Weingart Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $33.9 million (2024)
Total Assets: ~$831 million
Decision Time: Board meets 5 times per year
Grant Range: $25,000 - $400,000 (most grants); U.O.S. grants $50,000 - $200,000 over two years
Geographic Focus: Five Southern California counties (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura)
Application Method: Invitation-only

Contact Details

Website: www.weingartfnd.org Email: info@weingartfnd.org Phone: 213-688-7799 Address: Los Angeles, CA

Pre-Application Support: Nonprofits are encouraged to contact program officers to establish communication and learn about alignment with foundation priorities, though applications are only accepted by invitation.

Overview

Founded in 1951 by Ben and Stella Weingart (originally as the B.W. Foundation), the Weingart Foundation has distributed more than $1 billion in grants and loans across Southern California since its inception. With approximately $831 million in assets, the foundation awarded $33.9 million in grants in 2024 to 147 nonprofit partners, along with $23 million in impact investments. The foundation underwent significant strategic evolution beginning in 2020, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the murder of George Floyd by increasing its grant payout by $16 million and shifting to an invitation-only process to better support BIPOC-led organizations. Under the leadership of President and CEO Joanna S. Jackson (appointed June 2024), the foundation's mission focuses squarely on advancing racial, social, and economic justice in Southern California, with particular attention to anti-Black racism and building power in historically under-resourced communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Unrestricted Operating Support (U.O.S.) - $50,000 to $200,000 over two years The foundation's primary vehicle for supporting nonprofit capacity and long-term effectiveness. On an invite-only basis, provides flexible, multi-year unrestricted support to nonprofits, collaboratives, and coalitions demonstrating interest and ability to strengthen organizational effectiveness. Multi-year unrestricted operating support makes up the overwhelming majority of their grantmaking.

General Operating Grants - $25,000 to $400,000 Most grants typically range from $25,000 to $400,000 for organizations advancing racial, social, and economic justice across the five-county service area.

Program-Related Investments (P.R.I.) - Varies Below-market, flexible financing aligned with the foundation's focus on advancing racial, social, and economic justice. In 2024, the foundation committed over $23 million in impact investments.

Application Method: Invitation-only process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests but welcomes communication from nonprofits to inform their strategies. Organizations invited to apply use an online portal, with instructions sent via email.

Priority Areas

Geographic Areas of Special Interest:

South Los Angeles
Southeast Los Angeles (historically under-resourced communities)

Issue-Based Areas of Special Interest:

Housing Justice: Supporting efforts to address housing inequity and homelessness
Immigrant/Refugee Rights and Integration: Nearly 40% of recent grants focused on immigrant justice, including significant capital grants
Strengthening Nonprofit Effectiveness: Building organizational infrastructure and long-term capacity

Strategic Priorities:

Strengthening communities
Building power in communities most harmed by inequities
Advancing equitable and just systems
Addressing systemic racism, particularly anti-Black racism
Supporting BIPOC-led organizations (98% of recent grants went to organizations led by people of color)
Supporting collaboratives and coalitions advancing racial justice

Community Focus: The foundation provides support to organizations that build community power or provide critical services in Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian and other communities most impacted by racial and socioeconomic inequity.

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation does not publish a traditional exclusions list, the following are not eligible:

Organizations outside the five-county service area (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties)
Organizations not focused on advancing racial, social, and economic justice in communities of color
Unsolicited applications - The foundation uses an invitation-only process
Organizations not aligned with racial equity lens - Since 2016, all grantmaking has been conducted through racial equity and immigration justice lenses

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Joanna S. Jackson - Appointed June 7, 2024. Jackson worked at the foundation for 15 years before being promoted from within. She brings a commitment to transformative philanthropy and structural change.

Key Quotes from Leadership:

"How do we use philanthropy to have transformative impact? And structural, long-term, systemic change that will get us to justice? That is what Weingart has been willing to lean into." - Joanna Jackson
"Trusting your partners means being humble enough to learn alongside them." - Joanna Jackson
"We Don't Have to Keep Doing the Routine Thing" - Jackson on her philosophy (Chronicle of Philanthropy interview title)

Board of Directors:

Chair: Dr. Robert K. Ross - President & CEO (retired), The California Endowment

Trustees:

William C. Allen - President & CEO (retired), Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation
Monica C. Lozano - President & CEO (retired), College Futures Foundation
Katie Nguyen Kalvoda - Founder & CEO, G3 Ventures
Helen Torres - CEO, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE)

Governance: The Board of Directors meets five times annually to make decisions regarding grant applications. Board governance and the role and function of each applicant's governing board is an important element of the review process.

