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Joseph Drown Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.1M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.5M
Decision Time
2mo

Joseph Drown Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,139,500 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 2 months from deadline to notification
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $500,000
  • Median Grant: $50,000
  • Geographic Focus: Los Angeles County (primarily)
  • Total Assets: $94 million

Contact Details

Address: Los Angeles, CA

Website: www.jdrown.org

Email: anamaria@jdrown.org (Anamaria Alarcón, Program Associate - for technical support)

Application Portal: https://goapply2.akoyago.com/DROWN

Overview

The Joseph Drown Foundation was established in 1953 by Joseph Warford Drown (1906-1982), a successful Los Angeles hotelier best known for developing the Hotel Bel-Air in 1945. The Foundation was created to provide an organized means for Mr. Drown to make charitable gifts during his lifetime and to continue his philanthropic legacy after his death. With assets of $94 million, the Foundation awarded $5.14 million through 82 grants in 2024. The Foundation's mission is to "assist individuals in becoming successful, self-sustaining, contributing citizens" by supporting programs that eliminate barriers to personal growth and learning. The Foundation focuses its resources on areas that particularly concerned its founder: education (primary focus), medical and scientific research, community health and social services, and to a lesser degree, arts and humanities. Most grantmaking is limited to organizations serving Los Angeles County.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation makes grants across four main categories:

Education (Primary Focus) - $20,000 - $500,000

  • K-12 educational programs
  • Charter schools
  • Teacher professional development
  • College access programs
  • Student financial assistance for independent secondary schools (with favor given to talented middle-income students unable to obtain assistance from sources available to low-income students)
  • Programs addressing problems in Los Angeles area schools

Community Health & Social Services - $20,000 - $500,000

  • Family support services
  • Health services
  • Youth leadership and character development programs
  • Programs addressing drop-out rates, lack of sufficient health care, substance abuse, and violence
  • Services for the economically disadvantaged
  • Programs promoting social mobility

Medical & Scientific Research - Foundation-initiated only

  • Unsolicited applications are NOT accepted for research grants

Arts & Humanities - $20,000 - $75,000 (limited funding)

  • Outreach and educational programming
  • Cultural education in schools

Application Method: Online portal with quarterly fixed deadlines

Priority Areas

  • Quality public education as the best path to equity and opportunity
  • Breaking barriers to personal growth and learning
  • Youth development through education, health, and social services
  • Economic mobility for disadvantaged populations
  • Underserved communities in Los Angeles County
  • Programs with measurable outcomes addressing systemic challenges

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation explicitly does NOT fund:

  • Individuals
  • Endowments
  • Capital campaigns or building funds
  • Annual meetings, conferences, or special events
  • Religious programs
  • Fundraising event tickets
  • Medical or scientific research (unsolicited applications)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Wendy Wachtell - Chair of the Board
Member, Investment Committee and Compensation Committee

Eric Fleiss - Treasurer
Chair, Investment Committee; Member, Compensation Committee

Deborah Krakow, M.D. - Secretary
Chair, Compensation Committee; Member, Audit Committee

Nadine Bell
Member, Investment Committee and Compensation Committee

Marlene Canter
Member, Audit Committee and Compensation Committee

Jean Kaplan
Chair, Audit Committee; Member, Compensation Committee

Staff

Alyssa Santino - President of Programs and Operations

Ann Miller - President of Finance and Investments

Anamaria Alarcón - Program Associate

Foundation Philosophy

The Foundation's stated goal emphasizes breaking barriers: "The Foundation is interested in programs that break down any barrier that prevents a person from continuing to grow and learn." The Foundation attempts to directly reflect the interests of Joseph Drown by focusing resources on areas which particularly concerned him throughout his career.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation requires all proposals to be submitted online through their application portal at https://goapply2.akoyago.com/DROWN. New users must register for an account. Contact Anamaria Alarcón at anamaria@jdrown.org for technical issues with the portal.

CRITICAL: Incomplete applications will not be processed. Organizations must submit all requested materials with each application.

