Sustainability

Our work is only possible because of the hard work and dedication of our nonprofit partners. From childcare and clinics to shelters and the arts, nonprofit organizations provide a vital safety net for our most vulnerable residents. Yet organizations often struggle to cover basic overhead like office space, utilities and salaries.

Investing in our grantee partners’ sustainability helps them achieve their missions with greater impact. That’s why we provide “more than a grant” support to our nonprofit partners by offering workshops and training in leadership development, fundraising, financial management and communications.

The Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative invests in nonprofit resiliency during moments of organizational transformation. The NSI was founded in 2012 by a group of Los Angeles foundations with the intention of normalizing and funding the exploration of collaboration agreements, fostering sustained collaboration among organizations striving to enhance their impact in the communities they serve. Since its inception, the NSI has granted over $5.5 million to assist more than 300 nonprofits in over 100 partnership explorations and 50 agreement implementations – and these numbers continue to grow.

In 2021 the NSI also launched a pilot executive transition fund to support organizations experiencing the departure of a long-tenured leader or founder. Recognizing the challenges organizations face during an executive transition, the NSI aims to normalize institutional funding for the full spectrum of transition planning and implementation activities.

And while we can’t fund every worthy nonprofit, we offer a comprehensive suite of resources dedicated to helping organizations sustain, grow and thrive. Our Planned Giving Tool Kit helps nonprofits learn how to incorporate planned giving into their development strategies and even provides them with customizable donor outreach materials.

At the sector level, we work to increase the flow of resources to L.A. needs. Through LA n Sync, we and our funding partners help spur innovation and increase investment by attracting federal and state dollars to address major issues affecting Los Angeles. To date, LA n Sync has brought in more than $330 million in grants and other funding to the Los Angeles. LA Counts brings together the data behind the the County’s greatest needs with the stories of why those data matter. By providing access to thousands of datasets, visualizations and stories, LA Counts hopes to support policymakers, advocates and community leaders in creating a better future for all L.A. residents.

For more information, visit our sustainability resource library.