September 28, 2023 Why This L.A. Funder Created a Children’s Library at Men’s Central Jail September 28, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Gordon Philanthropies focuses on education and literacy, including by funding a new children’s library at Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles. The library aims to strengthen bonds between incarcerated men and their children.Read More
September 15, 2023 A Foster Youth Activist Calls on Philanthropy to Invest Endowment Dollars in Affordable Housing September 15, 2023/ Wendy Paris Daniel Heimpel believes foundations’ invested assets are a deeply underutilized tool in their efforts to tackle the housing crisis. His path forward? Use grants and investments in tandem to ease the way for affordable housing.Read More
September 12, 2023 Talent for Philanthropy: A Look Inside the UTA Foundation September 12, 2023/ Ade Adeniji The United Talent Agency is a major player in Hollywood, with celebrity clients across film and television, media and sports. We connected with Rene Jones, chief of social impact, to find out how the agency rallies talent for giving.Read More
August 28, 2023 A Conversation with Jackie Broxton, President of the Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation August 28, 2023/ Ade Adeniji Inspired by the story of a formerly enslaved woman who went on to become a prominent businesswoman and philanthropist in 19th century L.A., Jackie Broxton helped found a philanthropy that serves local foster youth.Read More
August 24, 2023 Community Chest: How This South Korean Funding Intermediary Galvanizes Donors Big and Small August 24, 2023/ Wendy Paris Community Chest of Korea has had a lot of success cultivating both large and small donors in its home country, and now it’s expanding into the United States. We connected with members of its team to learn more.Read More
August 16, 2023 Who’s Behind the Moss Foundation and Its Southern California Giving? August 16, 2023/ Alyssa Ochs Here’s an overview of the philanthropy of music recording executive Jerry Moss and how his foundation gives locally in the Los Angeles area.Read More
July 12, 2023 It’s Time for Philanthropy to Put Communities in Charge of Their Own Housing and Futures July 12, 2023/ Almas Sayeed and Jessica Melendez, Guest Contributors Amid a housing equity crisis and following a successful pilot program in L.A., guest authors Almas Sayeed and Jessica Melendez make a case for why philanthropy should back community land trusts.Read More
June 20, 2023 Inside a Media Funding Partnership to Get the Word Out about Early Childhood June 20, 2023/ Connie Matthiessen Backing journalism can be a powerful way for philanthropy to raise the profile of critical but neglected issues like early childhood care and education. Here’s one new example out of Los Angeles. Read More
June 16, 2023 How the Alon and Rosana Miller Foundation Prioritizes Jewish Causes in Los Angeles June 16, 2023/ Alyssa Ochs Alon and Rosana Miller launched their philanthropic foundation following their company’s success. They have been quietly awarding grants to Los Angeles organizations as part of a commitment to their faith.Read More
June 05, 2023 Nonprofit Homeless Response Staff Struggle to Afford Housing. Will Funders Respond? June 05, 2023/ Dawn Wolfe In L.A. and elsewhere, the homeless service sector’s workers are often critically underpaid, and some are at risk of becoming homeless themselves. Part of the problem is funders’ focus on numbers over actual wellbeing.Read More
May 22, 2023 Four Things to Know About the Barry and Wendy Meyer Charitable Foundation May 22, 2023/ Alyssa Ochs The Barry and Wendy Meyer Charitable Foundation operates quietly and often flies below the radar. Here are some details to help you get to know this grantmaker and what it cares about in the region.Read More
May 22, 2023 On the Ground with the Ballmer Group, One of LA's Leading Antipoverty Funders May 22, 2023/ Wendy Paris Over the past few years, Steve and Connie Ballmer have continued ramping up their commitments in Los Angeles. We took a deep dive into how a vast tech fortune is being put to use to scale up local economic mobility.Read More
April 21, 2023 How and Where the Merkin Family Foundation Gives in Southern California April 21, 2023/ Alyssa Ochs Here’s an overview of how Heritage Group Founder and CEO Richard Merkin gives via a private family foundation that centers its giving on the Los Angeles area.Read More
February 02, 2023 How Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams Give in Southern California February 02, 2023/ Alyssa Ochs Hollywood power couple J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath pursue philanthropy through the Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams Family Foundation. Read on to learn what this means for Southern California nonprofits.Read More
December 21, 2022 What the Marino Family Charitable Foundation Supports in California December 21, 2022/ Alyssa Ochs Gary and Gail Marino created their own family foundation after being inspired by their daughter, who was born with Down syndrome. Here are a few things to know about the Marino Family Charitable Foundation’s California giving.Read More
October 27, 2022 A Look at How the Majestic Realty Foundation Supports Los Angeles Nonprofits October 27, 2022/ Alyssa Ochs Majestic Realty launched the Majestic Realty Foundation in 2002 to improve quality of life in communities where it maintains a business presence. Here are a few things Los Angeles grantseekers should know.Read More
October 20, 2022 A New Space for Old Folks: An L.A. Funder Is Pioneering the Future of Senior Centers October 20, 2022/ Wendy Paris The Annenberg Foundation gave millions to develop a modern senior center that defies stereotypes about aging. As Americans get older, the team behind the project hopes it will serve as a model for future facilities.Read More
September 27, 2022 Racial Disparities Persist in Funding for L.A. Nonprofits September 27, 2022/ Martha Ramirez A recent survey of nonprofits in Los Angeles found that although funding has increased since 2020, racial disparities continue, even as the majority of organizations are led by people of color.Read More
August 18, 2022 How Film Producer Gary Magness Approaches Philanthropy in Los Angeles August 18, 2022/ Alyssa Ochs Known for producing the six-time Oscar-nominated film “Precious,” Gary Magness is also a philanthropic donor. Here are a few things to know about how his foundation gives to organizations in the Los Angeles area.Read More
August 10, 2022 What SoCal Groups Should Know About the Lundquist Family Foundation August 10, 2022/ Alyssa Ochs The Lundquist Family Foundation has made news with its multi-million-dollar gifts to big-name institutions in the Los Angeles area. Here are some facts about the Lundquists’ giving to keep in mind.Read More