GRANT PARTNERS
We think of our grantees as an ecosystem, with individual partners adding value in unique and complementary ways. The idea is that no matter where our entrepreneurs are located in Los Angeles, and no matter where they’re at in their entrepreneurial journey, there will be a FOUND/LA partner nearby who can help take their business to the next level.
PARTNER
Inclusive Action for the City
GRANT TITLE
Loan Capital to Support a Just Economic Recovery for Small Businesses
GRANT DESCRIPTION
To support lower interest rates and additional capital for a new loan product in order to support a just economic recovery for small businesses and micro-entreprenuers in low-income communities in Los Angeles.
ABOUT THE ORG
Inclusive Action for the City is a community development organization whose mission is to bring people together to build strong, local economies that uplift low-income urban communities through advocacy and transformative economic development initiatives. They are newly recognized as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) as well.
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PARTNER
Imagine LA
GRANT TITLE
Promoting Economic Mobility through Living Wage Career Pathways
GRANT DESCRIPTION
To increase economic mobility among families who have recently experienced homelessness or those on the bring of homelessness by helping them to access living-wage career pathways.
ABOUT THE ORG
Imagine LA prevents first-time and repeat homelessness and equips families to maintain housing stability and thrive long-term.
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PARTNER
Downtown Women’s Center
GRANT TITLE
DWC Social Enterprise – Setting the State for Growth through 2023
GRANT DESCRIPTION
To support the employment of 35 women at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness in DWC’s social enterprise, MADE by DWC, contributing to ending homelessness through self-sufficiency and economic empowerment.
ABOUT THE ORG
The Downtown Women’s Center envisions a Los Angeles with every woman housed and on a path to personal stability. It’s mission is to end homelessness for women in greater Los Angeles through housing, wellness, employment, and advocacy.
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PARTNER
Public Media Group of Southern California (KCET)
GRANT TITLE
SoCal Wanderer x FOUND/LA Digital Series
GRANT DESCRIPTION
To create five digital segments that will shine a light on how local, women-owned businesses in Los Angeles not only add color and flavor to a community or neighborhood, but how they enhance the lives of the people around then.
ABOUT THE ORG
The Public Media Group of Southern California tells stories that matter through original programs that reflect the diversity of our region, and through the full schedule of trusted PBS stations. A donor-supported institution, PMGSC sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations and delivers social impact through a variety of services.
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PARTNER
USC Office of Civic Engagement
GRANT TITLE
Bridges to Business Success
GRANT DESCRIPTION
To provide customized and comprehensive support to accelerate the growth of local diverse small business enterprises.
ABOUT THE ORG
The University of Southern California Office of Civic Engagement is committed to serving and empowering our local communities. The Economic Development Programs specializes in supporting micro, small and medium-sized business owners and entrepreneurs that include veteran, woman, minority and multicultural businesses to build, develop and thrive.
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PARTNER
Multicultural Women Executive Leadership Foundation
GRANT TITLE
Scholarships for Multicultural Entrepreneurs
GRANT DESCRIPTION
FOUND/LA’s funding will provide scholarships to empower local business owners to take their business to the next level by participating in the Multicultural Women Entrepreneur Program at USC During Fall of 2019 and Spring of 2020.
ABOUT THE ORG
The Multicultural Women Executive Leadership Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers and supports leadership and entrepreneurship training and development to empower multicultural women and young girls. Its focus is on strengthening the US economic landscape by leveraging multicultural women’s “cultural capital” through customized gender and cultural education, access to business capital, mentorship and a support network. It accomplishes this by empowering multicultural women to develop leadership and entrepreneurial intelligence, create jobs and develop leaders, thus spawning a new generation of successfully sustainable multicultural high-level leaders and companies.
Diversity leads to strongest business results, yet change is slow and multicultural women remain underrepresented in leadership positions and entrepreneurial ventures. The programs offered by Multicultural Women Executive Leadership Foundation are focused and curated for the professional and personal development of all women leaders, including Executive Women, Entrepreneur Women, and Millennial Leaders. From embracing the principles used in Harvard University’s groundbreaking Authentic Leadership program, to learning curriculum based on cutting edge research taught by USC Faculty Scholars, these are one of a kind programs addressing multiple facets of leadership development. Men are also encouraged to apply.
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PARTNER
Pacific Community Ventures
GRANT TITLE
COVID-19 Crisis Relief & Recovery Support
GRANT DESCRIPTION
To provide loans to underserved entrepreneurs who have been negatively impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant support’s Pacific Community Ventures’ effort to invest in underestimated entrepreneurs and create good jobs that address racial and gender wealth gaps while building community wealth.
ABOUT THE ORG
Pacific Community Ventures envisions a world of thriving communities where everyone has a fair shake. Their mission os to invest in small businesses, create good jobs for working people, and make markets work for social good. They acheive their mission through a model that combines affordable loans with pro-bono advisin, impact measurement, evaluation and research, and tools and small grants that address racial and gender wealth gaps.
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PARTNER
Inclusive Action for the City
GRANT TITLE
The Semi’a Fund: Low Interest Loans for Entrepreneurs
To narrow the lending gap for underserved entrepreneurs in Los Angeles.
