OVERVIEW: This Major League Baseball team funder supports underserved youth in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Funding interests include education, literacy, sports, recreation, and health.
IP TAKE: Compared to most sports team funders, this one has a very well-established set of guidelines. Grant seekers should propose an idea about literacy or ways to keep kids active.
PROFILE: The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) is the grantmaking branch of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team in Southern California. It seeks to “significantly impact underserved youth in some of the most challenged neighborhoods of Los Angeles.” Like many professional sports team funders, this one is dedicated to local youth in the region. Much of the support seeks to engage kids in sports, help kids stay active, and to boost school success. LADF was previously known as the Dodgers Dream Foundation and was established by the O’Malley family in 1995. The foundation redefined its role in 2013 and has primarily supported underserved youth since then.
LADF has a small grants program that supports local groups with grants three times per year. The grantmaking categories are education and literacy, sports and recreation, and health and wellness. Lately, the funder has prioritized literacy but has also made grants to middle school in-school and after-school programs. Sports programs supported by LADF are those that provide active lifestyles and safe places to play. LADF supports groups that provide direct services to students.
Grant seekers applying for a grant should email a grant application to info@dodgersfoundation.org with the nonprofit organization’s name in the subject line. The annual application deadlines are February 1, March 1, and August 1, and those grants are paid out in May, August, and November. The Greater Los Angeles Area is a strong priority for this funder, so only nonprofits within Los Angeles County should apply. Grant application guidelines are provided on the funder’s website, and groups are typically only considered for grants once per year.
Grantees include Dodger Dreamfields, which builds and refurbishes baseball fields in the area, Summer Night Lights, Vision to Learn, and City Year. The foundation has also supported a college access program in Boyle Heights and participated in career accelerator panel discussions. Some LADF funds are available for supporting fundraisers or special events.
The foundationraises grant funds through retail sales, silent auctions, raffles, and other fundraising events. These include galas, running races, and summer camps. To keep up with the LADF's work and interests, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and subscribe to their e-newsletter. The phone number is 323-224-1412 and the address is 1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90012.
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