Apply for a Grant

The Los Angeles Giving Circle nurtures connections with our grantees that go beyond financial support during the granting period, so that we can provide help whenever and however it is needed.

We have a two-step application process: 

Step 1 is to fill out a brief letter of interest at this link

Step 2 is by invitation only.  Those organizations judged a mission match and most competitive will be invited to apply for a grant.

If you’ve been invited to apply for a grant, apply here:  https://form.jotform.com/250445957136159

Note that we only fund organizations and/or programs that exclusively serve self identified women and/or girls.

Our Grantee Selection Process

Below is brief overview of how we determine which nonprofits we provide grants to and what amount. For further details, please read more in our FAQ’s below.

Check Grantee Eligibility

Our grants go to nonprofits that help self-identified women and girls from under-served communities in Los Angeles achieve self-sufficient sustainable lives. To inquire about a grant, please fill out a letter of interest at this link so that we can determine if your nonprofit is eligible. 

RFP and Proposal Review

Organizations that pre-qualify and are judged competitive will be sent a request for proposal (RFP). The RFP is by invitation only. After reviewing the proposals, our members will decide which applicants are selected for Site Visits.

Conduct Site Visits

During Site Visits, a small group of LAGC members will meet with prospective grantees (leadership and often some of the women/girls served) to tour grantee facilities and learn more about the requested grant. Based on site visit reports, finalists will be selected.

 
 

Final Selection

Following presentations to the full membership by finalist organizations’ Executive Directors, LAGC members vote to select the grantees who will be awarded LAGC funds

 
 
 

“The LA Giving Circle’s relationship with CodeTalk goes deep. The sustained and meaningful support has left an indelible mark on CodeTalk. The LA Giving Circle’s support came before we could prove it would work.

That faith in the work that CodeTalk was doing enabled us to realize extraordinary potential, going beyond typical results for job training programs and changing lives in the process.”

— Sharon Plunkett, Director of Social Innovation, St. Joseph Center

Any questions?

 

If you have any questions regarding the LA Giving Circle, grantee eligibility, our timeline, or our application process, please reach out to us for further details and information.

Contact Us

 FAQs

 

  • The LAGC begins its research in September of each year to identify organizations that are a mission match for consideration for further review by LAGC Membership during the grant cycle.

    • October – January: LAGC Grants Committee reviews prospective grantee organizations for LAGC mission match in advance of the start of the new year/new grant cycle. 10-12 organizations are selected to receive RFP.

    • January – February: The 10-12 selected non-profits are sent full Request for Proposals (RFP).

    • February - April: LAGC Squads review proposals, conduct site visits and present their recommendations to full membership.

    • April – Executive Directors of the finalist organizations give their final presentations to the full LAGC Membership.

      Members then vote and determine the organizations to receive the LAGC grants.

    • May - Celebration with new Grantees.

    • By July 1st - Grantees receive funds.

    For fuller details on our award timeline, check out our LAGC Granting Criteria and Process for Grantee Selection document.

  • An alignment with the LAGC mission and values are the most important thresholds that an organization must meet to be considered.

    Secondarily, the LAGC is a giving circle with funds accumulated primarily through membership donations. It does not compete with the size of foundation and/or corporate giving. With this in mind the LAGC strongly considers those organizations where we can make the most impact with the size of the award.

    For full details on mission alignment and causes we’d support, please refer to our LAGC Granting Criteria and Process for Grantee Selection document.

  • If you are interested in a grant, please fill out a brief letter of interest at https://form.jotform.com/252106010409138 to give us a brief overview of your mission and intended use for the grant.  

    If we determine that you are eligible, we will send you an email inviting you to complete online application form.

    For fuller details on eligibility criteria, please refer to our Granting Criteria here: Granting Criteria.

  • Our grants go to those organizations that have life-changing positive impacts on women and girls served. Examples include:

    • A young girl receives mentorship that helps her to go to college

    • A woman of domestic violence receives support to become financially independent

    • An after-school program spikes a young girl’s interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)

    • A women is trained in non-traditional work that spring boards her to and past a living wage

    • A woman and her family are moved from a homeless shelter to a sustainable, independent and safe living space.

    To learn more about our values, check out our About Us page to learn more.

    For more details on grantee eligibility, check out our LAGC Granting Criteria and Process for Grantee Selection document.

  • The on-line form asks you to respond to questions about your proposal. (At the completion of the online form, you will be asked to attach the following:

    1. Two-three page proposal narrative for the program for which you are requesting funding, with specific attention to the following issues:

    a. Background. A brief description of your organization’s history, your most recent successes and the current and future challenges you foresee.

    b. Core Problem Addressed: What is the specific problem you are addressing in the program and with this request?

    c. Program description: What does or will the program do? How does or will it operate?

    d. Expected Impact: How does the proposed program help to solve the problem? What impact will it have on the target audience and/or community(ies) your organization serves? How will you know?

    e. Uniqueness: What is special about your approach to the problem? What makes you more likely to be more successful than other organizations serving a similar need?

    f. Narrative budget for use of LAGC funds: Note the total funds you are requesting and briefly indicate what specifically the funds will be used for. If the funding will be used to support a specific augmentation to the current program (e.g., a half- time counselor, special equipment), please so indicate.

    2. Total Program Budget for the program for which you are requesting support

    3. Board Roster

    4. Most recent Federal Form 990

    5. Most recent board-approved audited financial statement.

  • The LAGC grants up to $25,000, or up to a maximum of 50% of prior year revenues.