Open call for grant applications!

The LA2050 Grants Challenge is an open call for ideas to make Los Angeles the best place to learn, create, play, connect, and live. A total of $1 million will be awarded among 15 organizations to implement their ideas to address the issues that Angelenos care most about. Additional grants will also be awarded from this year's Funding Partners, including the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Snap Foundation, John N. Calley Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Elbaz Family Foundation, and others.

LA2050 will also commit to a one-year partnership with the winners – leveraging its resources, assets, and networks to help the projects succeed. Together, the winning organizations, LA2050, and Angelenos will make progress for the region that will change the course of our future.

This year's LA2050 Grants Challenge will unfold in three phases:

First, we asked Angelenos to vote for the issues that matter most to them, online from April 6th to May 8th, 2023.

Next, we will announce the top-voted issues on May 15th, 2023 and open grant applications to organizations working in those areas.

Finally, we will evaluate all of the proposals in collaboration with SJP Los Angeles and, along with our Funding Partners, award this year's grants on September 28th, 2023.

We want to know what matters to YOU!

Online voting is now closed. It took place between Thursday, April 6th, 2023 and Monday, May 8th, 2023.

Any person, of any age, in the United States is eligible to vote. Voting is available in 11 of Los Angeles County's most popular languages: English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Armenian, Russian, Tagalog, Thai, and French.

Applications are open now, online at this link.

We accept applications from registered non-profit, for-profit, fiscally-sponsored, or governmental organizations serving Los Angeles County and its residents. Both new or existing projects, programs, or initiatives are eligible for funding, as long as your work impacts one or more of this year's issue areas.

We’re open! But here are some ideas about what we’re looking for:

• Bold ideas that will produce measurable wins for the LA region
• A spirit of collaboration and desire to unify and amplify collective efforts
• A clear focus on inclusion, diversity of voices, and equity
• Efforts that not only produce positive results, but are also focused on increasing local engagement and civic participation
• A desire to test new strategies

Both new and existing projects, programs, or initiatives are eligible for submission. All winning projects must be completed, and the grant award must be expended, within 12 months of receipt of funds. There are no limitations on administrative or operational expenses.

We do not take phone calls or individual meetings during this time due to the number of inquiries we receive.

During the application period (May 15th to June 23rd, 2023), we will host several virtual information sessions for those interested in submitting a proposal. Stay tuned!

We are happy to answer your questions any time via email at connect@la2050.org.

Beyond the potential to receive a grant for your work, we believe that applying to the challenge will provide additional benefits including:

• The opportunity to participate in a first-of-its-kind regional effort
• Increased awareness and exposure via our public platform
• Increased understanding of LA’s social impact landscape
• The opportunity to cultivate and build new relationships with peers
• The chance to build a coalition of committed Angelenos and organizations to support important work in LA
• The opportunity to learn how to tell a compelling story about your organization’s impact
• Inspiring the creation of videos, photos, tweets, and pithy messaging to promote your proposal
• Visibility in front of other foundations and potential alternative funding sources—past challenges have resulted in more than $6.5 million in grants from outside funders using the LA2050 platform for their grantmaking
• ‘Volunteer’ and ‘Donate’ buttons on each submission page to drive resources to your organization
• A page on our Ideas Hub, a database of all organizations that have applied to the LA2050 Grants Challenge and their proposals