Extreme weather events and natural disasters are on the rise due to climate change. CCF’s Natural Disaster Team prioritizes historically marginalized communities during crises by:
- Equipping local organizations with resources and training to respond effectively.
- Strengthening community infrastructure to improve preparedness and recovery efforts.
- Advocating for equitable disaster response policies that center vulnerable populations.
From addressing wildfires and food insecurity to preparing for future climate impacts, CCF is leading the charge to build resilient communities and create a sustainable future for all Angelenos.
Climate change is disrupting global food systems, hitting low-income communities hardest. The LA County Food Equity Roundtable, co-led by CCF, is tackling food insecurity by:
- Ensuring historically underserved communities have access to nutritious food.
- Building long-term resilience through systemic changes in food distribution and accessibility.
The “Immigration Summit,” launched in 2020, is a groundbreaking collaboration between the California Community Foundation, USC Equity Research Institute, and the Council on Immigrant Inclusion. This innovative platform unites diverse stakeholders from business, labor, community organizations, local government, and philanthropy, creating a unique space for cross-sector dialogue and strategic action.
Emerging from community leaders’ passionate calls for a comprehensive platform, the Summit aims to highlight the pivotal role of immigrants in Los Angeles, promote equitable access to opportunities, and foster collaborative efforts for transformative investments. By bringing together key decision-makers, the event seeks to amplify immigrant voices and drive systemic change that recognizes their invaluable contributions to the region’s economic and cultural landscape.
As the first event of its kind in Los Angeles, the Summit annually gathers over 400 influential leaders to enhance immigration advocacy and integration efforts. A key highlight is the release of the State of Immigrants in Los Angeles County (SOILA) report by the USC Equity Research Institute, which provides critical data to refocus attention on advancing a pro-immigrant agenda and creating meaningful pathways for immigrant success.
Read more about CCF’s 2024 Immigration Summit here.
As part of our efforts to prioritize wellness and sustainability across organizations in the Los Angeles area that are supporting immigrant populations, California Community Foundation partnered with the Weingart Foundation to establish the Immigrants Are Essential Fund. This fund is dedicated to sustaining the immigrant rights advocacy community by addressing the critical challenges of burnout, financial insecurity, and lack of mental health support. Developed through a collaborative effort by the California Community Foundation and the Weingart Foundation, the fund responds directly to the findings of the “From Burnout to Wellbeing Building a Sustainable Immigration Movement” report, which revealed alarming systemic issues facing nonprofit workers in the immigrant rights sector.
With 53% of surveyed staff reporting insufficient economic security to cover lost work due to serious illness, and 43% lacking adequate emergency savings, the fund represents a transformative approach to supporting the people who power this crucial movement. By providing resources for wellness programs, including self-care initiatives, therapy, workshops, and professional coaching, the fund aims to build a resilient movement that not only prioritizes the well-being of advocates but also strengthens their capacity to drive lasting social change.
Guided by an advisory committee of movement justice leaders and backed by an initial $500,000 investment with a goal of raising $1 million, this initiative signals a profound commitment to reimagining support for community partners and recognizing the essential role of immigrant rights advocates in creating a more just and inclusive society.
Read more about the state and sustainability of the immigration sector in the From Burnout to Wellbeing Report.
CCF supports strategic, scalable strategies that strengthen the safety net and immigration legal services pipeline in Los Angeles County. This ensures all residents have access to critical resources, regardless of status.
For example, CCF partnered with USC ERI and the Council on Immigrant Inclusion to establish the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs and the establishment of the Los Angeles Justice Fund, which raised nearly $20M and provided legal assistance to over 2,200 individuals facing the threat of deportation. Since its establishment, the program has matured and evolved into Represent Los Angeles and has continued to provide a critical safety net to immigrant Angelenos.
RepresentLA offers legal representation to immigrants in detention or the community who face deportation, as well as to vulnerable individuals seeking affirmative immigration relief. The program also includes robust community outreach to ensure historically underserved populations can access these services. Additionally, it provides case management to connect clients with essential resources and support.
At CCF, we believe in the transformative power of quality legal representation. Immigrants in detention who have legal counsel are five times more likely to secure their release than those without. By expanding access to legal services, RepresentLA is working to ensure justice and equity for immigrant communities across Los Angeles County.
| Elevating service providers’ perspectives and experiences is essential to promoting high-quality care for our unhoused neighbors as we work to end homelessness in Los Angeles collectively.
CCF leads a learning collaborative of homeless service providers by centering capacity-building support, advocacy, and infrastructure development to create increased opportunities and explore sustainable funding sources for providers, informed by policy and practice decisions, essential in reducing health disparities and improving care in LA County. |
In partnership with CCF, the Department of Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) has awarded 56 grants totaling $22.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to community-based organizations across Los Angeles County dedicated to violence prevention. Our Trauma Prevention Partnership supports eight funding categories: Hospital Violence Intervention, Street Outreach, Peer-to-Peer Learning Academy, Youth Programs, Trauma Informed Care & Community Healing, Crisis Response, School Safety Transformation, and the Community Hardship Fund. The goal of the funding is to prevent violent incidents, implement crisis response when violent incidents occur, address factors contributing to gun and gang violence, and increase access to trauma-informed care and healing-centered services and support.
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