Perenchio Foundation
Perenchio Foundation

APPLICATION WINDOW FOR OPERATING SUPPORT IS CLOSED

We are not accepting requests at this time.

Perenchio Foundation

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR MULTI-YEAR OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT

Operating Support Grant Overview

The Perenchio Foundation provides grants to visual and performing arts organizations in Los Angeles County, particularly those that partner with, support, and represent historically underfunded communities. We believe that the arts play an essential role in creating a more equitable, culturally vibrant, and inclusive region. Our multi-year Operating Support Grants are intended to be flexible and provide support to visual and performing arts organizations in Los Angeles to strengthen their infrastructure and expand their ability to serve communities and create impactful experiences for current and future generations.

  • Eligibility Requirements for Arts Organizations

    To be eligible to apply for a Capital Improvements Grant, a visual and/or performing arts organization must be based in and serving the communities of Los Angeles County. The following requirements must also be met:

    • Be a 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored organization
    • Have a mission focused on arts programming
    • Have active and ongoing programming, activities, and/or direct services performed, exhibited, or provided in LA County
    • Have staffing and operational capacity necessary to manage project, with at least three paid full-time staff members for the current fiscal year
    • Have been established and operating for at least five (5) consecutive years
    • Have an annual operating budget of less than $10 million
    • Have a Board of Directors and/or Advisory Council
    • Have received a minimum of 2 bids/cost estimates to inform budget request for project if under $50,000, or a minimum of 3 to inform request of $50,000 or over
    • Project that funding request can be implemented in less than 18 months

    Ineligible organizations include:

    • Organizations that do not dedicate at least 80% of operating budget to arts programming. This includes: therapeutic and social services, healthcare, and living collections (such as botanical gardens)
    • National and/or statewide arts organizations
    • Educational institutions that lead to a degree or diploma
    • Municipal or County government agencies and departments
    • Regranting organizations
  • Timeline

    We understand that some organizations may have more time-sensitive projects, while others may need additional time to gather bids and cost estimates to inform their capital improvements request.

    Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 8, 2023.

    • Applications submitted by March 8: will be prioritized for notification in late July
      • Depending on the volume and complexity of applications received by March 8, some organizations may not hear from us until October.
    • Applications submitted from March 8 – June 8: will receive notification in late October
      • Submitting earlier within this timeframe increases the likelihood that we may be able to respond in July.

    We encourage organizations to submit early and not wait until the final deadline.

    Application Submissions Window: January 8 – June 8, 2023

    • Application Opens: Thursday, January 19, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. PST
    • Application Closes: Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. PST
      • Please be mindful of the noon deadline, as no extensions will be provided beyond this time.

    Review Process: March through September 2023

    • As part of our review process, we may conduct virtual meetings and/or in-person site visits. may be conducted.
  • Contact Our Team

    For questions about your organization’s eligibility to apply for this grant, read through our Eligibility Requirements above before submitting a question.

    For technical issues or questions about the application process, read the Questions and Answers section below. If your question is not addressed there, contact our team.

    If you are unsure whether your capital improvements project fits into the scope of this grant or have a request that is under $10,000, provide the following in your question to receive guidance on whether to proceed with an application:

    • A brief summary (2-3 sentences) of what your project entails
    • The grant amount you would like to request from the Perenchio Foundation

    Ask a Question

  • Apply Now

    Start Application

Frequently Asked Questions

  • About Operating Support Grant

    NEEDS CONTENT

  • When to Reach Out to Our Team

    What if I have questions about the application?

    You are welcome to reach out to our team if:

    • You are experiencing a technical issue
    • You have a capital improvements project but are unsure whether it fits into the scope of this grant

    Send us your question here, and we will provide guidance on how to proceed.

  • Fiscally Sponsored Organizations

    Should fiscally sponsored organizations start an application under their own name or under the name of their fiscal sponsor?

    • A fiscally sponsored organization that is not in the IRS database should click “Entering an Organization Name” and enter their name there.
    • Then, they should enter their fiscal sponsor’s information within the application, starting with the question “Does your organization have a Fiscal Sponsor?”

    I am a fiscally sponsored organization, but I started an application under my fiscal sponsor’s name. How should I fix this?

    • If you have not yet made significant progress in your application, please start a new application under the name of your own organization.
    • If you have already made significant progress in your original application under your fiscal sponsor’s name, notify the team here

    What information will fiscally sponsored organizations need to provide about their fiscal sponsor?

