California Community Foundation Awards $1.7 Million to Help Local Nonprofits Weather Impact of Economic Crisis

LOS ANGELES - The California Community Foundation said Monday it has awarded more than $1.7 million in grants and technical assistance to help local nonprofits respond to the increasing needs of the community during these challenging economic times.

Measures include a $600,000 grant to United Way, faster competitive grant renewals and adding enhanced services to CCF grantees.  

“As a community foundation, our role is to help our grantees weather these uncertain times and help them prepare for an unknown future,” said Antonia Hernández, president and CEO at the foundation. “Many people in our community are suffering. We are ensuring that our efforts can strengthen nonprofits and help them come out of the economic crisis well positioned for the future.”

Following are grants the foundation announced:

• A $600,000 grant to United Way of Greater Los Angeles to meet basic food and shelter needs of local residents. This is part of a broader $6.1 million effort by United Way.
• $825,000 in expedited grant renewal requests for seven current grantees that have performed satisfactorily, ensuring continuous, uninterrupted CCF support.
• $279,275 to three organizations, whose focus is on nonprofit management and operations, to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of L.A. nonprofits. They include $100,000 each over two years to California Budget Project and Taproot Foundation and $79,275 over one year to The Grantsmanship Center.

CCF also surveyed grantees to find out their needs and challenges during a time when nonprofits are looking increasingly to individual donors, foundations and other revenue sources to support their work. A key finding: the average nonprofit receives at least 80 percent of its funds from individuals. In response, CCF will directly work with grantees by providing workshops on fund development and planned giving strategies.

The California Community Foundation is L.A.’s foundation. We’ve been around since 1915 and have nearly $1 billion in assets. Each year we give about $125 million in grants to outstanding nonprofits. We’re known as one of L.A.’s most innovative investors in permanent, low-income housing; the biggest supporter of individual artists in the region; the largest scholarship fund manager in L.A.; and a national leader in increasing services for returning vets from Iraq and Afghanistan. Thousands of donors choose us because of our personal service and expertise.