Lankan culture and heritage.” The Jayasinahala Foundation has also supported the Citizens Commission on Human Rights.

Grants for Religious Causes

The Jayasinhala Foundation supports Buddhist and Scientologist organizations in California. Grants have gone to the Institute of Buddha Dhamma Studies, the Lankarama Buddhist Institute and the Church of Scientology.

Important Grant Detials:

Grants range from about $63,000 to over $4 million.

  • A significant portion of this foundation’s giving goes to other organizations established by its founder.

  • The foundation’s largest beneficiary is the Los Angeles Medical Center Foundation, which receives annual sums of over $1 million.

  • This funder does not appear to accept applications for funding.

  • See Jayasinhala’s tax filings or Dr. Jayasinghe’s personal website for additional information about past giving and engagements.

The Jaysinhala Foundation can be reached by telephone at 818-907-0632. Alternatively, reach out via the contact page on Dr. Jayasinghe’s personal website.

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CONTACT:

Jayasinhala Foundation
880 Rosalind Road
San Marino, CA 91108

818-907-0632