We Are Santa Monica

With Santa Monica’s long history of helping people in need, in 2020 the City established We Are Santa Monica Fund, a public-private partnership that, since its inception, has raised over $1.6 million with more than 80 organizations receiving grants. The We Are Santa Monica Fund provides a critical and timely vehicle for neighbor-to-neighbor support, as members of our community struggle to get by, put food on the table and care for their loved ones. Equally important, addressing racial equity and providing access to programs and services that enhance the community are an essential part of our commitment.

During the pandemic, the Fund helped to underwrite essential needs and continues to provide incremental funds to local not-for-profit service organizations.

While the City of Santa Monica has ultimate fiduciary responsibility for the Fund, grantmaking decisions are made by the We Are Santa Monica Fund Advisory Board. These individuals live and/or work in Santa Monica and participate in an application process to voluntarily participate on the Advisory Board. All grant applications are thoroughly reviewed by the Advisory Board with decisions based on a number of factors.

We Are Santa Monica Fund is a partnership among private donors, the City of Santa Monica and the California Community Foundation (CCF). All donations to We Are Santa Monica Fund are received and managed by CCF. We Are Santa Monica Fund’s Advisory Board makes recommendations to CCF regarding distributions to eligible nonprofits, or, in certain cases, City programs that benefit the community.

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the We Are Santa Monica Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

California Community Foundation

717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Click here for more information about the We Are Santa Monica Advisory Board or click here to apply for a We Are Santa Monica grant.

Contributions to the California Community Foundation represent irrevocable gifts subject to the legal and fiduciary control of the foundation’s board of directors. This charge will appear on your credit card statement as a payment to “Calif Comm Fdn – CCF”. In addition, California Community Foundation incurs a third-party administrative fee of 2.7 percent for credit card contributions. The foundation will charge the fee directly to the individual fund.

Korean American Foundation LogoWe, as Korean Americans living in this great nation, have been enormously blessed. Because of our core values and principles, we desire to give back to our community to help the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our society. While our philanthropic interest is inclusive of all peoples, we have a particular interest in the welfare of the Korean American community. Korean American Foundation (“KAF”) was formed in response to the need for a trustworthy organization that can steward charitable funds to further such interests.

KAF’s mission is to (i) improve the lives of the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our community with a particular focus on Korean Americans, (ii) promote philanthropy and be an effective and diligent steward of charitable funds, and (iii) collaborate with community-based organizations (“CBOs”) to build their capacity to increase their effectiveness and ensure their sustainability.

Korean American Foundation in the News

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Korean American Foundation. Checks should be mailed to:

California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

The Future of L.A. FundThe needs of Los Angeles County are complex and constantly evolving. Future generations will face problems that can’t possibly be anticipated today, and issues that now seem insurmountable may no longer affect L.A. residents.

Built over a century by visionary donors who understand that community needs change over time, the Future of L.A. Fund allows donors to make an impact on L.A.’s most pressing issues for generations to come, whatever they may be.

Your gift will allow CCF to respond to emerging problems like natural disasters or major economic crises as they happen and promote the most effective solutions, whether today or 100 years from now. All gifts become part of CCF’s permanent funds, ensuring that our children can face challenges we will never know and that the incredible ideas of our grandchildren can change the world.

Whatever the future may bring, there will always be committed Angelenos who dedicate their lives to building a better future for all L.A. residents. By giving to the Future of L.A. Fund, you can make sure they have the support they need and make an impact on Los Angeles, forever.

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Future of L.A. Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Gibson InternationalAbout Gibson International Charitable Foundation

“The Gibson International Charitable Foundation strives to make the communities we serve into better places to live through active involvement and financial support for local organizations in need.” This is our mission statement and all of the agents at Gibson International have opened their hearts and embraced its message.

Throughout the year agents generously donate a portion of their commissions so that the Charitable Foundation can contribute to local organizations such as Heal the Bay, Dream Street Foundation, Venice Family Clinic, Guide Dogs of America, YWCA, Disabled American Veterans… and the list goes on and on.

In addition to the monetary donations, the agents at Gibson International also rally their efforts to donate household supplies to shelters, gather coats and blankets for the Mission Project downtown, make sandwiches for PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) and adopt Veteran Families during the Holidays. Giving back is part of who we are at Gibson International!!

Update for the Gibson International Charitable Foundation

Thanks to the generosity of the Gibson International agents, clients, family and friends, the Foundation was able to make grants to over 26 different local organizations to help people and animals in need.

During the Holiday Season the Gibson International Foundation continues to reach out to the community by adopting several veterans and their families and providing food and gifts to brighten their holidays, as well as donating coats and blankets to The Mission Project in downtown LA and collecting toys for children who might not otherwise receive a gift at the holidays.

For more information about Gibson International, please visit www.gibsonintl.com.

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Gibson International Charitable Foundation. Checks should be mailed to:

California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Special Needs Fund LogoThere are about 50,000 children in the foster care system in Los Angeles, most of whom have few, if any, financial resources. These children are eligible for financial assistance for special needs through the Special Needs Fund.

This fund was established in 2000 at the California Community Foundation to meet “special needs” — vital components of growing up that are out of reach for children in the foster care system. Special needs of the past have included: an article of clothing, a pair of glasses, limited dental care and tickets to a baseball game.

This fund is designed to fill in where no other resources are available to meet the needs of foster children. Judicial officers, attorneys and social workers may nominate a child in foster care for a grant up to $600 to supply childhood essentials.

Help us continue meeting the needs of these children.

