Michael J. Connell Foundation Grant

Michael J. Connell Foundation Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Michael J. Connell Foundation
Last Updated: October 18, 2025

Summary

The Michael J. Connell Foundation Grant supports a variety of initiatives in the Pasadena/Los Angeles area, focusing on cultural, educational, environmental, and medical endeavors. The foundation emphasizes performing and visual arts, environmental preservation, and healthcare access for under-resourced groups. Grants are available for programs that align with these priorities, including arts education and community health projects. However, funding is limited to specific criteria and does not support unsolicited applications or multi-year grants.

Overview

Grant Guidelines The Michael J. Connell Foundation was formed in 1931. For many years we have supported cultural, educational, environmental and medical endeavors, primarily in the Pasadena/ Los Angeles area. We have been long time supporters of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. MJCF has a history of supporting a broad variety of programs primarily initiatives that tie into our core commitments in performing and visual arts and environmental, heath and education programs. Target Needs for the Environment Preservation of natural resources Access to land for all individuals Actively expand, preserve and maintain public lands Expose under-resourced groups to the outdoors Help preserve the land as a healthy habitat for native species Target Needs for Performing and Visual Arts Arts organization that provide professional level content of the highest quality in the area of performance and visual arts with demonstrated efforts to reach a broad audience. Arts education programs that offer sequential, standards-based arts curricula and use arts credentialed teachers with evidence of sustained participation. Programs that provide exposure to the performing arts to young audiences who face barriers to access with the goal of inspiring and building appreciation of the arts Capital grants that directly further the mission of the organization. Target Needs for Education School based programs exposing students to music, art, theater and conservation. Music, art, theater, and outdoor programs targeted at underprivileged groups outside of school. Expanding access to educational resources for youth at risk. Providing access to technology to underprivileged groups. Programs that focus on academic interventions to support student success. Youth development programs supporting students’ academic growth by employing evidence-informed practices. Target Needs for Healthcare Programs intended to enhance access to basic healthcare needs, particularly among under-resourced populations Programs intended to enhance child and family mental wellbeing Programs intended to enhance the social determinants of health (eg programs addressing food insecurity, housing insecurity, etc.) Support Guidelines PROGRAM grants are available for performing arts and visual art organizations to continue programming that aligns with one of the MJCF priority areas. SEED grants are available for start-up projects and new projects within existing organizations that have creative or new solutions to addressing our priority areas in education, particularly if the seed projects create new revenue streams.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

Ineligibility

NO MORE than three years of continuous support will be provided to an organization.NO MULTI-YEAR grants, grants are typically made for a single payment for a current year program.WE DO NOT provide operating support. We rarely donate to CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS.We do not provide support to any unsolicited applicant not located or not providing significant service to the Pasadena/Los Angeles area.MJCF will typically not provide funding to:Purchases of land that do not benefit the public Controversial environmental issues Organizations with a budget over 40 million dollars Social services organizations who offer art for therapeutic or recreational purposes. Support an event or festival Grants to individuals Operating Costs Organizations that limit service to persons to a single religious organization Lobbying or political activities Loans or program related investments Hospitals Medical Research Drug Trials