The investment outlines the foundation’s renewed commitment to investing in civic engagement and empowerment
From door-to-door outreach in Palmdale to phone banking in Boyle Heights, grassroots social media campaigns in South Los Angeles, and a vibrant “Drag the Vote” event in Van Nuys, dozens of organizations across Los Angeles County are finding creative new ways to engage their communities during this critical election season. Supported by more than $9.8 million in civic engagement grants from the California Community Foundation (CCF) this year, grantees are focused on engaging in voter education, engagement, and advancing key progressive measures on the November ballot. The foundation’s investments reflect its belief that civic engagement is essential for creating lasting systemic change and healthier communities.
“We are stewards of resources, and our mission is to bring them to you so we can collectively mobilize communities toward a thriving Los Angeles,” said Miguel Santana, President and CEO of CCF. “This is not just about funding—it’s about amplifying the voices of the people closest to inequity and injustice, who have been excluded from full participation in the democratic process, and providing them with the tools needed for action.”
CCF’s civic engagement grants have supported over 40 community-based organizations this year, targeting areas with low voter turnout and historic underinvestment in voter engagement efforts when compared to the rest of LA County, referred to as “civic deserts.” By funding efforts that empower disenfranchised voters, CCF aims to eliminate the gap in voter participation across the county and ensure that the needs of communities closest to challenges and injustice have equal representation in the electoral process.
This has helped grantees like Somos Familia Valle, an LGBTQ+ organization working with families in the Northeast San Fernando Valley, significantly increase their efforts, moving beyond voter turnout and towards deeper engagement.
“We’ve done ‘Get Out the Vote’ efforts before, but we never had the resources to educate our community about the issues on the ballot that matter most to them,” said Kevin Perez, President & Co-founder of Somos Familia Valle. “This funding not only expands our capacity to connect with individuals who might not otherwise be engaged with us, but it also helps us introduce ourselves to members of our community who wouldn’t know we’re here as a resource or have very few opportunities to engage with our LGBTQ community.” Perez explained that Somos’ “Drag the Vote” event is a perfect example of how they can encourage voter participation while fostering greater cultural understanding.
This year, CCF also leveraged its resources to shape and advance critical ballot measures that address key priorities for the foundation.
From statewide initiatives to improve our schools and environment to local measures like Measure G to increase representation on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, CCF has supported its grantees to shape and advance efforts to improve the quality of life for communities. This included Measure A, a citizen-led initiative that, if approved, would repeal LA County’s current homelessness sales tax and replace it with an expanded homelessness and housing program. As a long-time advocate of tackling the homelessness and housing crisis, CCF spent nearly $6 million to secure the measure’s placement on the November ballot, bolster its campaign, and educate voters on its benefits. Those investments helped fund community organizations like Black Women for Wellness, who designed their “Fierce Aunties for Housing Justice” to build on their campaign that engages a multi-generational group of more than 50 South Los Angeles women to support critical local policies. From previously unhoused women to real estate agents, all of their “Aunties” had a housing story that illustrated the impacts of the crisis in personal terms, said Myeisha Essex, Communications Manager for Black Women for Wellness.
“Aunties are already very involved advocates in their communities – they are leaders in their churches, in their sororities, in their families,” Essex said. “This campaign was about empowering them to embrace that leadership to engage and educate voters during this important election.”
“In Los Angeles, there is a remarkable consensus around our values, but channeling that energy into real action is essential,” said Fernando Guerra, Professor of Political Science at Loyola Marymount University and Director of its Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles. “As the largest county in the country, Los Angeles has the opportunity to be a model for reform and change. Achieving that, however, requires sustained effort and resources, making this work vital.”
According to Cielo Castro, CCF’s chief of policy and programs, CCF’s strategy is grounded in long-term power-building through sustained investments in advocacy, collaboration, and grassroots organizing. “Our civic engagement work goes beyond elections. We are committed to building the infrastructure that enables historically marginalized communities to organize, build coalitions, and develop solutions to their challenges.”
CCF’s approach to civic engagement extends beyond election day. The foundation aims to build more connected communities and demonstrate how increased civic participation can lead to better resources and improved quality of life. Research consistently shows that communities with high levels of civic engagement experience better health outcomes and stronger social cohesion.