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Earlier this month, LA2050, an initiative of the Goldhirsh Foundation, hosted 

, an interactive seminar that aimed to equip nonprofit leaders and staff with practical artificial intelligence skills to enhance their work.

AI, especially as related to ethics and community impact, is a topic the Goldhirsh Foundation has been tracking since 2019. 

The recent gathering, held March 12 at LA Más Headquarters, was led by 

, AI executive in residence at the Goldhirsh Foundation. 48 nonprofit leaders and staff members from past and current winners of the 

With a focus on real-world applications, 

 guided participants through the use of AI tools for research, impact measurement, data analysis, donor engagement, and more. Attendees engaged in hands-on exercises, including learning how to train a marketing-focus GPT using their own data. The training concluded with a breakout discussion exploring innovative AI applications in the nonprofit sector, along with a demo of the newest tools for research and agentic task completion.

Here are five key takeaways from the training that all nonprofit professionals should know, as shared by García:

Keep responsible AI top of mind, especially sustainability.

 Having access to AI tools has the potential to supercharge nonprofits, but conscious energy use should drive all queries.

Ethical AI use includes considering critical thinking implications and staff development.

 In order to retain critical thinking skills and support the development of your junior staff’s skills, carefully decide when to leverage AI tools and when to forgo them.

AI tools with voice mode can help you ideate program development and more.

 With an AI tool’s voice mode, discuss an idea that you’d like feedback on before presenting it to your staff or Board. Prompt the AI tool to ask you clarifying questions one-by-one to refine your idea, and then to analyze the pros and cons critically.

 Also known as “human in the loop,” a thorough review of each AI tools’ output is needed to not only ensure accuracy, but also your intention and voice.

Workflows often include layering several AI tools.

 No perfect, go-to tool exists, so get creative with your workflows and use the best tool for each task. This is also known as your “tech stack” of AI tools.

 (standing) works with participants. Bottom: Three participants converse during the event.

5 Key Takeaways: AI Tools Training for Nonprofits

Public Voting Begins Today at LA2050.org; Philanthropic Funding to Follow

This is the 12th edition of the Goldhirsh Foundation’s LA2050 Grants Challenge. Nearly 900,000 votes have been cast and $27 million distributed to impactful organizations

LOS ANGELES (March 12, 2025) — Today, 

 in the innovative, participatory LA2050 Grants Challenge, an annual project of the Goldhirsh Foundation.

The 2025 LA2050 Grants Challenge will award a projected $3 million to dozens of impactful Los Angeles County organizations. $1 million comes from the Goldhirsh Foundation for the issues chosen during the voting period by the people of Los Angeles.

The additional dollars come from a coalition of philanthropic funding partners – a group that already includes the Annenberg Foundation, Snap Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, John N. Calley Foundation, Elbaz Family Foundation, R&S Kayne Foundation, and Fox Foundation.

The theme for the 2025 LA2050 Grants Challenge is 

These words were chosen prior to the fires that devastated local neighborhoods – but not our communities, nor our collective spirit and will,” said Tara Roth, president of the Goldhirsh Foundation. “The idea of ‘togetherness,’ and of Angelenos everywhere caring for each other has never been more necessary.”

How Does the 2025 LA2050 Grants Challenge Work?

First, Angelenos vote online for the issues that matter most to them. Voting takes place March 12 through April 18 at 

, open to all ages and available in 12+ languages. There are five questions on the survey, which takes as little as two minutes to complete.

Then, between April 28 and June 6, grant applications are open to nonprofits, social enterprises, and government agencies with ideas to address the 10 top-voted issues, as well as additional issues sponsored by the various funding partners.

Next, all of the proposals are carefully evaluated. Then, in late September during the annual 

, dozens of winning organizations receive up to $75,000 in grant funding, as well as ongoing social capital support and skills training.

The LA2050 Grants Challenge is also a collaboration with hundreds of Outreach Partners and LA2050 Youth Ambassadors, who are committed to engaging their communities in the voting process.

More than 60 Outreach Partners have signed on, including nonprofits and other impact organizations, family foundations, and the offices of local elected officials. A record-breaking 323 LA2050 Youth Ambassadors are on board, including a Leadership Council of 28 members, representing a wide range of ZIP codes across Los Angeles County. Throughout a six-month period, Youth Ambassadors receive training from LA2050 staff in areas such as community impact, advocacy, and philanthropy.

Each of the eight foundations joining this year’s LA2050 Grants Challenge launch are returning members of the coalition. The longest ongoing collaboration is with the Annenberg Foundation, now in its 10th year.

