Southern California

Program Overview

The Southern California Program has a broad mission to support projects in five areas: Arts and Culture, Civic and Community services, Early Childhood care and education, Health Care, and Pre-collegiate Education. Within these areas of interest, the Foundation seeks to promote the healthy development of children and youth, strengthen families, and enrich the lives of people in the region.

The Foundation prioritizes support for organizations that strengthen the resiliency of under-resourced communities in Los Angeles County. We place a special emphasis on projects that focus on children and youth from low-income families and special needs populations, including the developmentally disabled, foster children, and homeless families.

The Foundation supports capital projects, expansion of programs that are promising or part of a larger effort, piloting new models, and systems change initiatives. We award grants for projects that strategically address compelling issues and have the potential for significant impact on the target population, region, or field. Please see our grant abstracts for examples of recently funded projects.

The Southern California Program’s process consists of an optional concept review, an application, and an invitation-only site visit.

Funding Guidelines

Please keep in mind the Southern California Program’s areas of interest and funding guidelines:

We Fund Projects That:

We Do Not Fund Projects that:

Are consistent with the Foundation’s funding areas of interest
Are for construction, renovation, and/or equipment
Demonstrate organizational leadership and support
Reflect evidence of thorough implementation planning
Focus on low-income children, youth, and families
Improve the lives of those who are uniquely abled, in the foster care or probation systems, or are homeless
Can result in significant, long-term impact for the target population, organization, and/or region
Are innovative and have potential to inform the field and/or make “systems change” at scale
Can provide data on the effectiveness of the approach
Expand or replicate a proven program or model
Demonstrate other funding sources are being fully utilized

Occur outside of Los Angeles County
Are only for one year (calendar or fiscal)
Are for capital but lack site control (via signed lease or closed escrow) and, if required, a Conditional Use Permit
Are proposed by organizations with a pending leadership transition or have appointed an interim CEO or Executive Director
Are for the same purposes previously funded by the Foundation
Are for ongoing support of existing programs, unrestricted funding, or administrative overhead.
Reduce an operating deficit or are for deferred facilities maintenance
Establish or build endowments or award scholarships
Sponsor special events such as fundraisers, galas, and/or conferences
Underwrite book publication and/or film and theater production
Request less than $100,000

Grant Application Process

Concept Review

(optional)

We strongly encourage eligible organizations to participate in the concept review process to receive feedback on project ideas prior to submitting an application.

Application

Eligible organizations may submit an application for consideration by the Foundation.

Site Visit

We notify applicants if they are invited to host a site visit for Foundation staff.

Reporting

After receiving the grant, the Grantee will provide annual reports on the progress of the grant to the Foundation.

Grant Cycle Timeline

The Foundation awards grants twice annually in June and December:

For the June grant cycle:

Concept Review (optional)

Application Deadline

Invite Notification

Invitation-Only Site Visit Phase

October 15 to
November 30 at 4:30pm (PT)

January 5* by
4:30 pm (PT)

By February 22

March to mid-April

For the December grant cycle:

Concept Review (optional)

Application Deadline

Invite Notification

Invitation-Only Site Visit Phase

April 15 to May 31 at 4:30pm (PT)

July 1* by
4:30 pm (PT)

By August 22

September to
mid-October

*If the date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline is 4:30pm (PT) the following Monday.

ELIGIBILITY

The Foundation awards grants to organizations headquartered in Southern California. The Foundation may also consider national or statewide organizations that have an independent affiliate, local chapter or office in Southern California for projects that benefit communities within Los Angeles County.

Tax

Organizations must provide:

An IRS determination letter demonstrating exemption from federal taxation as defined by 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and designating one of the following:
• A public charity as defined by Section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) or 170(b)(A)(I-VI) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• An exempt operating foundation as defined by Section 4940(d)(2).
A California FTB letter demonstrating exemption from California State Franchise or Income Tax under Section 23701(d) of the Revenue and Taxation Code, if located in the State of California.
Current full, certified, audited financial statements prepared on an annual basis in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. If in existence less than five years, the organization must be able to provide at least two consecutive full, certified, audited financial statements prepared on an annual basis.
The most recently filed complete Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), including Public Charity Status and Public Support (Schedule A).
• Any organization designated as an exempt operating foundation must be able to provide the most recently filed complete Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF) in place of Form 990.

Organization

If the Organization:

Will be part of a collaborative project, the lead institution must be identified and all members must meet the Foundation’s eligibility requirements. We may request additional documentation from the other members of the collaboration.
Is a government unit as defined by Section 170(b)(1)(A)(v) and (c)(1) and, therefore, does not receive a determination letter as to such organization’s tax exempt classification from the Internal Revenue Service, the organization must submit a Declaration of Status signed by the organization’s Chief Executive or President and by its Chief Legal Officer. The declaration must specify:
• the federal, state or local laws pursuant to which the organization is created and governed;
• whether the organization also is a school as defined by Section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii), hospital or medical research institute as defined by Section 170(b)(1)(A)(iii) or other organization described in Section 170(b)
• that the organization is legally and financially responsible for its debts; and
• that the organization is not a non-operating private foundation within the meaning of Section 509.
Is part of a group that received a determination letter as to such group’s tax exempt classification from the Internal Revenue Service, such organization must provide such determination letter that identifies such organization as part of such group. Such organization must also provide an attestation as to the continued group status of such organization. Such attestation must be signed by the organization’s chief executive or president and by its chief legal officer. The Form 990 required for such organization may be the Form 990 of the group.

Legal

All tax-exempt documentation, audited financial statements and the Form 990 must be in the same, current and full name of the qualifying organization.

The management and fiscal condition of an institution is considered when reviewing an institution for eligibility.

The Parties to a grant agreement will agree it is deemed to have been entered into in the County of Los Angeles, State of California; and, California law will apply to the interpretation and enforcement of the grant provisions.

Ineligible

Grants to individuals
Private foundations (other than exempt operating foundations) or 509(a)(3) organizations
Organizations that do not have at least two consecutive years of full, certified, audited financial statements
Organizations that are located outside the United States
Organizations that do not have a tax-exempt ruling from the federal government and (if located in California) the State of California; or if a government unit, do not provide a signed Declaration of Status
Organizations that are subsidiaries or affiliates of larger entities that do not have a separate board of directors and independent audited financial statements
“Conduit” organizations, unified funds or organizations that use grant funds from donors to support other organizations or individuals

Please feel free to contact socal@wmkeck.org in advance to check eligibility and tax requirements.