ABOUT THE ORG
Inclusive Action for the City is a community development organization whose mission is to bring people together to build strong, local economies that uplift low-income urban communities through advocacy and transformative economic development initiatives. They are newly recognized as a Community Development FInancial Institution (CDFI) as well.
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PARTNER
Small Business Majority
GRANT TITLE
Unleashing Potential: Supporting Women Business Owners
GRANT DESCRIPTION
Through this project, Small Business Majority will continue offering educational and community-building events that support women business owners from undeserved communities in Los Angeles. Our Women’s Entrepreneurship Program supports current and aspiring women entrepreneurs with tailored education and connections to local resources, including local organizations that can help with funding, networking and mentorship. Our online resource platform, Venturize.org, complements this work with bilingual resources such as business plan and financial statement templates, licensing advice for women and business owners of color, and other expert advice from our partners. The platform’s resource map also helps visitors connect with lenders and business assistance providers. Combining these in-person and online strategies will ensure that LA’s women business owners can easily access the resources and support systems they need to start and grow a successful business.
ABOUT THE ORG
Small Business Majority is a national small business education and advocacy organization, founded and run by small business owners to ensure America’s entrepreneurs are a key part of a thriving and inclusive economy. We actively engage small business owners and policymakers in support of public policy solutions, and we deliver information and resources to entrepreneurs that promote small business growth and drive a strong, sustainable job-creating economy. Our extensive scientific opinion polling, focus groups and economic research help us educate and inform policymakers, the media and other stakeholders about key issues impacting small businesses and freelancers, including healthcare, access to capital, taxes, retirement, paid leave and other workforce issues.
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PARTNER
St. Joseph Center
GRANT TITLE
Codetalk & Culinary Training Programs
GRANT DESCRIPTION
To support two workforce development training programs to help people with barriers to employment get the skills they need to be financially stable and self-supporting.
ABOUT THE ORG
St. Joseph Center is a multi-faceted organization reaching more than 10,000 people each year with more than 25 programs throughout Los Angeles County. St. Joseph Center helps people get back on their feet so they can live their healthiest, happiest lives. They provide supportive services to formerly homeless individuals and families in subsidized apartments and housing developments and provide clients a comprehensive web of services designed to ensure no one falls through the cracks.
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PARTNER
KCRW
GRANT TITLE
KCRW’s Amplified: A Special Coverage Series (One Topic. All Shows. All Week.)
GRANT DESCRIPTION
To support KCRW’s newest programming initiative’s first instance in April 2020: KCRW’s Amplified: Know Your Neighbor.
ABOUT THE ORG
KCRW is a National Public Radio member station broadcasting from Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA. KCRW creates and curates music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs.
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PARTNER
Small Business Majority
GRANT TITLE
Event Series on COVID-19 Relief for Small Business
GRANT DESCRIPTION
To host a series of virtual educational events that connect entrepreneurs with organizations and resources to help with funding, marketing, networking, mentorship, and legal concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABOUT THE ORG
Small Business Majority’s mission is to empower America’s diverse entrepreneurs to build a thriving and equitable economy. They do this my advocating for policy solutions that create a strong, job-creating economy for all and provide education and resources to entrepreneurs to promote small business growth and prosperity.
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PARTNER
California State University Northridge Foundation
GRANT TITLE
FOUND/LA’s Local Business Boost
GRANT DESCRIPTION
To provide consulting services from Business Honors students at the David Nazarian School of Business and Economics to local entrepreneurs running businesses in the Los Angeles community.
ABOUT THE ORG
The David Nazarian College of Business and Economics at CSUN is dedicated to educating the leaders of tomorrow. By offering a challenging curriculum, smaller class sizes, state-of-the-art facilities, and nationally recognized programs, the College offers a truly unique educational experience.
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PARTNER
LA-Más
GRANT TITLE
Storefronts LA: A Small Business Design Initiative
GRANT DESCRIPTION
With the support of Found/LA, an initiative of the Wurwand Foundation, Storefronts, LA will help mom and pop businesses through low-cost, high-impact design tell a compelling story about the business: its values, its role in the community, and its customers. LA-Más will support small business development in low to moderate income communities by providing free design, permitting, and construction administration for interior and exterior small business design projects. The program also features a partnership with business development organizations who will referral eligible and interested business owners, including: Inclusive Action for the City, Los Angeles Food Policy Council, Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program, Opportunity Fund, and Managed Career Solutions.
ABOUT THE ORG
LA-Más is a non-profit urban design organization that helps lower-income and underserved communities shape their future through policy and architecture. They envision a world where city growth is equitable and self-directed — where the best local solutions are brought to a city-wide scale.
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PARTNER
GRID110
GRANT TITLE
The Residency: Leveling the Playing Field for Los Angeles Entrepreneurs
GRANT DESCRIPTION
We’re excited to work with FOUND/LA to support the growth of our Residency Program for future cohorts and provide continuing resources and engagement opportunities to our program alumni. The majority of our efforts have been focused on companies within our 12 week program, but as our community has grown, we recognize the importance of providing ongoing support and education to our alumni community as companies advance through critical stages of their businesses.
ABOUT THE ORG
Founded in 2015, GRID110 is a community and economic development organization supporting a diverse community of entrepreneurs in Los Angeles through access to office space, critical resources and support. Our mission is to make the entrepreneurial path more equitable, inclusive, and accessible.
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