Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $7.4 million (2025)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: 3 months
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $2,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Los Angeles County

Contact Details

Website: https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/community/foundation
Phone: 323-224-4260
Email: grants@dodgersfoundation.org
Address: 1000 Vin Scully Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Overview

Founded in 1995 as the official charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) has invested over $230 million in grants and programs supporting more than 3 million young people through 2,200+ organizations. With a recent $100 million pledge from ownership group led by Mark Walter, LADF stands as one of the most significant philanthropic forces in Los Angeles. Under CEO Nichol Whiteman's leadership since 2013, the foundation has raised $204 million and focuses on improving education, healthcare, homelessness, and social justice for all Angelenos, particularly those in underserved communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• General Grants: $5,000 - $2,000,000 (typical range $5,000 - $640,000)
  • Applications currently being reimagined; shifting to letter-of-intent process in 2026
  • Previously accepted twice yearly with three-month review cycles
• Dodgers Dreamteam: $895,575 distributed to 17 affiliate partners (2024)
• Emergency Response Grants: Variable amounts for disaster relief

Priority Areas

Three Main Pillars:

• Education + Literacy (45% of funding): K-12 reading and STEM, middle school mentorship, college scholarships, foster care support
• Health + Wellness (29% of funding): Food insecurity, physical fitness, mental wellness, vision care
• Sports + Recreation: Youth sports facilities, character development through sports, community baseball/softball programs

What They Don't Fund

• Individual grants
• Private foundations as defined under Section 509(a)
• Organizations with restrictive membership
• Organizations not in good standing with IRS, California Franchise Tax Board, or California Secretary of State
• Organizations outside Los Angeles County

Governance and Leadership

Nichol Whiteman, CEO: "Thanks to our allies and supporters, LADF accelerates community investment, creates collective power to address key issues, and builds infrastructure for sustained capacity as we support extraordinary organizations leading transformative change throughout the region."

Mark Walter, Chairman and Dodgers Owner, recently pledged $100 million to LADF, the largest commitment ever from an MLB ownership group.

Board members include leaders from business and civic organizations, with governance committees including Nominating, Governance, and Audit functions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important Update: The foundation is currently reimagining their grant process and will shift to a letter-of-intent grantmaking process in 2026 to streamline access and build sustainable partnerships.

Current process:

• Check website at https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/community/foundation/grants for updates
• Contact grants@dodgersfoundation.org for current application information
• Applications historically accepted twice yearly

Decision Timeline

• Three-month review cycle from application to decision
• Grant funds disseminated three times annually

Success Rates

Specific approval percentages not publicly available. In 2024, the foundation made 54 awards to organizations from their applicant pool.

Reapplication Policy

Current grantees eligible to reapply after grant period ends and final report is approved. Organizations receiving two consecutive grants must wait twelve months from the end of their second grant period before applying for a new grant.

Application Success Factors

Based on recent grant patterns and foundation priorities:

• Meaningful Measurable Impact: Programs must demonstrate objective metrics showing significant improvement in education, healthcare, homelessness, or social justice outcomes
• Geographic Alignment: Strong presence and impact in Los Angeles County, particularly in underserved communities
• School District Partnerships: Recent grants show preference for programs impacting major districts including LAUSD, Compton, Bellflower, Glendale, Lynwood, and Pasadena
• Community-Driven Solutions: Proven programs that address root causes and level the playing field for underserved populations
• Pillar Alignment: Clear connection to at least one of LADF's three pillars, with education programs receiving highest funding percentage
• Organizational Capacity: Demonstrated ability to effectively deploy funds and scale impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Foundation is transitioning to letter-of-intent process in 2026 - contact them now to understand new requirements
• Education programs receive the highest percentage of funding (45%) - emphasize educational outcomes even in health or sports programs
• Average grant size appears to be $50,000-$150,000 based on recent awards, though range extends to $2 million
• Three-month decision timeline allows for planning around funding cycles
• Strong preference for programs serving multiple LA County communities and school districts
• Foundation values long-term partnerships - organizations receiving consecutive grants indicates relationship building matters
• Emergency response capability shows flexibility - foundation rapidly deployed funds for 2025 wildfire relief

References

• Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Official Website: https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/community/foundation (Accessed March 2026)
• "Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Invests $7.4 Million In Programs & Grants" - DodgerBlue.com, December 21, 2025
• Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Awards $1.5 Million In Grants For First Half Of 2023 - DodgerBlue.com, August 2, 2023
• Governor Newsom's LA Rises Announcement - January 2025
• Seven Questions for Nichol Whiteman, CEO - Inside Philanthropy, October 12, 2022
• Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Form 990 Reports - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, 2023-2024
• Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Profile - Candid Foundation Directory (Accessed March 2026)
• Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation - Instrumentl 990 Report Analysis (Accessed March 2026)