Public voting began Wednesday in the LA2050 Grants Challenge, an annual project that will produce an estimated $3 million to dozens of Los Angeles County organizations chosen by voters.
The Goldhirsh Foundation will provide $1 million, with the additional dollars coming from a coalition of philanthropic partners including the Annenberg Foundation, Snap Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, John N. Calley Foundation, Elbaz Family Foundation, R&S Kayne Foundation and Fox Foundation.
The theme for the 2025 LA2050 Grants Challenge is LA Together.
“These words were chosen prior to the fires that devastated local neighborhoods — but not our communities, nor our collective spirit and will,” Goldhirsh Foundation President Tara Roth said. “The idea of `togetherness,’ and of Angelenos everywhere caring for each other has never been more necessary.”
Angelenos will vote online for the issues that matter most to them, with voting taking place through April 18 at LA2050.org/vote. The voting is open to all ages and is available in 12 languages. There are five questions on the survey.
Between April 28 and June 6, grant applications are open to nonprofits, social enterprises and government agencies with ideas to address the top 10 issues chosen by voters, as well as additional issues sponsored by the various funding partners.
Then in late September during the annual LA2050 Grantee Showcase, dozens of winning organizations will receive up to $75,000 in grant funding, as well as ongoing social capital support and skills training.
The LA2050 Grants Challenge is also a collaboration with hundreds of Outreach Partners and LA2050 Youth Ambassadors, who are committed to engaging their communities in the voting process. More than 60 Outreach Partners have signed on, including nonprofits and other impact organizations, family foundations and the offices of local elected officials.
During the 2024 LA2050 Grants Challenge, 15,000 Angelenos representing 98 percent of L.A. County ZIP codes cast more than 105,000 votes, according to the Goldhirsh Foundation. For the third consecutive year, housing and homelessness was the top-voted issue. Health care access, community safety, and green space, park access and trees were among other top selections.
Also, for the third consecutive year, disaster preparedness received the least amount of votes, out of all the 31 issues.