Previous Leadership: Miguel Santana served as President and CEO from January 2021 to June 2024. Fred Ali led the foundation from 1999-2020.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Invitation-Only Process: The foundation currently uses an invitation-only process to reduce burden on applicants and expedite funds to organizations strongly aligned with their focus areas. Unsolicited requests for funding are not accepted for any program, including the Strategic Opportunity Fund or Program Related Investment (P.R.I.) Fund.

Communication Encouraged: While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, they welcome communication with nonprofits to inform and strengthen their strategies. Interested organizations should contact program officers (not Board members) to establish relationships and learn about alignment.

Contact Information: (213) 688-7799 or through their website at weingartfnd.org. Organizations can also sign up for their newsletter for updates.

Application Portal: Organizations invited to apply receive an email with instructions to access the online application portal.

Application Process Steps:

Program staff engage in conversation with invited organizations to understand their work, infrastructure needs, goals, and how Weingart support would be useful
Staff engage in collective discussion to develop recommendations to the CEO and Board of Directors
Board reviews applications at one of five annual meetings
Applicants can contact foundation staff for status updates

Reporting Requirements: The foundation strives to minimize burden and maximize flexibility, structuring application and reporting requirements commensurate with grant amounts. They proactively engage in conversations to determine full cost of administering and delivering programs and services.

Decision Timeline

Board Meetings: The Board of Directors meets five times per year to make grant decisions. The learning agenda is also anchored to quarterly board meetings.

Review Process: Applications undergo staff review and deliberation before being presented to the CEO and Board. Specific timeframes from invitation to decision are not publicly disclosed, but applicants are encouraged to contact staff for status updates.

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation's invitation-only model suggests that invited organizations have high alignment with priorities. In 2024, the foundation made 501 awards; in 2023, 570 awards; and in 2022, 768 awards.

Recent Grant Demographics:

98% of recent grants went to organizations led by people of color
Nearly one-quarter were awarded to first-time grantees
Two-thirds of March 2024 grants supported first-time grantees, primarily BIPOC-led organizations with budgets under $1 million
Over 72% of funds provide unrestricted operating support

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not detailed on the foundation's website. Given the invitation-only process, continuing relationships and multi-year support are central to their strategy. Organizations are encouraged to maintain communication with program officers.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Multi-Year Relationships: The foundation prioritizes multi-year, unrestricted operating support as their primary grant strategy, reflecting their commitment to long-term organizational effectiveness rather than project-based funding.

Organizational Infrastructure: The foundation emphasizes strengthening nonprofit infrastructure and capacity. They proactively discuss full costs of administering and delivering programs and services.

BIPOC Leadership: The foundation strongly prioritizes organizations led by people of color, with 98% of recent grants going to BIPOC-led organizations.

Small to Mid-Sized Organizations: Recent grant patterns show significant support for organizations with budgets under $1 million, particularly first-time grantees.

Collaboration: Support for collaboratives and coalitions is central to their strategy, including significant investments in initiatives like the California Black Freedom Fund and the Black Equity Initiative of the Inland Empire.

Direct Advice from the Foundation:

Establish communication with program officers before seeking an invitation
Focus on racial, social, and economic justice alignment
Demonstrate organizational effectiveness and capacity-building goals
Be prepared to discuss infrastructure needs openly
Understand that the foundation values humility and learning alongside partners

Recent Grant Examples

December 2024 Grants ($10.7 million to 43 organizations):

$3 million capital grant to The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
Nearly 40% focused on immigrant justice
98% to organizations led by people of color
Nearly 25% to first-time grantees

July 2024 Grants ($3.9 million to 28 partners):

Immigrant justice
Housing justice
Disability justice
Economic justice
Black justice

March 2024 Grants ($3.9 million to 25 organizations):

Two-thirds to first-time grantees
Primarily BIPOC-led organizations
Focus on organizations with budgets under $1 million

Language and Terminology

The foundation uses specific terminology that reflects their values:

"Advancing racial, social, and economic justice" (core mission)
"Building power" in communities
"Structural racism" and "systemic change"
"Anti-Black racism" (specific focus)
"BIPOC-led organizations"
"Unrestricted operating support" (U.O.S.)
"Program-related investments" (P.R.I.)
"Impact investments"
"Collaboratives and coalitions"

Standing Out

Alignment with Priorities: Demonstrate clear connection to racial, social, and economic justice work in Southern California's five-county region.

