A Decade of Community-Driven Philanthropy: The 10th LA2050 Grants Challenge
(L to R) Carla Fuentes (Goldhirsh Foundation), Sharon Stratton, Yolanda Enoch, LeAnn Kelch Melendez (Goldhirsh Foundation), and Michelle Dominguez
We were thrilled to once again be the evaluation partners for the LA2050 Grants Challenge. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the challenge, and the Goldhirsh Foundation celebrated by honoring 42 powerful social impact organizations that are reshaping the future of Los Angeles.
A Decade of Impact
This was SJPLA's fourth year participating as the evaluation partner for the LA2050 Grants Challenge, reviewing and providing recommendations on the hundreds of powerful applications this year. Thanks to funding partnerships Goldhirsh Foundation forged with the Snap Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, John N. Calley Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Elbaz Family Foundation, and Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, this year a total of $2.5M in grants were distributed among 42 organizations. We appreciate the way the Challenge puts the values of collaboration and community into action by aligning a cohort of funders to back dozens of organizations addressing issues prioritized by the public.
Evaluation
SJPLA’s evaluation committee of 53 community members reviewed 400+ applications, providing recommendations for each of the issue areas to the Goldhirsh Foundation.
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Michelle Cárdenas, Crystal Cárdenas, Lee Gibson, David Levitus, Antoinette Ratcliffe, Karli Baumgardner, Sonia Bell, Evonne Biggs, Ev Boyle, Yelba Carillo, Calvin Chan, Greg Cherry, Cynthia Clemons, Amerylus Cooper, Sarah Eguchi Low, Oxana Ermlova, Alison Fedyna Villa, Marta Ferro, Jill Frank, Sophia Frontino, Oscar Guerrero, Jennifer Happillon, Margaret Hardin, Ashley Housman, Jamila Jabulani, Angela Kim, Noah Kuhn, Susan L. Petrella, Jacqueline Laine, Elaine Lasnik-Broida, Christine Leahey, Elizabeth Lewis, Ilir Lita, Selena Liu Raphael, James Lopez, Elaine Loring, Tammy Marashlian, Melanie Mcconnaughy, Adrianne McCurrach, Jordana Mendonça, Alyssa Plourde, Sam Rotter, Hannah Rudnick, Alina Sanchez, Shayna Sanderson, Layla Shakerin, Brielan Smiechowski, Marlene Theberg, Eileen Ung, Judy Weinstein, TaVia Wooley-Iles, and Andy Yu Reimer
Committee members brought a rich blend of backgrounds and included SJPLA program alumni, Partners, and colleagues from the nonprofit and philanthropy sectors. Many have been on both sides of the funding spectrum as both applicants and funders and have also partnered with us in various SJPLA grant initiatives - such as coaching at our Accelerator applicant workshops - immersing themselves in and shaping diverse methods of collective decision-making.
Antoinette Ratcliffe, Executive Director of Initiate Justice and one of this year's evaluators shared her reflections on participating: "The experience generated some really new and creative ideas for how we can identify and build partnerships with organizations that are focusing on very different issues, but that intersect with our work towards ending incarceration and building abolitionist futures. All of the proposals I reviewed were from organizations doing very necessary and impactful work in LA. I gained a better understanding of some of LA’s most pressing issues of today, some that are only intimately known by those experiencing them due to lack of public awareness. While the work I currently do has its own specific focus, I know that we are only a small piece of a greater ecosystem of change happening throughout our communities."
The evaluation process involved assigning groups of applications to evaluators, followed by facilitated group deliberation sessions. The strongest recommendations were then forwarded to Goldhirsh for their consideration.
Andy Yu Reimer returned as an SJPLA evaluator this year and added, "It’s always inspiring to read about the work that is going on right in our backyard, and to then have the ability to chat and discuss with brilliant leaders in the social impact space is always a privilege and treat!”
If you want to learn more about the ways we are reimagining philanthropy and community grantmaking, we’d love for you to become an SJPLA Partner.
Spotlight on the Winners
Congratulations to this year's grantees, each receiving $75,000 from the Goldhirsh Foundation:
Health care access: Peer Health Exchange
Income inequality: Prosperity Market
Foster and systems-impacted youth: Arts for Healing and Justice Network
K-12 STEAM education: Friends of the Los Angeles River
Housing and homelessness: DignityMoves
Community safety: Los Angeles Walks
Green space, park access, and trees: North East Trees, Inc.
Opportunities for incarcerated: Defy Ventures
Immigrant and refugee support: Flavors from Afar
Public transit: Streets for All
Additionally, runners-up organizations received $50,000, showcasing the depth and breadth of initiatives making waves in the community.
Reimagining Philanthropy
SJPLA is honored to support and build an equity-centered process each year. As we reflect on our four years of partnership, we're reminded of the power of collaboration, community-driven decision-making, and the importance of supporting both systemic change and direct services by following the lead of those most impacted.
If you’re a funder and would like to partner with us in crafting your grantmaking process, please learn more about our Philanthropic Consulting.