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Weingart Foundation

Annual Giving
$39.7M
Grant Range
$25K - $3.0M
Decision Time
3mo

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Weingart Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $39.7 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only process)
  • Decision Time: Variable - Board meets 5 times per year
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $3,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties)
  • Total Assets: $841 million
  • Application Method: Invitation-only

Contact Details

Website: https://weingartfnd.org

Phone: (213) 688-7799

Email: info@weingartfnd.org

General Programme Inquiries:

Overview

The Weingart Foundation was established in 1951 by real estate developers Ben and Stella Weingart with an initial endowment of $150 million. Since its founding, the Foundation has granted over $1 billion to organisations working across Southern California. The Foundation has contributed over $31 million in grants to 147 nonprofit partners in a recent fiscal year and committed $23 million in impact investments. The Foundation holds total assets of approximately $841 million.

Under the leadership of President and CEO Joanna S. Jackson (appointed June 2024), Weingart has solidified its commitment to advancing racial, social, and economic justice throughout its five-county service area. The Foundation is particularly known for its robust provision of multi-year unrestricted operating support, which makes up the overwhelming majority of its grantmaking. In recent grantmaking, 20% of grantees were first-time recipients, and 98% of grants went to organisations led by people of colour.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Multi-Year Unrestricted Operating Support (U.O.S.) - $50,000 - $200,000 over two years The Foundation's primary grant strategy, designed to strengthen organisational infrastructure and long-term effectiveness. U.O.S. grants can be used for administrative infrastructure, capacity building, core programmes, and essential staff. Organisations apply through invitation only.

Strategic Opportunity Fund - Variable amounts Supports time-sensitive initiatives and strategic opportunities aligned with Foundation priorities. Invitation-only; contact Anthony Ng for inquiries.

Programme-Related Investments (P.R.I.) - Variable amounts Impact investments that advance the Foundation's mission while expecting a financial return. Contact Rosa Benitez for inquiries.

Typical Grant Range: Most grants range from $25,000 to $400,000, though grants can extend from $15,000 to $3 million depending on the initiative.

Priority Areas

Geographic Areas of Special Interest:

  • South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles (historically under-resourced communities receive particular priority)
  • All grants must benefit communities within Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties

Issue-Based Areas of Special Interest:

  • Housing Justice
  • Immigrant/Refugee Rights and Integration
  • Strengthening Nonprofit Effectiveness

Core Focus:

  • Nonprofits building community power and/or providing critical services in Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, South Asian, and other communities of colour most impacted by racial and socioeconomic inequity
  • Organisations working on child welfare, workforce development, re-entry, homelessness, youth development, and public education
  • Organisations engaging in power building, organising for systemic change, and/or providing critical services in marginalised communities

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Geographic restrictions limit funding to the five Southern California counties listed above. While specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, the Foundation's invitation-only process means they proactively identify organisations aligned with their racial justice and equity priorities.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Dr. Robert K. Ross, Chair of the Board
  • Joanna S. Jackson, President & CEO
  • William C. Allen, Trustee
  • Monica C. Lozano, Trustee
  • Katie Nguyen Kalvoda, Trustee
  • Helen Torres, Trustee

Senior Leadership

  • Joanna S. Jackson, President & CEO (appointed June 2024, with the Foundation since 2008)
  • Bob Bancroft, Chief Financial and Investment Officer
  • Vy Nguyen, Chief Programme and Strategy Officer
  • Joyce Ybarra, Vice President, Programmes

Leadership Perspective

President and CEO Joanna S. Jackson has articulated a bold vision for the Foundation: "I am not here to maintain the status quo. The status quo will not bring the justice we seek." She emphasises that "I firmly believe that courageous philanthropy is essential for advancing racial justice and equity. This is our opportunity to lead boldly and authentically, forging sustainable systemic change for the communities most impacted by disinvestment."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Weingart Foundation does not have a public application process. The Foundation currently uses an invitation-only process to reduce burden on applicants and expedite funds to organisations that are strongly aligned with their focus areas.

Organisations that have been invited to apply will receive an email with instructions on how to access the Foundation's online portal. Once invited, programme staff engage in conversation with the organisation to understand their work, infrastructure needs, goals, and how Weingart Foundation support would be useful. Staff then develop collective recommendations to the CEO and Board of Directors.

While the Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding, they welcome communication with nonprofits to inform and strengthen their strategies. Organisations are encouraged to contact programme officers to discuss potential alignment with Foundation priorities.

