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Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

Annual Giving
$18.2M
Grant Range
$3K - $1.0M
Decision Time
8mo

Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $18.2 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 6 weeks for LOI response; 6 months for full proposal review
  • Grant Range: $3,000 - $1,000,000 (most grants below $500,000; median $50,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Los Angeles County exclusively
  • Grants Awarded: Approximately 250-367 grants annually

Contact Details

Website: https://rmpf.org
Phone: 213-362-7600 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm PT)
Email: info@rmpf.org
Grant Support: grantsadmin@rmpf.org
Address: 601 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA

Key Contacts:

  • Jennifer Price-Letscher, President & CEO: 213-425-0841
  • Nicole Larsen, Director, Grants Administration: 213-425-0846

Overview

Established in 1961 by Ralph M. Parsons, founder of the Ralph M. Parsons Company, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation became fully independent from the company in 1976. With total assets of approximately $439 million and annual giving of $18.2 million (2024), the Foundation is dedicated to improving the well-being of Los Angeles County residents through responsive grantmaking. The Foundation focuses exclusively on work within Los Angeles County across four program areas: Civic & Cultural, Education, Health, and Human Services. Under the leadership of President & CEO Jennifer Price-Letscher, who joined the Foundation in 2011 and became CEO in July 2023, the Foundation has maintained a strong commitment to trust-based philanthropy, racial equity, and supporting organizations that serve vulnerable populations. The Foundation's grantmaking philosophy emphasizes listening deeply to nonprofit partners with "a spirit of inquiry" that allows for humility and curiosity in understanding community needs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation does not have separate named grant programs but makes grants across four program areas on a rolling basis:

  • General Operating Support: More than half of all grants; typically $25,000 - $100,000
  • Program Support: Funding for specific initiatives; amounts vary
  • Capital Support: Building renovations, purchases, equipment; preferably approached near end of campaigns
  • Staff Positions: Funding for specific personnel costs

Application Method: Rolling basis through online portal (Blackbaud YourCause GrantsConnect)

Priority Areas

Civic & Cultural

  • Performing arts organizations
  • Museums and cultural institutions
  • Botanical gardens
  • Arts education programs
  • Civic engagement and leadership initiatives

Education

  • Early care and education
  • K-12 education and charter schools
  • Academic enrichment programs
  • College access and persistence
  • Higher education institutions
  • Vocational training
  • Focus on underserved populations

Health

  • Community clinics
  • Mental health providers
  • Prevention services
  • Emergency and trauma centers
  • Health care facility improvements
  • Services promoting health and well-being among vulnerable populations

Human Services

  • Programs for low-income children and families
  • Foster youth services
  • Senior programs
  • Services for working poor and homeless populations
  • Child welfare
  • Youth development
  • Basic needs programs

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Organizations outside Los Angeles County
  • Loans or program-related investments
  • Organizations with only IRS "preliminary ruling" letters (though fiscal sponsorships are acceptable)
  • Non-501(c)(3) public charities
  • Grants rarely exceed 10% of an organization's project or budget costs
  • Multi-year support (rarely awarded unless compelling justification exists)

Governance and Leadership

Leadership

Jennifer Price-Letscher, President & CEO (appointed July 2023)

  • Joined the Foundation in 2011
  • Previously served as Interim President & CEO from January 2023
  • Holds bachelor's degree in American Studies and English from University of Oregon
  • Master's degree in Positive Organizational Development and Change Management from Case Western Reserve University

Key quotes from Price-Letscher:

  • "Education can be a profound lever for transforming lives and lifting people out of poverty."
  • "Our nonprofit partners and their constituents know what's best for their communities and what's needed to accomplish transformational change."
  • "I don't want racial equity to be philanthropy's bright and shiny object of the moment. I want the sector to stay true and committed in its demand for racial justice."
  • "One of art's greatest qualities lies in its capacity to elicit greater understanding and empathy, why wouldn't we want to hear more voices?"

Predecessor: Wendy Garen (retired January 2023 after over 37 years with the Foundation)

Board of Directors

Paul G. Haaga, Jr. - Board Chair (joined 2016)

Board Members:

  • Manuel A. Abascal (joined 2020)
  • John B. Emerson
  • Steve Nissen (joined 2017)
  • Nina Revoyr (joined 2018)
  • Stephanie Ivy Sanford (joined 2024)
  • Peter J. Taylor (joined 2015)
  • Stasia Washington (joined 2024)
  • Gayle E. Wilson (joined 2000)

Program Staff

The Foundation employs four Program Officers who are generalists, broadly knowledgeable about the nonprofit sector rather than assigned to specific program areas:

  • Katherine Bonalos, Senior Program Officer
  • Piper Kamins, Senior Program Officer
  • Romesh Anketell, Program Officer
  • Araceli Campos, Program Officer
  • Kadar Lewis, Program Officer
  • Faith Lee, Program Assistant

