Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation supports Los Angeles-area nonprofits in the areas of social welfare, health and wellness, education and religion. This funder’s grantmaking adheres closely to the teachings and values of the Catholic church.  

IP TAKE: The Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation makes about 300 grants a year, with many of its grantees enjoying multi-year support. This is an obvious choice for Catholic schools and human service organizations, as about half of the foundation’s grants support Catholic-affiliated nonprofits. Non-religious organizations do stand a chance, however, if they operate with the greater Los Angeles area and serve needy or vulnerable people. Applications for different types of grants are accepted at different times during the year, so be sure to read through the application guidelines page carefully before applying.

PROFILE: The late Carrie Estelle Doheny, widow of Los Angeles oil producer Edward L. Doheny, established the Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation as a trust in 1949 with $30 million. Doheny was a devout Catholic, and her foundation conducts all of its grantmaking in accordance with traditional Catholic values. Its mission is to support “nonprofit organizations that improve the lives and futures of people and communities in Greater Los Angeles.” Stated areas of grantmaking include social welfare, health and wellness, education and religion.

Grants for Mental Health, Homelessness, Food Systems, Work and Opportunity

The Doheny Foundation’s Social Welfare and grantmaking area makes grants to “serve those who are vulnerable in our society.” The foundation names priorities including “critical needs such as food and shelter, as well as programs that empower, inspire, and provide for the welfare of young people in underserved communities.” Target populations for this giving include formerly incarcerated people, foster youth, the disabled and trauma victims.

Grants have gone to greater Los Angeles organizations including CASA of Los Angeles, the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, Regis House Community Center and the Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade.

Grants for Public Health

Health and Wellness grantmaking focuses on “illness, pregnancy and life, counseling, individuals with disabilities, senior assistance, free and low-cost care, [and] elder care.” The initiative also supports research at the Doheny Eye Institute at UCLA, which was established by Doheny in 1947 after she lost vision in her left eye. Other grantmaking favors organizations that “assist individuals to lead independent, satisfying lives” and programs that “bring quality care to those who are otherwise underserved.”

Grantees include Mary Health of the Sick Convalescent & Nursing Hospital, Alzheimer’s of Los Angeles, the St. Vincent Senior Citizen Nutrition Program, the Kids Community Clinic of Burbank, St. Barnabas Senior Services and Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick.

Grants for K-12 and Higher Education

Catholic K-12 education accounts for a significant portion of this foundation’s grantmaking, with grants supporting dozens of Los Angeles-area regular and special education schools, as well as out-of-school learning programs for children and teens. Grantees include the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’s Department of Catholic Schools, St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School, St. Joseph High School, St. Mary Academy, St. Gertrude the Great Catholic School and Holy Spirit STEM Academy, among many others.

Higher education is a smaller area of giving, but grants have gone to Catholic colleges and Catholic groups on university campuses. Recipients include Thomas Aquinas College, the Caruso Catholic Center at USC, the UCLA Catholic Center and Mount Saint Mary’s University.

Grants for Religious Causes

The Doheny Foundation names Religion as its fourth area of giving. This is the foundation’s smallest giving area. Grantmaking supports “the evangelization and mission-based work of the Los Angeles Roman Catholic community, as well as local faith-based organizations inspired and guided by similar gospel values.” Religious grantees include the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Carmel of St. Theresa Monastery, House of Prayer for Priests, Lovers of the Holy Cross LA and Sisters of Social Service Los Angeles.

Important Grant Details:

The Doheny Foundation’s grants range from $1,000 to $350,000.

  • Catholic K-12 education is this funder’s largest area of giving, and more than half of all grantees have some affiliation with Catholicism.

  • Grantmaking is limited to the greater Los Angeles area.

  • This funder accepts applications for project, general operating grants, as well as capital construction or technology projects. Due dates vary by the type of grant, and the foundation’s application page features detailed guidelines and a table with due dates for each type of grant.

  • The foundation also accepts applications for summer camp scholarships, which the foundation refers to as “camperships.”

  • All applications should be submitted through the foundation’s application portal.

  • For additional information about past grants, see the Doheny Foundation’s past grant awards page.

Submit general questions to the foundation via its contact page.

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