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Collingwood Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.3M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.2M

Collingwood Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,305,000
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $200,000
  • Median Grant: $25,000
  • Number of Grants: Approximately 40 annually
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Los Angeles and Southern California, with some national grants
  • Foundation Assets: $16,301,695

Contact Details

Address: 1925 Century Park East, 16th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067

Note: The foundation does not maintain a website, public email, or phone contact. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Collingwood Foundation was established in 1994 as a California private foundation. The foundation's major donor is Daniel H. Renberg, a California businessman, financier, and philanthropist who passed away in January 2014. The foundation is led by Eugene Kapaloski, Renberg's partner of 53 years, who serves as President, Secretary, and Treasurer on a voluntary basis without compensation. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on LGBTQ services, medical and health services and research, and legal/civil rights services. Kapaloski and Renberg were recognized with the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 for their sustained commitment to LGBTQ equality. The foundation maintains a low public profile and operates without formal staff, making strategic grants to established organizations advancing LGBTQ rights, health equity, and civil liberties.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants in three primary areas:

LGBTQ Services and Advocacy ($1,000 - $200,000)

  • Direct service organizations supporting LGBTQ communities
  • LGBTQ civil rights and legal advocacy organizations
  • Education and awareness initiatives

Medical and Health Services ($1,000 - $50,000)

  • Health service providers serving marginalized communities
  • Medical research organizations
  • Public health initiatives

Legal Services and Civil Rights ($1,000 - $100,000)

  • Civil liberties organizations
  • Legal aid and advocacy groups
  • Human rights organizations

Application Method: Invitation only/trustee discretion - no public application process

Priority Areas

Based on documented grant history, the foundation prioritizes:

  • LGBTQ Equality and Justice: Organizations advancing legal protections, civil rights, and social acceptance for LGBTQ individuals
  • Health Equity: Medical services and research benefiting underserved populations, particularly LGBTQ communities and those living with HIV
  • Civil Liberties: Organizations defending constitutional rights and fighting discrimination
  • Established Organizations: Larger, well-known nonprofits with proven track records rather than grassroots initiatives
  • Southern California Focus: Strong preference for Los Angeles-area organizations, though some national organizations receive support

Past Grant Recipients

Documented recipients include:

  • Los Angeles LGBT Center ($200,000)
  • ACLU Foundation of Southern California ($100,000)
  • Lambda Legal
  • Children's Hospital of Los Angeles ($50,000)
  • Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles
  • CenterLink ($50,000)
  • GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)
  • GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network)
  • Arcus Foundation
  • Southern Poverty Law Center
  • American National Red Cross
  • Doctors Without Borders USA
  • Wounded Warrior Project

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, analysis of grant patterns suggests the foundation does not fund:

  • Individual requests or scholarships
  • Organizations outside their three core focus areas
  • Smaller grassroots organizations
  • Organizations without established track records
  • Capital campaigns or endowment building
  • Religious organizations (unless specifically advancing LGBTQ equality)

Governance and Leadership

Eugene Kapaloski - President, Secretary, and Treasurer

Eugene Kapaloski leads the foundation as the sole officer and director, serving without compensation. He was the partner of foundation donor Daniel H. Renberg for 53 years, and they married in 2008. Following Renberg's death in 2014, Kapaloski has continued their shared philanthropic vision honoring his late husband's commitment to LGBTQ equality.

Kapaloski is also an Ambassador (Emeritus) at the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, where he endowed the Daniel H. Renberg Law Fellow and Daniel H. Renberg Senior Scholar positions to support research on sexual orientation and gender identity law and policy. In 2018, he made a $1 million gift to Lambda Legal to establish the Daniel H. Renberg Legal Fellowship.

Quote from Kapaloski: "In honor of my husband's legacy, we are pleased to offer this contribution to help Lambda Legal continue fighting for the rights of LGBTQ people."

The foundation operates without formal staff, with Kapaloski making all grantmaking decisions personally. This intimate structure reflects a deeply personal philanthropic mission rooted in the founders' lived experiences and commitment to LGBTQ rights.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Collingwood Foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are made at the discretion of foundation leadership based on existing relationships and trustee knowledge of organizations' work.

