The Goldhirsh Foundation honored 15 innovative social impact organizations making Los Angeles a better place as the winners of the LA2050 Grants Challenge at today’s second annual Grantee Showcase at Second Home Hollywood.

The 15 groups received a total of $1 million from the Goldhirsh Foundation. In addition, 27 other organizations were awarded grants from one of LA2050’s six other funding partners, with a total of more than $2.5 million going to 42 organizations.

As part of LA2050’s distinctive approach to philanthropy, the LA2050 Grants Challenge involves funders working together to support organizations addressing issues prioritized by the public, chosen through a transparent online and in-person voting process.

Spectrum News 1 reporter Zarina Khairzada served as emcee and host of the LA2050 Grantee Showcase. Goldhirsh Foundation President Tara Roth moderated a panel discussion, called “Funding For a Brighter Future,” featuring leaders from each of the LA2050 Grants Challenge funding partners: the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Snap Foundation, the Annenberg Foundation, the John N. Calley Foundation, the Elbaz Family Foundation, and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Issues That Matter

“We started the LA2050 Grants Challenge to identify and invest in organizations that are making Los Angeles a better place by addressing issues most important to actual Angelenos. I am proud to celebrate our 10th year of supporting incredible organizations,” said Tara Roth, President of the Goldhirsh Foundation. “It is our honor to welcome another cohort of inspiring innovators. I also want to thank our funding partners for their creativity, generosity, and collaboration in supporting dozens of other outstanding leaders who are all doing critical work in creating a Los Angeles for everyone, by everyone."

For the second year in a row, the LA2050 Grants Challenge gave voters the choice of issues, letting them select from 37 key issues before soliciting submissions. In addition to the established online voting portal, this year in honor of a decade of the Grants Challenge, LA2050 held 12 in-person pop-up voting experiences at 11 iconic locations throughout Los Angeles, including the Santa Monica Pier, Dodger Stadium, Griffith Park Observatory, Mariachi Plaza, Leimert Park Plaza, Hollywood Farmers’ Market, Museum of Latin American Art, Theodore Payne Foundation, Los Angeles Central Library, Los Angeles Zoo, and Randy’s Donuts.

For the second year in a row, the top-voted issue was “affordable housing and homelessness,” with 67.5% of participants citing it as a top issue in the “LIVE” category of the annual survey. Income inequality; green space, park access, and trees; support for foster and system-impacted youth; and public transit led in other categories.

The Grants Challenge received a record 615 grant applications from local social impact groups working on the top-polling issues of importance, as selected by voters. The judging committee—made up of social impact leaders and experts in the field and led by Social Justice Partners LA (https://www.sjpla.org/) for the fourth consecutive year—scored all applications and recommended the Goldhirsh Foundation's 15 award recipients.

Working Together

The LA2050 Grants Challenge was founded by the Goldhirsh Foundation, also its lead funder, with additional prizes provided by the funding partners named above. In addition to their direct support of the Grants Challenge, these partners also announced grants to 27 additional organizations at the Grantee Showcase.

"We are proud to be part of the LA2050 Grants Challenge and to support organizations that are making a meaningful impact on the issues that matter most to Angelenos,” stated Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation is committed to building a better Los Angeles for all, and through our partnership with LA2050 and the Goldhirsh Foundation, we are able to contribute to positive change in our community. Congratulations to all the grant recipients who are working tirelessly to create a brighter future for Los Angeles."

"Numerous nonprofit organizations are dedicated to enhancing the Greater Los Angeles region. The Snap Foundation is committed to pioneering programs that pave the way for underrepresented youth to actively participate in the creative economy,” said Joel Arquillos, Executive Director of the Snap Foundation. “By partnering with fellow contributors via the LA2050 initiative, our grants extend their reach, fostering broader access and equity for an even greater number of young individuals and communities throughout the county."

In addition to representatives from all grantees and funding partners, several elected officials from the region attended the Grantee Showcase, including California State Senator Anthony J. Portantino, and Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. In addition, Sam Polk, the CEO of Everytable—an organization invested in by the Goldhirsh Foundation—spoke during the program.