Geographic Focus: Organizations working in South Los Angeles or Southeast Los Angeles (geographic areas of special interest) may receive priority consideration.

Issue Alignment: Projects addressing housing justice, immigrant/refugee rights and integration, or strengthening nonprofit effectiveness align with current special interest areas.

Community Leadership: Organizations led by and serving Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian communities are prioritized.

Infrastructure Development: Articulate how unrestricted operating support would strengthen organizational effectiveness and long-term capacity.

Systemic Approach: Frame work in terms of addressing systemic inequities and structural racism rather than just symptoms.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only process means relationship building is essential - Establish communication with program officers early, even without current funding opportunity, to build awareness of your organization and mission alignment.
Racial justice lens is non-negotiable - Since 2016, all grantmaking is conducted through racial equity and immigration justice lenses. Your work must explicitly advance racial, social, and economic justice.
Think infrastructure, not just programs - The foundation's preference for multi-year unrestricted operating support signals their interest in building strong organizations, not just funding specific projects. Emphasize organizational capacity and effectiveness.
BIPOC leadership matters significantly - With 98% of recent grants to organizations led by people of color, leadership demographics are clearly important to the foundation's strategy.
Geographic specificity counts - Must operate in one of the five Southern California counties, with preference for South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles.
Small organizations have strong opportunity - Recent grant patterns show significant investment in first-time grantees and organizations with budgets under $1 million, especially BIPOC-led groups.
Long-term partnership approach - The foundation values learning alongside partners and provides multi-year support, suggesting they seek committed, ongoing relationships rather than one-time funding.

References

Weingart Foundation Official Website - "What We Do" - https://weingartfnd.org/what-we-do/ - Accessed November 2024
Weingart Foundation - "Mission, Values and Practice" - https://weingartfnd.org/mission-values-and-practice/ - Accessed November 2024
Weingart Foundation - "F.A.Q." - https://weingartfnd.org/f-a-q/ - Accessed November 2024
Weingart Foundation - "For Grant Seekers" - https://weingartfnd.org/for-grant-seekers/ - Accessed November 2024
Weingart Foundation - "U.O.S. (Unrestricted Operating Support)" - https://weingartfnd.org/u-o-s/ - Accessed November 2024
Weingart Foundation - "Board of Directors" - https://weingartfnd.org/board-of-directors/ - Accessed November 2024
Weingart Foundation - "Foundation Staff" - https://weingartfnd.org/foundation-staff/ - Accessed November 2024
Weingart Foundation - "The Weingart Foundation Awards $10.7M to Organizations Advancing Racial Justice and Inclusive Systems Change" - https://weingartfnd.org/the-weingart-foundation-awards-10-7m-to-organizations-advacing-racial-justice-and-inclusive-systems-change/ - Accessed November 2024
Inside Philanthropy - "Weingart Foundation Profile" - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/california-los-angeles-grants/weingart-foundation - Accessed November 2024
Chronicle of Philanthropy - "Joanna Jackson, Weingart Foundation: 'We Don't Have to Keep Doing the Routine Thing'" - https://www.philanthropy.com/article/joanna-jackson-weingart-foundation-we-dont-have-to-keep-doing-the-routine-thing - Accessed November 2024
Inside Philanthropy - "Five Questions for Weingart Foundation President and CEO Joanna S. Jackson" - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/five-questions-for-weingart-foundation-president-and-ceo-joanna-s-jackson - Accessed November 2024
Liberty Hill Foundation - "Q&A with Joanna Jackson at The Weingart Foundation" - https://www.libertyhill.org/news/newsletter/foundations-digest/qa-with-joanna-jackson-at-the-weingart-foundation/ - Accessed November 2024
Weingart Foundation - "F.Y. 2021 Program Plan" - https://weingartfnd.org/f-y-2021-program-plan/ - Accessed November 2024
Weingart Foundation - "F.Y. 2022 Program Plan" - https://weingartfnd.org/f-y-2022-program-plan/ - Accessed November 2024
InfluenceWatch - "Weingart Foundation" - https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/weingart-foundation/ - Accessed November 2024
Instrumentl - "Weingart Foundation 990 Report" - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/weingart-foundation - Accessed November 2024
Weingart Foundation - "March 2024 Grant and Impact Investing Highlights" - https://weingartfnd.org/march-2024-grant-and-impact-investing-highlights/ - Accessed November 2024
Weingart Foundation - "June 2023 Grant and Impact Investing Highlights" - https://weingartfnd.org/june-2023-grant-and-impact-investing-highlights/ - Accessed November 2024