Foundations that fund recreation and sports in California
These 25 foundations made grants to recreation and sports in California in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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Edwards Lifesciences Foundation
- $25,000 to Camp Del Corazon, Hollywood: Camp del corazon
- $25,000 to Camp Del Corazon, Hollywood: Happy heart festival
- $22,500 to Together We Rise, Brea: General operating support
How to apply: Online form, audited financial reports when available for grant applications coming through the annual grant cycle.
Deadlines: The application usually opens in mid-may and closes 30-days later (these dates vary).
Restrictions: Types of programs supported - every heartbeat matters programs: programs that educate, screen and/or treat underserved people to reduce the global burden of heart valve disease - other health-focused programs: programs that advance health...
La84 Foundation
- $175,000 to Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Los Angeles: Youth sports
- $100,000 to Inter Tribal Sports, San Diego: Youth sports
- $40,000 to Foundation for Interscholastic Youth Athletics, Los Angeles: Youth sports
How to apply: Please see website at www.la84.org
Deadlines: Please see website at www.la84.org
Restrictions: Please see website at www.la84.org
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund
- $100,000 to Ncga Foundation, Pebble Beach: Youth on course
- $10,000 to Youth Tennis Advantage, San Francisco: 2024 annual campaign
- $2,500 to Girls on the Run Bay Area, San Francisco: General operating grant
How to apply: After reviewing the fund's current priorities and limitations, interested applicants should submit an initial letter of inquiry for review. Applicants who receive a favorable response to their initial inquiry will be invited to submit a formal proposal with supporting materials...
Deadlines: There are no deadlines for submission; applications all year
Restrictions: Organizations must qualify under the provisions of internal revenue code section 501(c)(3).
Ueberroth Family Foundation
- $50,000 to Casa, Santa Ana: Foundation goal
- $25,000 to Miracles for Kids, Tustin: Foundation goal
- $15,000 to Crystal Cove Conservancy, Newport Coast: Foundation goal
How to apply: Standard solicitation forms
The Stanley S Langendorf Foundation
- $10,000 to California State Parks Foundation, San Francisco: Community / social services
- $5,000 to Outward Bound California, San Francisco: Youth
- $5,000 to Pogo Park, Richmond: Community / social services
How to apply: Please visit www.sslfoundation.org
Deadlines: Please visit www.sslfoundation.org
Restrictions: Please visit www.sslfoundation.org
Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation
- $50,000 to San Diego Parks Foundation, La Jolla: General assistance
- $50,000 to Pro Kids Golf Academy Inc, San Diego: General assistance
- $20,000 to Special Olympics Southern California, Long Beach: General assistance
How to apply: Written
Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Foundation
- $50,000 to Rad Camp, Irvine: Payment for support of the youth
- $25,000 to Casa, Monterey Park: Payment for support of abused or neglected children
- $25,000 to Special Olympics of Southern California, Long Beach: Payment for support of the disabled
How to apply: Letter form
Restrictions: Grants are usually made in southern california
Hutton Foundation Dba Hutton Parker Foundation
- $24,000 to Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation, Santa Barbara: Capital/multi-year grants
- $15,000 to Foundation for Girsh Park, Santa Barbara: Core/general operating support
- $1,000 to American Youth Soccer Organization, Santa Barbara: Discretionary
How to apply: Organizations seeking grants should submit the information (see schedule o) as required on the copy of the application forms (grant application cover sheet) or (program related investment preliminary application) all applications are avilable on the website at...
Deadlines: Visit www.huttonfoundation.org for various deadlines.
Restrictions: Grants are limited to 501(c)(3)/509(a) public charities in california (see schedule o for continuation) (special consideration to orange, riverside and santa barbara counties) in the areas of education; health & human services; civic &...
Flora L Thornton Foundation
- $30,000 to Yosemite Conservancy, San Francisco: General support
- $5,000 to Bay Area Warriors, San Francisco: General support
- $5,000 to First Base Foundation, Mill Valley: General support
How to apply: No specific form
Thornton S Jr and Katrina D Glide Foundation
- $6,000 to Deity Animal Rescue and Foundation, Los Angeles: Shelter dog lifeline fund: veterinary care for rescue dogs in la county.
- $4,000 to San Diego River Park Foundation, San Diego: Wildlife release project: to support the release of rehabilitated wildlife in the wild
- $2,000 to California State Parks Foundation, San Francisco: Supplies and support for year-round activation of volunteer stewardship in state parks,...
How to apply: See the grant application on the foundation website at www.glidefoundation.org/grants.
Deadlines: See the grant application on the foundation website at www.glidefoundation.org/grants.
Restrictions: See the grant application on the foundation website at www.glidefoundation.org/grants.
Earl B & Loraine H Miller Foundation
- $5,000 to Partners of Parks, Long Beach: Youth scholarship program
- $1,000 to Partners of Parks, Long Beach: Support for 2025 juneteenth celebration
- $1,000 to Mack Calvin Youth Empowerment Foundation, Los Angeles: Youth basketball and academic camp
How to apply: New applicants must complete a letter of intent (loi) for eligibility screening prior to proceeding to the application step of the grants process. Organizations who submitted applications for the 2025/2026 grant cycle need only access their online account and fill out a new...