Getting on Their Radar

The Weingart Foundation identifies potential grantees proactively through its programme officers' research and engagement in the Southern California nonprofit sector. The Foundation has emphasised that while they do not accept unsolicited proposals, they welcome communication with nonprofits.

Specific Strategies:

  • Sign up for their newsletter to stay informed about Foundation priorities and funded initiatives
  • Contact programme officers directly to introduce your organisation and discuss alignment with Foundation priorities. The Foundation has explicitly stated they welcome these communications
  • Participate in Southern California nonprofit networks and coalitions - the Foundation actively supports collaborative efforts and may discover organisations through these partnerships
  • Demonstrate alignment with the Foundation's focus on BIPOC-led organisations (98% of recent grants), community power-building, and racial justice work in South and Southeast Los Angeles

The Foundation made grants to organisations with budgets under $1 million in recent grantmaking cycles, indicating openness to smaller organisations that align with priorities.

Decision Timeline

The Board of Directors meets five times per year to make decisions regarding grant applications. The specific timeline from invitation to decision varies depending on when an organisation enters the review process relative to the Board's meeting schedule.

Organisations invited to apply should expect programme staff engagement and conversation before recommendations are made to leadership and the Board.

Success Rates

Traditional success rate metrics are not applicable given the invitation-only process. However, in recent grantmaking:

  • The Foundation awarded 501 grants
  • 20% of grantees were first-time recipients
  • In one grantmaking cycle, two-thirds of grants supported first-time grantees
  • The Foundation contributed over $31 million in grants to 147 nonprofit partners in a recent fiscal year

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented. Given the multi-year nature of most U.O.S. grants (typically two years), organisations receiving support should maintain communication with programme officers throughout the grant period and discuss future funding possibilities as the grant period concludes.

Application Success Factors

Organisations most likely to be invited for funding demonstrate:

1. Leadership by Communities Most Impacted The Foundation prioritises organisations where "clients, constituents, and individuals most impacted by the inequities being addressed [are] in meaningful leadership and decision-making roles." In recent grantmaking, 98% of grants went to organisations led by people of colour.

2. Commitment to Racial Equity in Organisational Practice Successful grantees "demonstrate a commitment to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in governance, staffing, organisational practices, and collaborative relationships." This goes beyond mission statements to encompass how the organisation operates internally.

3. Strong Collaborative Approach Organisations should "effectively engage in partnerships, collaborations, coalitions, or networks to advance shared community goals, particularly around systems change and/or multi-racial/ethnic organising and advocacy efforts, and to leverage resources and increase the impact of their work."

4. Clear Articulation of Capacity Building Needs For U.O.S. grants, organisations must clearly articulate "how a U.O.S. grant would impact organisational and programmatic capacity and effectiveness." The Foundation believes that given flexibility, nonprofits will invest in their greatest core infrastructure needs.

5. Geographic and Issue Alignment Priority is given to organisations working in South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles, and those addressing Housing Justice, Immigrant/Refugee Rights and Integration, or Strengthening Nonprofit Effectiveness.

Recent Funded Examples:

  • Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice - $200,000 for Adelanto Just Transition Project
  • Communities for a Better Environment - $200,000 for environmental justice work
  • Saint Joseph Center - $400,000 for services addressing homelessness
  • Congregations Organised for Prophetic Engagement (COPE) - $500,000 for community organising
  • Arab American Civic Council - $150,000 (first-time grantee)
  • United Women of the Horn - $80,000 (supporting immigrant communities)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only process: You cannot submit an unsolicited application, but you can and should contact programme officers to discuss your organisation's alignment with Foundation priorities
  • Unrestricted support is the norm: The Foundation's primary strategy is multi-year unrestricted operating support, reflecting trust in grantees to determine their own priorities
  • BIPOC leadership matters: 98% of recent grants went to organisations led by people of colour - this is a fundamental priority, not just a preference
  • Geographic focus: South and Southeast Los Angeles are priority areas; all work must benefit one of the five Southern California counties
  • Smaller organisations welcome: Recent grants to organisations with budgets under $1 million indicate openness to smaller groups strongly aligned with priorities
  • Collaboration is valued: Demonstrate meaningful participation in coalitions, networks, and partnerships advancing systems change
  • Long-term relationships: Multi-year grants and ongoing programme officer engagement suggest the Foundation values sustained partnerships over transactional funding

References

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