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Carl And Roberta Deutsch Foundation

Annual Giving
$9.0M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.5M
Decision Time
4mo
Success Rate
16%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,954,200 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $179 million
  • Number of Grants: 96 (2023)
  • Grant Range: Varies; HALO Award provides $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Los Angeles County; also Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties
  • Established: 1997

Contact Details

HALO Award Program:

Overview

The Carl and Roberta Deutsch Foundation, established in 1997, is a private family foundation with approximately $179 million in assets that dedicates its resources to improving the health, wellness, and outcomes for children, youth, and families of Los Angeles County. Operating with a trust-based philanthropy approach, the foundation works with nonprofit organizations as both a funder and partner to achieve a "2+2=5" outcome, where the collective result is greater than the sum of its parts. In 2023, the foundation distributed $8,954,200 across 96 grants. The foundation is best known for its signature HALO Award program, launched in 2011, which has impacted over 81 nonprofit organizations through volunteer management capacity building. Foundation trustees meet weekly to oversee operations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

HALO Award (Primary Public Application Program)

  • Amount: $25,000 total per recipient
    • $20,000 for the nonprofit to strengthen and sustain volunteer efforts
    • $5,000 award to an outstanding nominated volunteer
  • Capacity Building Support: Includes extensive training and technical assistance
    • 4 all-day peer learning sessions with cohort
    • 4 one-on-one coaching sessions
    • Development and implementation of a Volunteer Management Plan
    • Facilitated by Blue Garnet consulting firm
  • Application Method: Annual application cycle through online portal at haloawards.org
  • Number of Recipients: Approximately 6-7 organizations per cohort annually

General Grantmaking (Invitation/Discretionary) The foundation makes numerous additional grants beyond the HALO Award program, awarding 96 grants in 2023. Recent grants have ranged from smaller amounts to over $500,000, with examples including:

  • California Community Foundation: $530,000 (2021)
  • Foundation for Education: $350,000 (2021)
  • Coalition for Responsible Community Development: $265,000 (2021)
  • Community Partners: $220,000 (2021)
  • Door of Hope: $220,000 (2021)
  • Ocean Park Community Center: $100,000+
  • JVS Veterans First: $75,000

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on:

  • Arts education
  • Homelessness prevention
  • Mental health
  • Career and college access & retention
  • Early childhood education
  • Veterans services
  • Foster youth
  • Workforce development
  • Human services (basic needs)
  • Women's services
  • Health (including cancer research and alternative medicine)
  • Community development
  • Organizations serving economically disadvantaged populations and communities of color

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation has a clear geographic focus on Southern California counties and prioritizes organizations working with volunteers and serving vulnerable populations.

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel:

  • Carl Deutsch - President
  • Kristina Deutsch - Secretary
  • Janis Minton - Trustee (compensation: $260,000)
    • Ms. Minton holds a B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Human Development and Early Childhood Education
    • She advises on the foundation's sizable annual grantmaking budget while creating diversified portfolios of social investments

Governance Structure: The foundation operates with trustees who meet weekly to oversee operations, demonstrating an active and engaged governance model.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For HALO Award: The foundation has a public application process exclusively through the HALO Award program at https://www.haloawards.org/application

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or have a fiscal sponsor
  • Must work with volunteers
  • Must be located in and serving Los Angeles County (though the foundation also makes grants in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties)
  • At least two representatives from the organization must be available to attend all capacity-building activities

Volunteer Nominee Requirements:

  • Must be active and unpaid
  • Cannot be currently serving as a board member
  • Cannot be receiving school credit or professional license hours
  • Founders or executive directors are eligible if they are unpaid and actively serving the organization
  • One volunteer nomination per nonprofit organization

For General Grants Beyond HALO Award: The Deutsch Foundation does not have a general public application process or website for grant seekers outside of the HALO Award program. The foundation makes discretionary grants based on trustee decisions and existing relationships. Grant seekers interested in support beyond the HALO Award should contact the foundation directly at haloaward@crdfoundation.org or 310-453-0055 to inquire about potential opportunities.