"I congratulate all of the organizations who were awarded funding as part of this year's LA2050 Grants Challenge and thank them for the tireless work they do day-in and day-out to make Los Angeles a more equitable and vibrant city for all,” said Councilmember Hernandez.

In advance of the Grantee Showcase, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said: “I applaud the organizations that are being honored today for their commitment to communities. It truly takes a village to meet the need that exists and to uplift individuals and families.  Community based organizations play a crucial role in our social service systems and I appreciate each and every organization that is represented here today. Your work is impactful — it makes a difference.”

“Los Angeles has shown incredible potential every year of its existence, and the willingness to meet every goal it can conceive for itself by 2050,” said Assemblyman Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson), prior to the Grantee Showcase. “As a proud member of the L.A. delegation to our California Legislature, I’m thrilled to see the success of so many local initiatives—including those receiving major and transformative funding as we conclude the next round of the Goldhirsh Foundation’s LA2050 Grants Challenge. I extend my appreciation to the philanthropic partners making the betterment of our region possible, and congratulate every organization for the incredible work you do on the ground.”

And, recently, California State Senator Caroline Menjivar said: “Burbank and the San Fernando Valley have always leaned on the work of community-based organizations who share a deep appreciation for The Valley. As someone who worked in a nonprofit, and has seen firsthand the support they provide communities, I am honored to celebrate this year’s honorees. Thank you to the LA2050 Grantees who facilitate life-changing opportunities for people to tap into their potential, and to the Goldhirsh Foundation for providing the support these organizations need for success.”

Meet The Grantees

LA2050 is an award-winning initiative that catalyzes the work of leaders making an impact on their communities by supporting, promoting, and amplifying their projects and initiatives. Among other awards, LA2050 has been named Nonprofit Organization of the Year (Growing) by the Los Angeles Business Journal, and has won a 2023 Shorty Award for its email newsletter, and three Telly Awards for social video and branded content.

Since the first LA2050 Grants Challenge in 2013, LA2050 has awarded more than $10 million to 117 organizations and inspired nearly $14 million in additional giving from both official Grants Challenge funding partners and other third-party donors, providing a significant boost to social impact organizations in Los Angeles. More than 680,000 votes have been cast since the start of the process. The complete list is here.

The list of winners in each individual category is as follows, with each organization 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

The below organizations were honored as runners up, receiving $50,000 from the Goldhirsh Foundation:

Birthworkers of Color Collective

LA Voice

Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative

Loyola Marymount University

People’s Pottery Project

The below organizations were honored by the John N. Calley Foundation:

Education Through Music - LA

No Limits Theater

RightWay Foundation

Uncommon Good

The below organizations were honored by the Snap Foundation:

9 Dots

Black Photographers Union

Get Lit - Words Ignite

Harmony Project

Jazz Hands for Autism

Los Angeles Music and Art School

Rainbow Labs

Red Hen Press

Safe Place for Youth

SoLa Foundation

The below organizations were honored by the Elbaz Family Foundation:

Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM)

College Track

Jenesse Center, Inc.

Multiplier

The below organizations were honored by the Hilton Foundation:

First Place for Youth

Flintridge Center

Foster Nation

Para Los Niños

Social Justice Learning Institute

The below organizations were honored by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation:

Boys and Girls Club of Whittier

Concrete Queenz, Inc.

Everybody Dance LA!

RowLA

Information for Media Members

Videos and still images from the LA2050 Grantee Showcase can be provided upon request.

About LA2050

LA2050 (www.la2050.org) is an award-winning initiative driving and tracking progress toward a shared vision for the future of Los Angeles. LA2050 has been named Nonprofit Organization of the Year (Growing) by the Los Angeles Business Journal, and has won a 2023 Shorty Award for its email newsletter and three Telly Awards for social video and branded content. We are centered around five unique goals that in 2050 Los Angeles will be the best place to learn, create, play, connect, and live. Connect with @LA2050 on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and sign up to receive our newsletter, which includes social impact job listings and events.

About the Goldhirsh Foundation

At the Goldhirsh Foundation, (www.goldhirshfoundation.org), we connect the dots between the best emerging innovations and the financial, social, and human capital to make them thrive.

MEDIA RESOURCES: https://la2050.org/press

🎥 Watch the full playlist of videos from the LA2050 Grantee Showcase here.