What Issues Matter Most to the People of Los Angeles? Public Voting Begins Today at LA2050.org; Philanthropic Funding to Follow

This is the 12th edition of the Goldhirsh Foundation's LA2050 Grants Challenge.
Nearly 900,000 votes have been cast and $27 million distributed to impactful organizations

LOS ANGELES, March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, public voting begins in the innovative, participatory LA2050 Grants Challenge, an annual project of the Goldhirsh Foundation.

The 2025 LA2050 Grants Challenge will award a projected $3 million to dozens of impactful Los Angeles County organizations. $1 million comes from the Goldhirsh Foundation for the issues chosen during the voting period by the people of Los Angeles.

The additional dollars come from a coalition of philanthropic funding partners – a group that already includes the Annenberg Foundation, Snap Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, John N. Calley Foundation, Elbaz Family Foundation, R&S Kayne Foundation, and Fox Foundation.

The theme for the 2025 LA2050 Grants Challenge is LA Together. "These words were chosen prior to the fires that devastated local neighborhoods – but not our communities, nor our collective spirit and will," said Tara Roth, president of the Goldhirsh Foundation. "The idea of 'togetherness,' and of Angelenos everywhere caring for each other has never been more necessary."

How Does the 2025 LA2050 Grants Challenge Work?

First, Angelenos vote online for the issues that matter most to them. Voting takes place March 12 through April 18 at LA2050.org/vote, open to all ages and available in 12+ languages. There are five questions on the survey, which takes as little as two minutes to complete.

Then, between April 28 and June 6, grant applications are open to nonprofits, social enterprises, and government agencies with ideas to address the 10 top-voted issues, as well as additional issues sponsored by the various funding partners.

Next, all of the proposals are carefully evaluated. Then, in late September during the annual LA2050 Grantee Showcase, dozens of winning organizations receive up to $75,000 in grant funding, as well as ongoing social capital support and skills training.

The LA2050 Grants Challenge is also a collaboration with hundreds of Outreach Partners and LA2050 Youth Ambassadors, who are committed to engaging their communities in the voting process.

More than 60 Outreach Partners have signed on, including nonprofits and other impact organizations, family foundations, and the offices of local elected officials. A record-breaking 323 LA2050 Youth Ambassadors are on board, including a Leadership Council of 28 members, representing a wide range of ZIP codes across Los Angeles County. Throughout a six-month period, Youth Ambassadors receive training from LA2050 staff in areas such as community impact, advocacy, and philanthropy.

What Foundation Leaders Are Saying

Each of the eight foundations joining this year's LA2050 Grants Challenge launch are returning members of the coalition. The longest ongoing collaboration is with the Annenberg Foundation, now in its 10th year.

"The Annenberg Foundation is glad to team once again with the Goldhirsh Foundation and our partners in L.A. philanthropy to improve on issues that are most important to Angelenos," said Cinny Kennard, executive director of the Annenberg Foundation. "LA2050 is one of the best vehicles for supporting and building social capital among nonprofits and organizations doing work daily across a range of issues, which is at the heart of our community grantmaking."

The Snap Foundation is an LA2050 Grants Challenge funding partner for the sixth consecutive year. "At Snap Foundation, we believe in investing in bold ideas and organizations that uplift and empower communities, especially young people, to thrive," said Executive Director Joel Arquillos. "We're proud to stand alongside other funders to help bring these solutions to life - because when we work together, Los Angeles moves forward."

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation is also back again as an LA2050 Grants Challenge funding partner. "We envision a city where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and that starts with collaborating with grassroots organizations and civic leaders to address Angelenos' most pressing problems," said Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. "For the third consecutive year, we're proud to uplift Los Angeles through this effort and look forward to the collective impact we'll make."

The R&S Kayne Foundation is an LA2050 Grants Challenge funding partner for the second consecutive year. "We operate from a place of inquiry to support meaningful collaboration. If we are stewarding resources as movement partners then we must work together. We maintain a spirit of 'do with, not for' at R&S Kayne Foundation," said Managing Director Sarah Ali. "Together, with Goldhirsh Foundation and a coalition of funders, we work to ensure LA is a place of possibility, connection, and one day, an exemplar for multi-generational economic empowerment and community health."

LA2050 Grants Challenge History and a Detail About Disaster Preparedness

Since the advent of the LA2050 Grants Challenge, the Goldhirsh Foundation has given $11 million to 155 local social impact organizations, with the help of 890,000 online votes. The complete list of winners is here, and here is a short video. For many, the LA2050 Grants Challenge provided the organization's first funds, or the first significant public airing of their ideas.

Another $16 million has been contributed through the LA2050 Grants Challenge, for a grand total of $27 million since 2013. That's $9.5 million+ additional funding provided to applicants by LA2050's funding partners, and $6.5 million of giving known to be inspired by the LA2050 Grants Challenge.

During the 2024 LA2050 Grants Challenge, 15,000 Angelenos representing 98 percent of LA County ZIP codes cast more than 105,000 votes. For the third consecutive year, housing and homelessness was the top-voted issue. Health care access; community safety; and green space, park access, and trees were among other top selections from a list of 31 options, divided into five categories.

Also, for the third consecutive year, disaster preparedness received the least amount of votes, out of all the 31 issues. With the recent fires, will disaster preparedness receive more attention in 2025? Voting updates and a final tally will be available at LA2050.org and @LA2050 on Instagram.

About LA2050

LA2050 (www.la2050.org) is an initiative driving and tracking progress toward a shared vision for the future of Los Angeles. We are centered around five unique goals that in 2050 Los Angeles will be the best place to learn, create, play, connect, and live. Connect with @LA2050 on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and sign up to receive our newsletter, which includes social impact job listings and events. 

About the Goldhirsh Foundation

At the Goldhirsh Foundation, (www.goldhirshfoundation.org), we connect the dots between the best emerging innovations and the financial, social, and human capital to make them thrive.

MEDIA RESOURCES: https://la2050.org/press    

SOURCE Goldhirsh Foundation