Decision Timeline

HALO Award Timeline (based on historical data):

  • Application release: Early summer (e.g., June)
  • Application deadline: Mid-summer (e.g., July)
  • Winner announcement: Fall (approximately 4 months after deadline)
  • Award ceremony: February (following year) at Marion Davies Beach House, Santa Monica

For General Grants: Decision timelines are not publicly documented and likely vary based on the specific grant and trustee meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Specific success rates for the HALO Award are not publicly disclosed. In one year (2018), the foundation received 40 HALO Award applications and selected 6-7 organizations, suggesting approximately a 15-18% success rate for that cycle.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly documented on the HALO Award website or in public materials. Organizations should contact the foundation directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

The Carl & Roberta Deutsch Foundation has clearly articulated what makes a successful HALO Award application:

Strategic Vision and Detailed Planning: The foundation looks for "organizations with a strategic, detailed vision for building the capacity of their organization by improving and sustaining volunteer program efforts, and institutionalization of volunteer management in the organization's operations and strategic plans."

Equity and Anti-Racism Commitment: Successful applications "demonstrate a commitment to serving low-income, disproportionately impacted communities of color and to anti-racism strategies."

Innovative Volunteer Engagement: The foundation seeks "reimagined ways to engage, manage, and honor volunteers."

Commitment to Learning: Applications must show "a commitment to learning by participating in the program's capacity building sessions and assessments." Full participation in the cohort learning model is essential.

Exceptional Volunteer Stories: "The Foundation expects that every applicant organization has an extraordinary volunteer to nominate, so specifically highlighting how the volunteer has impacted the organization strengthens your application."

Clear Capacity-Building Strategy: "The $20,000 grant acknowledges a clear and thoughtfully written strategy to build the capacity and sustainability of the volunteer program, which may include increased outreach, improved systems, retention methods, volunteer mentors, or a volunteer coordinator."

Measurable Impact: HALO Award participants report an average 16% increase in program capacity during the HALO year, plus an average 2% increase in the year immediately following. The foundation values organizations that can articulate how they will measure and sustain improvements.

Recent Recipients as Examples: Organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs of Carson, The Giving Spirit, ICAN California Abilities, Education Through Music-Los Angeles, A Place Called Home, EnCorps Inc., Food on Foot, Learning Rights Law Center, St. Joseph Center, Beauty Bus Foundation, CASA of Los Angeles, and My Friend's Place have been recognized, representing diverse programming from youth development to homelessness services to arts education.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • HALO Award is the primary entry point: For most organizations seeking support from the Deutsch Foundation, the HALO Award represents the main public application opportunity. Ensure your organization has a robust volunteer program or plans to develop one.

  • Demonstrate equity and anti-racism commitment: The foundation explicitly prioritizes organizations serving low-income communities and communities of color with clear anti-racism strategies—this should be woven throughout your application.

  • Invest in your volunteer story: Select an exceptional volunteer whose impact story exemplifies your organization's work. The volunteer component carries significant weight in the selection process.

  • Show readiness for capacity building: Applications must demonstrate not just need, but readiness and commitment to participate fully in a year-long cohort learning experience with peer organizations.

  • Think beyond the grant dollars: The true value of the HALO Award extends far beyond the $25,000 grant—it includes professional consulting support from Blue Garnet, peer learning opportunities, and sustainable systems improvements that yield lasting impact.

  • For general grants, build relationships: Beyond the HALO Award, the foundation operates largely through discretionary grantmaking based on trustee decisions. Contact the foundation directly to explore potential opportunities.

  • Geographic alignment is essential: While the foundation has supported projects beyond Los Angeles County, prioritize demonstrating deep roots and impact within LA County for the strongest chance of success.

References

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