Deadlines: Application: february 28, 2025
Restrictions: Organizations must meet one of the following basic eligibility criteria: - nonprofit organizations that are tax exempt under irs section 501(c)3 - community groups that have a 501(c)3 organization serving as their fiscal sponsor -...
Hobsonlucas Family Foundation
- $1,500 to Outward Bound California, San Francisco: General donation
- $1,000 to Special Olympics Northern California, Pleasant Hill: General donation
- $1,000 to Special Olympics Northern California, Pleasant Hill: General donation
How to apply: Letter with information regarding request.
Deadlines: There are no submission deadlines.
Restrictions: There are no restrictions or limitations on awards.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- $270,000 to Pogo Park, Richmond: 81693 general operating support for pogo park, 2024-2025
- $10,000 to Pogo Park, Richmond: 80662 general operating support for pogo park, 2023-2024
How to apply: Most of rwjf's grants are made through targeted grant programs and funding partnerships. Rwjf's funding priorities and calls for proposals are described on www.rwjf.org.
Deadlines: No deadlines, except when foundation issues a call for proposal (cfp) or request for proposal (rfp).
Restrictions: Rwjf is dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. We are a national philanthropy that advances transformative systems...
Bourns Foundation
- $169,171 to Riverside Community Services Foundation, Riverside: Payment 5 out of 5 as the naming sponsor for the bourns family youth innovation center...
- $10,000 to Riverside Community Services Foundation, Riverside: Gala sponsorship for the city of riverside parks, recreation and community services...
How to apply: Funding application required
Deadlines: Deadlines: february 15, may 15, september 1, november 15
Restrictions: Emphasis on science and technology education in californi
New York Life Foundation
- $90,013 to Together We Rise Corporation, Brea: Cca general
- $50,000 to Jamestown Community Center Inc, San Francisco: Cca general
How to apply: Please refer to the foundation's website for full grant criteria: www.newyorklife.com/foundation.
Deadlines: Please refer to the foundation's website for full grant criteria: www.newyorklife.com/foundation.
Restrictions: Please refer to the foundation's website for full grant criteria: www.newyorklife.com/foundation.
Ross Stores Foundation
- $100,000 to Golden State Community Foundation, San Francisco: Youth program
- $20,000 to Oakland Genesis Soccer Club Corporation, Oakland: Youth program
How to apply: See general explanation statement
Deadlines: See general explanation statement
Restrictions: See general explanation statement
The Schmidt Family Foundation
- $100,000 to Magical Bridge Foundation, Palo Alto: Local community support in california
- $10,000 to East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring, Palo Alto: Local community support in california
How to apply: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Deadlines: Online process, please see details at: https://tsffoundation.org/. Https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Restrictions: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Bothin Foundation
- $50,000 to City Surf Project, San Francisco: Amended: purchase a new vehicle to transport youth (and physical modifications for...
- $10,000 to Outward Bound California, San Francisco: Emergency grant
How to apply: For guidelines and more information about this foundation, see www.bothinfoundation.org
Deadlines: For guidelines and more information about this foundation, see www.bothinfoundation.org
Restrictions: For guidelines and more information about this foundation, see www.bothinfoundation.org
Mark and Dorothy Smith Family Foundation
- $30,000 to Casa, Santa Maria: Support
- $25,000 to Oasis, Orcutt: Support
How to apply: Written-letter form
Deadlines: Open
Restrictions: Local-charitable or educational
Millsdavis Foundation
- $50,000 to Pogo Park, Richmond: High quality enrichment programs at elm playlot
- $2,000 to Pogo Park, Richmond: Honorarium for the millsdavis foundation site visit
How to apply: All applications must be submitted through the foundations online application portal to be considered for funding.
Deadlines: The application process is open from september 1 through january 1 annually.
Restrictions: Program goal: the goal of the millsdavis foundation is to promote a sustainable future through the amelioration of social and environmental challenges. Program funding: the millsdavis foundation's areas of interest are programs that...
Westly Foundation
- $25,000 to Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation, Redwood City: General & Unrestricted
- $25,000 to East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring, Palo Alto: General & Unrestricted
How to apply: Westly.org
Deadlines: Westly.org
Restrictions: Westly.org
Walter and Elise Haas Fund
- $25,000 to Api Cultural Center Inc, Oakland: One year of project support for public programs that champion bay area asian and pacific...
- $20,000 to Destiny Arts Center, Oakland: One year of general operating support for an arts-based youth development program that...
How to apply: Sample form available upon request
The Caruso Family Foundation
- $42,007 to A Chance for Children Foundation, Malibu: General operations
- $2,500 to Special Olympics Southern California, Long Beach: General operations
Alphonse A Burnand Medical and Educational Foundation
- $20,000 to Christmas Circle Community Park, Borrego Springs: Maintenance expenses
- $20,000 to Christmas Circle Community Park, Borrego Springs: Maintenance expenses
How to apply: Full explanation with application, including proof of exemption
Restrictions: Generally borrego springs area and no grants to individuals
The Parker Foundation
- $25,000 to Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation, San Diego: General support
- $10,000 to California State Parks Foundation, San Francisco: General support
How to apply: Verification of exempt status; specific purpose and relevant project detail; budget of organization and project; method of measuring results of project; reports on outcomes and results will be required six months after grant receipt. See www.theparkerfoundation.org for more...
Restrictions: Funds are limited to projects benefitting san diego county.
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