    If you are a fiscally sponsored organization, you will need to provide:

    • Name, address, and Tax ID of your fiscal sponsor
    • Contact at the fiscal sponsor organization
    • Memorandum of understanding (MOU) or letter of agreement between your organization and your fiscal sponsor

    How should fiscally sponsored organizations answer the budget-related questions in the application?

    For organizations that are fiscally sponsored, be sure to include your own organization’s information in all budget-related questions, not that of your fiscal sponsor.

  • Arts Service Organizations

    Do you accept applications from arts service organizations?
    Arts service organizations that have their principal offices in, serve Los Angeles County communities, and meet the rest of our eligibility requirements are welcome to apply.

    National or statewide arts service organizations are not eligible for this funding cycle.

  • How to Apply

    How do I create and access my profile on your application portal?

    Click here to start the application.

    • On the right side of the screen, you will see a “Sign In” box and an option to create a new account. Click “Create an account” and enter your email address. This will be your username on the application portal.
    • Look for an email from Perenchio Foundation in your inbox, and check your spam folder if you do not see it. Click “Activate Your Account” to set up your password.
    • You will now be able to start a new grant application, enter your organization’s name, and take the eligibility questionnaire.

    Can I start my application and come back to it later?

    Yes, the system autosaves so you can come back to it anytime.

    Can I print the application prior to, during, or after filling it out?

    Yes, you can print the application at any time. The application can be printed with or without your answers.

    Will I receive confirmation that my application was received?

    Yes, when you submit your application, you will receive an auto-response email to confirm that your application was received. If you do not receive one, check your spam folder. If the confirmation is not in your spam folder, please reach out to us here.

  • Review Process

    What criteria will you use to assess applications?

    The Foundation’s priorities when evaluating an application will include an organization’s ability to clearly describe their project and the need(s) that it is addressing. We ask organizations to describe their programming and reach in a simple, concise way that is free of jargon and would be easily understood by anyone reading about their work.

    The following criteria will also be taken into consideration:

    1. Project Need & Feasibility
      • Clear description of how proposed capital improvements project will address a need and help the organization operate more effectively and/or sustainably
      • Proposed capital improvements that can be feasibly implemented within 18 months and for the projected total cost
    2. Alignment with Foundation Values
      • Alignment of organization and proposed project with the Perenchio Foundation’s values of quality, accessibility, and permanence
      • Practice and culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion
    3. Community Engagement & Impact
      • Plays a vital and demonstrable role in communities served
      • Provides and/or increases access to arts and culture programming for historically undercapitalized communities
    4. Leadership & Operational Capacity
      • Effective leadership and sound financial management practices
      • Staffing to oversee project and/or a plan to hire contractor(s) to complete project

    Will you conduct site visits as part of the review process?

    We may conduct virtual meetings and/or in-person site visits for the Foundation team to learn more about the need(s) behind a proposed project and/or the organization’s operational capacity to manage it. If needed, we will reach out to organizations accordingly.

    How do I check on the status of my request?

    Please refrain from emailing or calling about the status of requests. The Foundation will contact you via email if more information is needed. Otherwise, all organizations will hear from us in late July or late October.

    May applicants contact the Perenchio Foundation’s Board of Directors about their application?

    Communication with members of our Board of Directors is highly discouraged. All applications will be reviewed fairly and objectively, and we ask organizations to respect this policy and the privacy of our Board.

  • About 2022 Grants Cycle

    How are these grants structured?

    Our multi-year Operating Support Grants provide significant unrestricted operating support over three years. Recipients are small and mid-sized organizations whose mission is anchored on providing arts programming in Los Angeles County.

    What can funds be used for?

    We intend these grants to be flexible and to support organizational leaders in their efforts to strengthen capacity–from helping to cover day-to-day expenses, to investing in organizational learning, to hiring more staff.

    What types of organizations were eligible?

    Organizations eligible for funding were 501(c)(3) and/or fiscally sponsored organizations located in and serving Los Angeles County with annual operating budgets of $15 million or less.

    How were recipients selected?

    The Foundation employs a multi-dimensional, equity-centered process for evaluating and selecting grantees. Factors taken into consideration include:

    • Application review
    • Community input from review panelists, who are multidisciplinary arts practitioners actively working across the region
    • Organizational financial health, steady leadership, and solid governance practices
    • Site visits
    • Alignment with Foundation values and mission

    Will Operating Support Grants be offered in 2023?

    No. Operating Support Grants will not be offered in 2023. Our current focus is our Capital Improvements Grant. Future operating support funding cycles will be shared here on our website and with our mailing list.

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Perenchio Foundation: 21 Miller Alley Suite 210, Pasadena, CA 91103