“The Annenberg Foundation is glad to team once again with the Goldhirsh Foundation and our partners in L.A. philanthropy to improve on issues that are most important to Angelenos,” said Cinny Kennard, executive director of the Annenberg Foundation. “LA2050 is one of the best vehicles for supporting and building social capital among nonprofits and organizations doing work daily across a range of issues, which is at the heart of our community grantmaking.”

The Snap Foundation is an LA2050 Grants Challenge funding partner for the sixth consecutive year. "At Snap Foundation, we believe in investing in bold ideas and organizations that uplift and empower communities, especially young people, to thrive," said Executive Director Joel Arquillos. “We’re proud to stand alongside other funders to help bring these solutions to life - because when we work together, Los Angeles moves forward."

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation is also back again as an LA2050 Grants Challenge funding partner. “We envision a city where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and that starts with collaborating with grassroots organizations and civic leaders to address Angelenos’ most pressing problems," said Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “For the third consecutive year, we’re proud to uplift Los Angeles through this effort and look forward to the collective impact we’ll make.”

The R&S Kayne Foundation is an LA2050 Grants Challenge funding partner for the second consecutive year. "We operate from a place of inquiry to support meaningful collaboration. If we are stewarding resources as movement partners then we must work together. We maintain a spirit of 'do with, not for' at R&S Kayne Foundation," said Managing Director Sarah Ali. "Together, with Goldhirsh Foundation and a coalition of funders, we work to ensure LA is a place of possibility, connection, and one day, an exemplar for multi-generational economic empowerment and community health."

LA2050 Grants Challenge History and a Detail About Disaster Preparedness

Since the advent of the LA2050 Grants Challenge, the Goldhirsh Foundation has given $11 million to 155 local social impact organizations, with the help of 890,000 online votes. 

. For many, the LA2050 Grants Challenge provided the organization’s first funds, or the first significant public airing of their ideas.

Another $16 million has been contributed through the LA2050 Grants Challenge, for a grand total of $27 million since 2013. That’s $9.5 million+ additional funding provided to applicants by LA2050’s funding partners, and $6.5 million of giving known to be inspired by the LA2050 Grants Challenge.

During the 2024 LA2050 Grants Challenge, 15,000 Angelenos representing 98 percent of LA County ZIP codes cast more than 105,000 votes. For the third consecutive year, housing and homelessness was the top-voted issue. Health care access; community safety; and green space, park access, and trees were among 

 from a list of 31 options, divided into five categories.

Also, for the third consecutive year, disaster preparedness received the least amount of votes, out of all the 31 issues. With the recent fires, will disaster preparedness receive more attention in 2025? Voting updates and a final tally will be available at LA2050.org and @LA2050 on Instagram.

) is an initiative driving and tracking progress toward a shared vision for the future of Los Angeles. 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, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and 

 to receive our newsletter, which includes social impact job listings and events.

), we connect the dots between the best emerging innovations and the financial, social, and human capital to make them thrive.

What Issues Matter Most to the People of Los Angeles? 

We are excited to announce that 330 young Angelenos, ages 14 to 24, have joined the fourth cohort of the LA2050 Youth Ambassador program!

This year, we’re introducing a two-tiered model to the program – continuing with our General Cohort and adding a new Leadership Council for deeper engagement.

Our 300 General Cohort Youth Ambassadors are tasked with helping spread the word about voting in the 2025 LA2050 Grants Challenge to friends, family, and neighbors. In return, they learn about philanthropy, gain valuable insight into our local impact sector, and receive hands-on training in outreach. Participants will also earn certificates and have the chance to win prizes up to $500.

Additionally, we have selected 28 outstanding participants to serve as Youth Ambassador Leaders. Leaders participate in all of the General Cohort activities outlined above and also take on extra responsibilities, including mentoring peers, evaluating grant applications, and completing a group project. Each receives a $500 volunteer gift, reflecting their increased commitment

Together, our Youth Ambassadors represent more than 145 communities across the Los Angeles region, from Altadena to Agoura Hills, Bellflower to Santa Clarita, Echo Park to Sun Valley. These middle and high school students, college students, and young professionals share a passion for community service and a drive to learn how to make an impact.

We look forward to seeing what this year’s LA2050 Youth Ambassador cohort accomplishes through the 

 and beyond! We’ll be posting more with and about them in the months ahead.

LA2050 Blog

Meet the 330 Awesome Angelenos Serving as LA2050 Youth Ambassadors!