Springboard Fund Grant

The Springboard Fund Grant, provided by the Durfee Foundation, offers $70,000 over two years to assist emerging organizations in Los Angeles County. This grant supports innovative leaders who implement community-driven strategies, linking them with experienced mentors. Organizations must demonstrate effective leadership and engage with the communities they serve. The program emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging applications from historically marginalized groups to foster impactful change.

NOTE: We highly encourage prospective applicants to schedule a call with a our Durfee staff prior to applying.
Background
The Springboard program supports emerging organizations and leaders who are implementing creative and novel strategies to address challenges in Los Angeles County.
Durfee believes the best approaches to problems often come from people with lived experience of the issue. We look for the leaders who are deeply rooted in the community, and for responsive organizations that are taking a surprising, different strategy to an issue facing Los Angeles County, pulling from various disciplines, issue areas, and interests.
The program offers two-year general operating support of $70,000, or $35,000 each year. In addition, each organization is paired with a mentor for the two-year grant period: a Durfee alum with deep and relevant expertise who will provide advice and assistance. Most Springboard organizations tell us that this aspect is even more valuable than the financial support.
Goals
Support dynamic leaders who apply creative, community-driven strategies to challenges in LA county
Assist emerging community organizations in advancing to the next stage of their development
Link new leaders with established mentors who can guide their organizational path
Durfee is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek organizations whose mission, values, and staff are rooted in and reflect the communities they serve. We encourage applications from organizations that work with historically marginalized communities, including but not limited to BIPOC, LGBTQ, and low-income, among others.

Eligibility

Organizations eligible to apply must:Be located in and serve Los Angeles County with a social benefit missionFocus on applying an inventive strategy to a community issueHave dynamic and effective leadership that comes from the community it servesEngage multiple stakeholders — people, communities, organizations — for input and accountabilityHave a program that is already underwayBe in operation for less than five yearsHave a feasible action plan to animate a big idea through identifiable, concrete stepsBe at a critical developmental stage so that Springboard funding can be at a tipping point for successHave an annual budget of $250,000 or less

Ineligibility

Declined applicants may reapply, but only once.  A phone call is required in advance of a second application.