Required Documentation

All proposals must include:

  • Organization description, history, and current programs
  • Statement of need and specific funding amount requested
  • Program objectives (if applying for a particular program)
  • Current annual operating budget (and program budget if applicable)
  • 501(c)(3) tax determination letter or Advance Ruling letter (government institutions exempt)
  • Most recent audited financial statements (new organizations may submit unaudited if not yet available)
  • Complete Form 990 filed with the IRS
  • Current Board of Directors list
  • Any pertinent supplemental documents

Application Deadlines

The Foundation accepts proposals four times yearly:

  • January 15 (for March board meeting)
  • April 15 (for June board meeting)
  • July 15 (for September board meeting)
  • October 15 (for December board meeting)

If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. The application portal for each cycle opens approximately six weeks before the deadline.

Decision Timeline

The board meets in the second month following each deadline. Organizations submitting complete requests will be notified immediately after the board meeting. This results in approximately a 2-month review process from submission deadline to notification.

Timeline Example: January 15 deadline → March board meeting → notification shortly after March meeting

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publicly disclose the total number of applications received or their acceptance rate. However, recent award data shows:

  • 2024: 82 grants awarded
  • 2023: 78 grants awarded
  • 2022: 93 grants awarded
  • 2021: 89 grants awarded

Given that they receive "many requests" and maintain quarterly deadlines, competition is likely significant.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that are declined must wait one year before reapplying. However, organizations may receive funding for up to four consecutive years, after which they must take a mandatory two-year hiatus from Foundation funding.

Key Restriction: The Foundation does not make multi-year commitments. Organizations must reapply annually even if previously funded.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's stated priorities and funding patterns, successful applications likely demonstrate:

  1. Clear Alignment with Education Focus: Education is explicitly the Foundation's primary focus area. Applications supporting K-12 education, charter schools, teacher development, or college access in Los Angeles County are most aligned with core priorities.

  2. Barrier-Breaking Programs: The Foundation emphasizes programs that "break down any barrier that prevents a person from continuing to grow and learn." Successful applications should clearly articulate what specific barriers they address and how.

  3. Los Angeles County Impact: Nearly all grants support Los Angeles County organizations. Geographic alignment is essential unless the board determines a program relates to the Foundation's mission in a way that justifies exception.

  4. Operating Support vs. Program Support: The Foundation provides both types of funding. Recent grants show significant operating support awards ($250,000-$500,000 to established organizations), suggesting they value organizational sustainability alongside specific programs.

  5. Complete Documentation: The Foundation explicitly states "incomplete applications will not be processed." Missing any required documentation will result in automatic rejection.

  6. Middle-Income Student Focus: For educational financial assistance programs, the Foundation shows particular interest in "talented middle income students who are unable to obtain assistance from sources specifically available to low income students" - a relatively unique focus area.

  7. Evidence-Based Approaches: Recent grantees include organizations with measurable outcomes and data-driven models (college access programs, charter school networks, etc.).

  8. Established Organizations: Recent grant recipients appear to be established organizations with track records, though the Foundation does accept applications from newer organizations with unaudited financials.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Education first: This is explicitly their primary focus area. If your program addresses educational barriers in Los Angeles County schools, you're in the sweet spot.

  • Geography matters: Los Angeles County focus is firm. Don't apply unless you serve this area or have exceptional circumstances.

  • Complete applications only: They won't process incomplete submissions. Triple-check you have every required document before the deadline.

  • Plan for annual renewals: You can receive funding for up to four years, but must reapply annually. Build relationships and demonstrate impact year-over-year.

  • Two-month decision cycle: With quarterly deadlines and 2-month review periods, you can plan your application timing strategically around your organization's cash flow needs.

  • One-year waiting period after rejection: A declined application means you cannot reapply for one year. Make your first application as strong as possible.

  • Operating support available: Unlike many foundations, they provide significant operating support grants ($250K-$500K range for established organizations). Don't shy away from requesting general support if you meet their mission.

References

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