For the third year in a row, we’re proud to have Social Justice Partners Los Angeles (SJPLA) lead evaluation for the LA2050 Grants Challenge.

SJPLA members review and score applications in five teams, one for each of the LA2050 goal categories. Each application is assigned to at least two reviewers. Then, the evaluation teams meet to share their thoughts and, together, narrow down the top grant recommendations. Those recommendations are then provided to LA2050 along with scores and detailed comments. Each evaluation team takes into consideration a range of factors, including the strength of the organization’s understanding of the issue area, the quality of the proposed program, project, or initiative, and the leadership’s lived and learned expertise. (The full evaluation scorecard is available here.)

This collaboration with SJPLA is so impactful because of the alignment between our organizations' values. SJPLA invests in and expands the community of people advancing racial and social justice. It is a community of people who want to create an LA where everyone thrives and feels a deep sense of connectedness, belonging, and purpose. Some of the organization’s key programs include its Systems Change Accelerator, Racial Equity Fellowship, and Anti-Racist and Healing Justice Work.

A huge thank you to SJPLA – especially Executive Director Christine Margiotta, Programs & Engagement Manager Sharon Stratton, and Community Engagement Coordinator Michelle Dominguez – and its Partners for their contributions to the Grants Challenge. We are so grateful to have your collective wisdom and experience in the social impact sector infused in this process. We could not do this without you.

If you are interested in getting more involved with SJPLA, you can learn more here.