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The Herb Alpert Foundation

Annual Giving
$9.8M
Grant Range
$3K - $1.4M

The Herb Alpert Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,819,700 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $33.3 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $3,000 - $1,400,000
  • Median Grant: $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Los Angeles County (some national grants)
  • Application Method: Invitation only

Contact Details

Address: 1414 6th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Phone: (818) 528-3545

Website: herbalpertfoundation.org

Overview

Established in 1988 by legendary trumpet player Herb Alpert and singer Lani Hall, the Herb Alpert Foundation has distributed over $200 million in grants since its inception. With assets of $33.3 million and annual giving of approximately $9.8 million through 92 grants (2023), the foundation creates opportunities that enable people of all ages and socioeconomic levels to harness their creativity, develop their talents, and lead more productive and fulfilling lives. The foundation's mission centers on the belief that "the arts have the unique ability to transform lives and allow us to recognize our shared humanity." Since the mid-2000s, the foundation narrowed its focus from broader health and environmental causes to concentrate on arts and compassion/well-being for greater impact. President Rona Sebastian, who has led the foundation since 2004, oversees all areas of funding and program development.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Herb Alpert Award in the Arts: $75,000 unrestricted prizes annually to 10 mid-career artists (one winner per discipline), plus residency at CalArts

  • Disciplines: Dance, Film/Video, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts
  • By nomination only

Arts Education: Grants ranging from $20,000 to $100,000, with major endowments reaching into the millions

  • Support for programs ensuring children of all backgrounds have early opportunities to encounter the arts
  • Programs at all education levels and community programs for vulnerable and at-risk children and youth

Focus on Jazz: Grants supporting jazz education, history, appreciation, and performance venues

  • Aims to educate children about jazz as a uniquely American art form
  • Support for venues that keep jazz audiences growing

Support to Professionals: Unrestricted support to mid-career artists

  • Focus on artists "pushing the boundaries of their craft"
  • Artists who have "taken the road less traveled"

Compassion & Well-Being: Grants supporting human services for individuals and families in need

  • Emergency relief and community development priorities
  • Support for organizations helping individuals find their sense of agency

Priority Areas

  • Arts education programs in underserved communities
  • Jazz education, performance, and preservation
  • Mid-career artists across five disciplines
  • Programs promoting compassion, empathy, and cooperation
  • Organizations ready to take on activities at a new level of complexity or commitment
  • Innovative founders moving forward in their work

What They Don't Fund

  • International programs (domestic only)
  • Direct grants to individuals (except through specific award programs)
  • Organizations outside the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt category
  • Unsolicited proposals from organizations not already on their radar

Governance and Leadership

Founders: Herb Alpert and Lani Hall

President: Rona Sebastian (since 2004) - Defines, plans and administers the foundation's areas of funding and program development

Key Philosophy from Leadership:

Herb Alpert on his approach: "I just do what I can as an individual," noting that "most of my giving is knee-jerk" based on intuitive responses rather than data-driven analysis.

On artistic selection: "It's all about the feel, the magic thing you can't put your finger on." The foundation seeks artists "trying to express themselves in the most honest way. Those are the ones that have the 'ah' moment."

On mid-career artists: "They're the ones I'm attracted to. They've taken the road less traveled."

Rona Sebastian on the foundation's impact: The organization has distributed $190 million to date, with "the amount of his personal wealth he has used to help other people is really astronomical."

On supporting artists: "Support to artists, whose voices are the heart and soul of our democracy, has always been important to Herb and Lani."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are by invitation only. The foundation explicitly states on their FAQ page: "We do not accept or respond to unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry."

The foundation's work is focused on specific priority areas of interest, and decisions for funding are made based on research conducted by foundation staff. Staff proactively identify organizations aligned with the foundation's mission rather than reviewing external applications.

For those seeking arts funding, the foundation recommends exploring alternative resources through:

  • Southern California Grantmakers
  • Candid (Foundation Directory)
  • Center for Nonprofit Management

The Herb Alpert Award in the Arts operates through a separate nomination process administered by CalArts. Individual artists cannot apply directly but can be nominated by qualified nominators.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grantmaking approach is highly relational and staff-driven. Foundation President Rona Sebastian and her team conduct research to identify potential grantees. Based on the foundation's documented grant history, organizations most likely to receive consideration:

  • Have established track records in arts education, jazz, or compassion/well-being programs in Los Angeles County
  • Demonstrate innovative approaches or readiness to scale to a new level of impact
  • Align with the foundation's philosophical emphasis on authenticity, creativity, and direct impact
  • Operate programs serving underserved communities or vulnerable populations
  • Maintain strong connections to the Los Angeles arts and nonprofit ecosystem

The foundation tends to make "seed monies to move innovative founders forward in their work, or as incremental support to a more established organization that is ready to take on activities at a new level of complexity or commitment."

Notable past grantees include P.S. ARTS, Los Angeles City College, UCLA, CalArts, 18th Street Arts Center, The Actors' Gang, and Angel City Jazz Festival.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, timeline varies based on the foundation's research and outreach process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only model. Organizations cannot submit applications or reapplications.

Application Success Factors

Since this is an invitation-only funder, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, analysis of their funded projects reveals what attracts the foundation's attention:

Authenticity and Artistic Vision: Herb Alpert emphasizes "feel" over metrics, seeking organizations and artists "trying to express themselves in the most honest way." The foundation rejects spreadsheet-driven approaches in favor of intuitive assessment of artistic merit and social impact.

Mid-Career Focus: The foundation specifically targets mid-career artists and organizations that have proven themselves but haven't yet achieved widespread recognition - those who have "taken the road less traveled."

Los Angeles Roots: Approximately two-thirds of grantees are based in greater Los Angeles. Strong ties to LA's arts and nonprofit community significantly increase visibility to foundation staff.

Catalytic Potential: The foundation favors grants that serve as "seed monies" for innovation or help established organizations reach "a new level of complexity or commitment." Examples include the $1 million challenge grant to P.S. ARTS to establish their first endowment and the $10.1 million endowment to Los Angeles City College providing tuition-free attendance for all music majors.

Jazz and Arts Education for Underserved Communities: Organizations working at the intersection of jazz education and access for underserved youth align strongly with Herb Alpert's personal passion. His quote - "I was a very shy eight year old...the trumpet could do my talking for me" - reflects his deep belief in music's transformative power.

Compassion and Agency: In the Compassion & Well-Being program, the foundation prioritizes "restoring individuals' and families' abilities to stand independently" and helping people find their "sense of agency."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Do not submit unsolicited proposals - the foundation will not review them and explicitly states this on their website
  • Focus on building visibility within the Los Angeles arts community if you're doing work aligned with the foundation's priorities
  • Mid-career and ready-to-scale organizations are most attractive - not startups or fully established national organizations
  • Authenticity over polish - the foundation values genuine artistic vision and "feel" over data-driven presentations
  • Major institutional commitments are possible - the foundation has made gifts ranging from $3,000 to $1.4 million, with several multi-million dollar endowments to educational institutions
  • Geographic focus matters - while some national grants are made, Los Angeles County receives priority
  • Jazz education and arts access for vulnerable youth are particularly strong areas of interest
  • Connection to Herb Alpert's personal story - organizations whose work reflects themes of using art to find voice, support underserved communities, and promote authentic expression resonate with the founder's values

References

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