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The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation

Annual Giving
$123.6M
Grant Range
$0K - $50.0M

The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $123.6 million (FY 2023)
  • Total Assets: $1.82 billion (FY 2023)
  • Grant Range: $134 - $50,000,000
  • Number of Awards: 128 (FY 2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Los Angeles, CA (with national flagship institutions)
  • Application Method: No public application process - invitation only

Contact Details

Address: 300 South Grand Avenue, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Phone: (213) 482-9860

Website: www.broadfoundation.org

Media Contact: Suzi Emmerling - semmerling@broadfoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 1999 by entrepreneurs Eli and Edythe Broad, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation has given more than $4 billion to education, science, the arts and Los Angeles over 50 years of philanthropy. With assets of $1.82 billion and annual giving of $123.6 million (FY 2023), the foundation operates under the leadership of President Gerun Riley, who assumed the role in 2017. The foundation's dual mission steadfastly stewards groundbreaking flagship institutions in education, science and the arts—including the Broad Institute ($700 million committed to date), three stem cell research centers ($113 million total), and The Broad museum—while simultaneously elevating organizations, initiatives and leaders that boldly address challenges and expand opportunity for Los Angeles' historically marginalized communities. In recent years, the foundation has concentrated its Los Angeles grantmaking on three interconnected focus areas: Skills for the New Economy, Pathways to Good Jobs, and Civic Partnerships.

Funding Priorities

Flagship Institutions

The foundation provides ongoing, substantial support to signature institutions:

  • Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard: $700 million committed to date for genomic medicine research
  • Stem Cell Research Centers: $113 million total to centers at UCLA, UCSF, and USC since 2005
  • The Broad Museum: Contemporary art museum in downtown Los Angeles
  • The Broad Stage: Performing arts venue in Santa Monica

Los Angeles Grant Programs

The foundation's current Los Angeles grantmaking focuses on three overlapping areas:

Skills for the New Economy

Grants ranging from $100,000 to several million dollars supporting educational organizations and initiatives that prepare young people for emerging careers. Recent grantees include:

  • Alliance College-Ready Public Schools Foundation (career readiness for 12,000+ students)
  • The Hidden Genius Project (entrepreneurship and technology education for 3,700 youth)
  • Building College Success (career pathway programs for 400 students)
  • Cambiar Education (micro-internship program for 1,400 L.A. students)

Pathways to Good Jobs

Workforce development initiatives connecting marginalized communities to quality employment. Recent grants include:

  • Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator: $2 million two-year commitment (2024)
  • LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network: $1.1 million
  • Center for Employment Opportunities (job services for justice-involved populations)
  • Coalition for Responsible Community Development (workforce intermediary capacity building)

Civic Partnerships

Supporting cultural, community, and civic engagement organizations:

  • Goldhirsh Foundation partnership on LA2050 Grants Challenge (eight grants for voter engagement)
  • Colburn School (campus expansion campaign support)
  • Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges (guaranteed basic income program for 251 students)
  • Southern California Public Radio, California Science Center, Community Coalition

Historical Education Focus

From 1999-2019, the foundation invested over $600 million in K-12 public education reform, including at least $144 million for charter public schools. Major historical grantees included Teach For America, New Leaders for New Schools, KIPP, NewSchools Venture Fund, Success Academy, and The Broad Center (which received $100 million to transition to Yale School of Management in 2019).

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not fund:

  • Organizations outside their established relationships or Los Angeles focus areas
  • General operating support for organizations not aligned with current strategic priorities
  • Individual scholarships or direct student aid (with rare exceptions)
  • Religious institutions or sectarian purposes
  • Political campaigns or lobbying activities

Governance and Leadership

President: Gerun Riley - Assumed presidency in 2017 after starting with the foundation in 2003 in an entry-level administrative position. Riley stated: "For over 13 years I've had the privilege to work side by side with the Broads on their dogged mission to improve the human mind, body and spirit. It's a humbling honor to assume the responsibility of leading the charge to continue The Broad Foundation's rigorous dedication to stronger public schools, cutting-edge scientific and medical research and accessibility to the arts."

