Eisner Foundation Grant Programs - Los Angeles

The Eisner Foundation Grant Programs in Los Angeles aim to support innovative intergenerational solutions that strengthen communities. Grants ranging from $100,000 to $300,000 assist organizations in their operations, project support, and capacity building, fostering collaboration across generations. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations based in the Los Angeles area, with a focus on measurable impact and effective leadership. The foundation emphasizes efficiency and proven success in grant proposals.

Mission: The Eisner Foundation identifies, advocates for, and invests in high-quality and innovative programs that unite multiple generations for the betterment of our communities.
Vision: A just, inclusive, and thriving society comprised of generations working together for the benefit of all.
The Eisner Foundation supports organizations offering intergenerational solutions to society’s greatest challenges.
Intergenerational solutions...
include more than one generation actively involvedare beneficial to all partiesmake communities stronger
Types of Support
General Operating Grants - Unrestricted funds that support the general operations of an organization.Project Support Grants - Funds that are designated to a specific project carried out by the organization.Capacity-Building Grants - Funds that are for board and staff development, technological assistance and upgrades, and strategic planning.Capital Project Grants - Funds specifically for the purpose of purchasing, renovating, or construction of facilities.Opportunity Grants - smaller organizations or larger organizations launching new intergenerational initiatives, grants up to $25,000.This program aims to help smaller organizations grow and gain credibility, and to encourage organizations to be innovative and entrepreneurial in developing new intergenerational solutions. These grants are available for one-year terms, and are renewable for small organizations.
Grants typically range from $100,000 to $300,000, and can be single or muti-year grants.
Criteria
When evaluating organizations as potential philanthropic partners, we focus on the following criteria:
Vision: Our goal is to ally with organizations that use an intergenerational lens to combat structural challenges in today’s society, not merely alleviate the symptoms. A clear vision, combined with a deep understanding of the challenges an organization wants to solve, should inspire a mission with measurable goals and outcomes that lead to success.
Leadership: In a crowded sector with many redundant nonprofits, good leadership gives rise to success. We seek organizations with leadership teams that actively empower their staff and the next generation of leaders.
Efficiency: We generally fund organizations that allocate at least 75% of their operating expenses directly to their programs, whatever they may be. Recognizing that different types of organizations have different expenses, we benchmark organizations against their peers, and compare the efficiencies of nonprofits with similar missions and geographical locations.
Effectiveness: The Eisner Foundation seeks organizations that have demonstrated success, and have measurable patterns of achievement that can be used to benchmark future accomplishments. For those Opportunity Grant applicant organizations that have been in existence less than three years, our review will focus on leadership and expertise or special understanding of issues related to the sector in which the program operates. For those Opportunity Grant applicants that are established organizations starting new programs, we will evaluate the achievements of the organization.

Eligibility

Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations based in Los Angeles County or doing work that benefits populations in Los Angeles County are eligible to apply.Organizations that are declined must wait one full year before reapplying to the Foundation.Organization that received a past grant from The Eisner Foundation are still eligible to apply for a grant, but must wait until the period for which you received funding has passed.

Ineligibility

No grant is approved without a site visit, even if the organization has received funding from The Eisner Foundation previously.Organizations unable to show proven past results are less likely to garner Eisner Foundation support.Opportunity Grants are non-renewable.Large organizations with successful initiatives may apply for additional grant funds after one year, but cannot renew an Opportunity Grants.