The Special Needs Fund is a fiscal sponsorship fund of CCF Community Initiatives Fund, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation operated, supervised and controlled by the California Community Foundation.

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Special Needs Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Pass It Along Fund LogoOne act of kindness, when it’s needed most

The Pass It Along Fund was established at CCF by anonymous donors in the true spirit of philanthropy: to help Angelenos in moments of critical need without expecting anything in return. The original donors required that 100 percent of the money go directly to assist recipients within 72 hours of the request, with little paperwork or bureaucracy. They asked that recipients have no obligations except to pass along two acts of kindness.

Over the last 20 years, the Pass It Along Fund has granted nearly $10M, impacting thousands of lives throughout Los Angeles County when people needed it most.

CCF does not grant to individuals directly. Please refer to our list of nonprofit partners for inquiries related to receiving services or funding in Los Angeles.

Pass it Along Success Stories

Offering Hope and Community 

Being a single mother to an 11-year-old and 17-year-old while working to make ends meet as a housekeeper is challenging as it is, but add a pandemic and economic uncertainty, and it can seem nearly impossible. This is exactly where Angelina found herself when the stay at home orders were announced in mid-March. All the homes she cleaned asked her not to return until it was safe. Emotionally distraught, Angelina and her young family needed a lifeline. Angelina is among the 1.6 million Californians who are out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Economic hardship is rapidly emerging as a central concern of our nonprofit partners and communities across Los Angeles County, particularly for working poor families furloughed in industries like service, hospitality and construction.

CCF’s approach to economic hardship assistance was to activate and fully fund the Pass It Along (PIA) program, which is a proven network of long-standing direct service providers who have long provided emergency assistance with CCF support for over 20 years. The PIA program provides grants to nonprofits who can help provide direct hardship assistance to individuals.

When Angelina needed help, she was able to turn to PIA grantee, the Bresee Foundation, for help. Bresee was able to evaluate her circumstances and determine how to offer support. Without money for rent, Angelina was at risk of becoming homeless, but because of her courage to ask for help and Bresee and PIA’s support, she was able to pay two-months’ rent and gain some hope during a trying moment. Angelina reflected, “During these times, there’s been a lot of stress because you think about not being able to pay rent and falling behind on your bills. Personally, I have had trouble sleeping. This aid is a big help because it is going to help us pay for rent. The foundation makes us a part of a family, part of the community and it makes us feel supported.”

When so many of our neighbors like Angelina need to feel supported and part of a community, we can create more acts of kindness by helping each other when we need it most.

Pass It Along Impact

To read more about how the Pass It Along Fund has made an impact in the lives of other individuals, please click here.

How You Can Help

Create more acts of kindness by helping our neighbors when they need us most. Help us Pass It Along!

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Pass It Along Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

The Muslim and Jewish Organized Relief (MAJOR) Fund believes that now, more than ever, bridges need to be built not only between the Muslim and Jewish communities in the United States, but among all communities of faith. Under no circumstances should decisions regarding immigration or any rights and privileges granted to citizens of or visitors to the United States be based on race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. The MAJOR Fund is committed to its founding principles of creating a meaningful interfaith community and together identifying global humanitarian needs and providing assistance through directed funding.

MAJOR-Fund-Photo
Founding members from left to right: Gary Yale, Diane Vanette, Sajid Mohamedy, Kiran Hashmi, Alissa Roston

The MAJOR Fund is a unique alliance and partnership of Jews and Muslims; a close collaborative relationship of people from different faith backgrounds.  The founding members of MAJOR came together through their participation in a NewGround Fellowship. NewGround (A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change) works to create a world in which trust and partnership replace the current atmosphere of mutual suspicion among Muslims and Jews by equipping Muslims and Jews in America with the skills, resources, and relationships needed to improve Muslim-Jewish relations and cooperation on issues of shared concern.

The fundamental principles of our faiths, the Five Pillars of Islam and the Five Books of Moses, direct us to repair the world. We are turning our belief in these principles into action by identifying and funding projects throughout the global community. We seek to increase our sense of community and spirituality through personally meaningful work. Our goal is to assist people in need, regardless of their faith, in the critical areas of clean water, education and healthcare.

For more information, visit NewGround.

Project Update

The first project that we have identified to fund is a clean water project for an orphanage in Myanmar called Teikha Rama Nunnery. Teikha Rama Nunnery is in North Dagon with 100 orphan girls and boys and 200 day student boys and girls from the neighboring communities. Our project would provide clean, safe drinking water to the orphanage and school.

“Be a part of meeting the world’s greatest needs with your greatest gifts.” – Reverend Ed Bacon.

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the MAJOR Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

The Belkin Charitable Donation Fund supports local organizations providing essential services to youth and families in greater Los Angeles. This includes organizations such as:

  • CFY LA (formerly Computers for Youth) provides low income students, their families and their schools with computers, training in using digital tools to expand learning time, and a powerful online learning platform to help close the achievement gap between the rich and poor.
  • Children’s Hospital L.A., the largest hospital devoted to treating children in Southern California, CHLA provides the finest pediatric care in the nation, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
  • Habitat for Humanity L.A. works with donors and volunteers to offer low income families a hand up into safe, affordable housing in exchange for sweat equity.  Habitat L.A. has built or renovated over 350 homes since 1990.
  • The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is at the heart of a food distribution network that provides food to over 1000 agencies feeding the hungry and food insecure across Los Angeles County.  For every $1 donated, LARFB distributes $5 worth of food.  In other words, $1 provides a meal to a family of four

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Belkin Charitable Donation Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012