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Parsons Foundation uses a two-stage application process with a required Letter of Inquiry (LOI) as the first step:

Stage 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

  • Submit via online portal at https://rmpf.org
  • Accepted on a rolling basis (no deadlines)
  • Response provided within approximately 6 weeks
  • Organizations whose LOIs best align with current priorities will be invited to submit a full proposal
  • Portal upgraded to Blackbaud YourCause GrantsConnect in June 2025

Stage 2: Full Proposal (by invitation only)

  • Organizations invited to submit have 60 days to complete the application
  • Review process includes a site visit with a program officer
  • Decision communicated within approximately 6 months of submission

Important Restrictions:

  • Only one request per organization per 12-month period
  • Organizations cannot submit separate LOIs for different projects within the same year
  • Previous relationship with Foundation does not exempt from LOI requirement

Pre-Application Support:

  • Due to limited staff resources, the Foundation rarely meets with applicants prior to written submission
  • Organizations are encouraged to review Funding Priorities, Searchable Grants Database, and FAQs before applying
  • Questions can be directed to 213-362-7600 or grantsadmin@rmpf.org

Decision Timeline

  • LOI Response: 6-8 weeks
  • Full Proposal Review: Up to 6 months
  • Site Visit: Conducted during full proposal review period
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 7-8 months from initial LOI to final decision for invited proposals

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However:

  • The Foundation awards approximately 250-367 grants annually
  • Competition for grants is described as "intense"
  • Proposals are "frequently declined due to limited resources"
  • The two-stage process means only "the most competitive LOIs" are invited to submit full proposals

Reapplication Policy

  • Organizations whose requests are declined must wait 12 months from the date of the declination letter before reapplying
  • Organizations may submit another request for consideration after this 12-month period
  • There is no limit on the number of times an organization can reapply

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Prioritizes:

  • Direct Service Delivery: The Foundation prioritizes organizations that deliver direct services to Los Angeles County residents
  • Alignment with Priorities: Staff and Board look for "exemplary programs and projects that best meet the Foundation's areas of interest"
  • Strong Community Connection: Organizations demonstrating deep understanding of their constituents' needs
  • Racial Equity Commitment: As Price-Letscher stated, the Foundation values organizations taking "concrete steps to keep equity at the forefront of their efforts"

Recent Funded Projects (Examples):

  • Destination Crenshaw: $700,000 over three years for construction of new open-air museum
  • UCLA Foundation: $250,000 over two years for Hammer Museum capital support
  • Children's Bureau of Southern California: Multi-year support for Family Resource Center construction in Palmdale
  • Southern California Grantmakers: $250,000 over two years for Bridge Support Partnership pilot for youth exiting foster care
  • The Bridgespan Group Inc: $300,000 over two years for nonprofit leadership development in Los Angeles County

Application Approach Tips:

  • Review the Grants Database: The Foundation maintains a searchable database of grants awarded over the last three years - review this to understand funding patterns and typical award sizes
  • Be Specific About Impact: Given the Foundation's emphasis on direct services, clearly articulate how your work directly benefits Los Angeles County residents
  • Capital Timing: For capital requests, the Foundation "generally prefers that organizations approach the Foundation near the end of a campaign"
  • Budget Proportion: Keep in mind that grants "rarely exceed 10% of an organization's project or budget costs"
  • Follow Guidelines Precisely: The Foundation emphasizes following their guidelines when preparing proposals

What Makes Applications Stand Out:

  • Demonstrated connection to vulnerable populations (low-income children, families, foster youth, seniors, homeless populations)
  • Evidence of community trust and constituent voice in programming
  • Commitment to the "full continuum" of service in your sector (e.g., cradle to career for education)
  • Programs that promote civic vibrancy, access to opportunity, or health and well-being
  • Organizations showing cultural competence and racial equity commitments

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Los Angeles County Only: The Foundation exclusively funds organizations serving Los Angeles County - this is non-negotiable
  • One Shot Per Year: With only one request allowed per 12-month period, make your LOI count by ensuring strong alignment with Foundation priorities before applying
  • General Support Friendly: More than half of grants are for general operating support, making this one of the more flexible major funders for unrestricted funding
  • Patient Timeline: Plan for a 7-8 month process from LOI to decision if invited to full proposal stage
  • Site Visits Are Standard: If invited to submit a full proposal, expect a program officer site visit as part of the review process
  • Median is $50K: While grants range from $3,000 to $1 million, the typical grant is $50,000 - calibrate expectations accordingly
  • Trust-Based Approach: Under Price-Letscher's leadership, the Foundation values listening to partners and trusts nonprofit expertise - demonstrate your community knowledge and constituent connection
  • Browse the Database: Use the Foundation's searchable grants database strategically to identify organizations similar to yours and understand typical funding levels in your sector

References

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