← Back to US Funders Directory

Weingart Foundation

Annual Giving
$33.9M
Grant Range
$25K - $3.0M
Decision Time
3mo

Weingart Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $33.9 million (2024)
  • 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: $866 million
  • Application Method: Invitation-only

Contact Details

Website: https://weingartfnd.org

Phone: (213) 688-7799

Email: info@weingartfnd.org

General Program 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 organizations working across Southern California. In fiscal year 2024, Weingart contributed over $31 million in grants to 147 nonprofit partners and committed $23 million in impact investments. The Foundation currently holds total assets of approximately $866 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 2024, 20% of grantees were first-time recipients, and 98% of grants went to organizations led by people of color.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

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

Program-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 color most impacted by racial and socioeconomic inequity
  • Organizations working on child welfare, workforce development, re-entry, homelessness, youth development, and public education
  • Organizations engaging in power building, organizing for systemic change, and/or providing critical services in marginalized 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 organizations 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 Program and Strategy Officer
  • Joyce Ybarra, Vice President, Programs

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 emphasizes 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 organizations that are strongly aligned with their focus areas.

Organizations that have been invited to apply will receive an email with instructions on how to access the Foundation's online portal. Once invited, program staff engage in conversation with the organization 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. Organizations are encouraged to contact program officers to discuss potential alignment with Foundation priorities.

Getting on Their Radar

The Weingart Foundation identifies potential grantees proactively through its program officers' research and engagement in the Southern California nonprofit sector. The Foundation has emphasized 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 program officers directly to introduce your organization 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 organizations through these partnerships
  • Demonstrate alignment with the Foundation's focus on BIPOC-led organizations (98% of their 2024 grants), community power-building, and racial justice work in South and Southeast Los Angeles

The Foundation made grants to organizations with budgets under $1 million in their March 2024 cycle, indicating openness to smaller organizations 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 organization enters the review process relative to the Board's meeting schedule.

Organizations invited to apply should expect program 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 2024:

  • The Foundation awarded 501 grants
  • 20% of grantees were first-time recipients
  • In March 2024, two-thirds of grants supported first-time grantees
  • The Foundation contributed over $31 million in grants to 147 nonprofit partners in fiscal year 2024

Reapplication Policy

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

Application Success Factors

Organizations most likely to be invited for funding demonstrate:

1. Leadership by Communities Most Impacted The Foundation prioritizes organizations where "clients, constituents, and individuals most impacted by the inequities being addressed [are] in meaningful leadership and decision-making roles." In 2024, 98% of grants went to organizations led by people of color.

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

3. Strong Collaborative Approach Organizations should "effectively engage in partnerships, collaborations, coalitions, or networks to advance shared community goals, particularly around systems change and/or multi-racial/ethnic organizing 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, organizations must clearly articulate "how a U.O.S. grant would impact organizational 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 organizations 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 Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE) - $500,000 for community organizing
  • Arab American Civic Council - $150,000 (first-time grantee, March 2024)
  • 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 program officers to discuss your organization'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 2024 grants went to organizations led by people of color - 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 organizations welcome: Recent grants to organizations 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 program officer engagement suggest the Foundation values sustained partnerships over transactional funding

References

← Back to US Funders Directory