Grant decisions are made by Eugene Kapaloski in his capacity as President and sole trustee. The foundation identifies potential grantees through:

  • Existing relationships with LGBTQ advocacy organizations
  • Personal knowledge of organizations' work and impact
  • Affiliations through board service and philanthropic networks
  • Organizations aligned with the foundation's mission areas

Organizations should not submit applications or proposals to this foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation making discretionary grants, decision timelines are determined by the trustee and not disclosed publicly.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Organizations that have previously received funding may receive additional grants at the trustee's discretion.

Application Success Factors

Note: Since this foundation does not accept applications, the following insights are intended to help organizations understand the foundation's values and priorities, should relationships develop naturally through sector work.

Foundation Values and Priorities

Based on Kapaloski's public statements and documented grant history, the foundation values:

  1. Established Organizations with Track Records: The foundation consistently supports well-known, established organizations rather than emerging groups. Past grantees include major national organizations like Lambda Legal, ACLU, and Planned Parenthood alongside prominent local institutions like the LA LGBT Center.

  2. Legal and Policy Change: The foundation shows particular interest in organizations advancing LGBTQ rights through litigation, policy advocacy, and legal services. Kapaloski's personal philanthropic investments beyond this foundation (Williams Institute, Lambda Legal Fellowship) emphasize rigorous legal research and impact litigation.

  3. Service to LGBTQ Communities: Organizations providing direct services to LGBTQ individuals, particularly in health and social services, align with the foundation's mission.

  4. Los Angeles/Southern California Connection: The foundation shows strong preference for organizations based in or serving Southern California, reflecting the founders' deep roots in the Los Angeles LGBTQ community.

  5. Unrestricted Operating Support: Several documented grants specifically note "unrestricted operational support," suggesting the foundation trusts grantee organizations to allocate funds where most needed.

Language and Approach

In his 2018 statement about the Lambda Legal gift, Kapaloski emphasized "my husband's legacy" and the importance of "fighting for the rights of LGBTQ people." This personal, legacy-focused framing suggests the foundation sees its work as continuing Daniel Renberg's life mission rather than as institutional philanthropy.

The foundation's support for organizations like GLAAD, GLSEN, and the LA LGBT Center—all organizations that earned Kapaloski and Renberg the GLSEN Lifetime Achievement Award—suggests sustained, multi-year relationships with organizations rather than one-time grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Do not apply: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and explicitly states it funds only preselected organizations
  • Focus on relationship building in the LGBTQ sector: The foundation supports organizations known through personal connections and sector involvement
  • Established presence matters: The foundation consistently funds well-known, established organizations with proven track records
  • LGBTQ legal advocacy and services are top priorities: Organizations advancing LGBTQ civil rights through litigation, policy work, and direct services align most closely with the foundation's mission
  • Los Angeles connection helps: Organizations based in or serving Southern California, particularly Los Angeles, appear to receive priority
  • Think long-term: The foundation demonstrates sustained commitment to organizations over time rather than one-time grants
  • Unrestricted support is valued: Several grants provide unrestricted operating support, suggesting trust in grantee organizations' judgment

References

  1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Collingwood Foundation (EIN 95-4509731), Form 990-PF filings. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954509731 (Accessed January 2026)

  2. Grantmakers.io Profile - Collingwood Foundation. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/954509731-collingwood-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)

  3. Cause IQ - Collingwood Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/collingwood-foundation,954509731/ (Accessed January 2026)

  4. Inside Philanthropy - Collingwood Foundation. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-c/collingwood-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

  5. UCLA Philanthropy Forward - "Pursuing research, protecting rights." https://philanthropy.ucla.edu/stories/pursuing-research-protecting-rights/ (Accessed January 2026)

  6. Lambda Legal - "$1 Million Gift to Create Daniel H. Renberg Fellowship at Lambda Legal to Mark LGBT Civil Rights Organization's 45th Anniversary" (October 15, 2018). https://lambdalegal.org/newsroom/ny_20181015_1-million-gift-marks-lambda-legals-45th-anniversary/ (Accessed January 2026)

  7. Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law - Eugene Kapaloski Ambassador Profile. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/ambassadors/eugene-kapaloski/ (Accessed January 2026)

  8. Legacy.com - Daniel H. Renberg Obituary (January 2014). https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/daniel-renberg-obituary?id=7996746 (Accessed January 2026)

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