Trustees:

  • Edythe Broad (Co-founder)
  • Gerun Riley (President)
  • Suzanne Nora Johnson
  • Jay S. Wintrob (Board Chairman)

Foundation Philosophy: Eli Broad articulated a clear grantmaking philosophy in 2013: "Will it happen without us? If it won't, we invest. Will it make a difference 20 or 30 years from now? If it will, we invest. Is there leadership in place to make it happen? If so, then we invest." He also stated: "Philanthropy is activism... I want to help people, to work with institutions or create ones when they don't exist."

Riley follows advice from Eli Broad: "Hire people smarter than you, and support them in doing their best work."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and "tends to stick with organizations with which it has established relationships," according to Inside Philanthropy. All grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee discretion and strategic decision-making
  • Identified partnerships aligned with current priorities
  • Long-term relationships with flagship institutions
  • Proactive identification of organizations addressing Los Angeles challenges

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation has specific, documented approaches for identifying potential partners:

Collaborative Partnerships: The foundation frequently partners with other funders and intermediaries to identify promising organizations. For example, in 2024 they partnered with the Goldhirsh Foundation on the LA2050 Grants Challenge, which distributed eight grants to community organizations. Working with collaborative funding initiatives in Los Angeles may provide visibility.

Sector Leadership: The foundation has historically supported organizations that become sector leaders or "proof points for policies that would enable systemwide change," according to their 50-year report. Organizations demonstrating innovative approaches with potential for systems-level impact align with their documented interests.

Los Angeles Focus: For non-flagship institutions, the foundation's current grantmaking is concentrated on Los Angeles-based organizations serving historically marginalized communities in their three priority areas (Skills for the New Economy, Pathways to Good Jobs, Civic Partnerships).

Existing Grantee Networks: Many recent grants have gone to organizations connected to or recommended by existing grantees, suggesting that relationships within their current portfolio can lead to consideration.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process. The foundation makes strategic decisions based on their annual priorities and trustee discretion.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

While there is no application process, organizations that have received Broad Foundation funding share these characteristics:

Strategic Alignment with Current Priorities: The foundation has shifted focus areas over time. From 1999-2019, they concentrated on K-12 education reform. Currently, their Los Angeles grantmaking focuses specifically on Skills for the New Economy, Pathways to Good Jobs, and Civic Partnerships. Organizations must align with current—not historical—priorities.

Leadership and Organizational Capacity: Eli Broad explicitly stated: "Is there leadership in place to make it happen? If so, then we invest." The foundation values strong, visionary leadership capable of executing ambitious goals.

Potential for Systemic Impact: The foundation uses "grantmaking to prototype new initiatives and scale proven efforts to create proof points for policies that would enable systemwide change." They invest in organizations that can demonstrate broader impact beyond individual program delivery.

Serving Los Angeles' Marginalized Communities: Current non-flagship grantmaking explicitly targets "organizations, initiatives and leaders that boldly address the challenges of our time and expand opportunity for Los Angeles' historically marginalized communities," particularly students of color and low-income populations.

Innovation and Bold Thinking: The foundation's values include "bold thinking" and they support organizations "that haven't been done before," according to Eli Broad. They favor novel approaches over maintaining the status quo.

Geographic Focus on Los Angeles: Recent grants outside flagship institutions concentrate heavily on Los Angeles County, with specific attention to underserved communities in areas like Inglewood, Long Beach, and communities served by L.A. Unified School District.

Long-term Partnership Potential: With total giving of $4 billion over 50 years, the foundation demonstrates commitment to sustained relationships with organizations that deliver results.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this foundation cannot be accessed through traditional grant applications. Relationship-building and sector visibility are the only pathways.

  • Current focus is Los Angeles-specific - Beyond flagship institutions, recent grantmaking concentrates on Los Angeles organizations serving marginalized communities in education, workforce development, and civic engagement.

  • Grant sizes vary dramatically - from $134 to $50 million, with multi-million dollar commitments common for strategic initiatives ($2 million to LACI, $1.1 million to LAUNCH, $100 million to The Broad Center).

  • Partnership opportunities matter - collaborations with other funders (like the Goldhirsh Foundation partnership) can provide visibility and access to Broad Foundation consideration.

  • Systemic impact is essential - the foundation invests in organizations positioned to influence policy, scale proven models, or create "proof points" for broader change.

  • Leadership quality is critical - founder Eli Broad's explicit criterion "Is there leadership in place to make it happen?" remains central to funding decisions.

  • Multi-year commitments are standard - recent grants show two-year and multi-year funding structures, indicating the foundation seeks sustained partnerships rather than one-time grants.

References

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