W. M. Keck Foundation’s Southern California Program

The W. M. Keck Foundation awards grants to support organizations that strengthen the resiliency of under-resourced communities in Los Angeles County.

Donor Name: W. M. Keck Foundation

State: California

County: Los Angeles County (CA)

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 11/01/2025

Size of the Grant: Not Available

Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned

Details:

The Southern California Program has a broad mission to support projects in five areas: Arts and Culture, Civic and Community services, Early Childhood care and education, Health Care, and Pre-collegiate Education. Within these areas of interest, the Foundation seeks to promote the healthy development of children and youth, strengthen families, and enrich the lives of people in the region.

Foundation places a special emphasis on projects that focus on children and youth from low-income families and special needs populations, including the developmentally disabled, foster children, and homeless families.

Funding Guidelines

Foundation fund projects that:

Are consistent with the Foundation’s funding areas of interest
Are for construction, renovation, and/or equipment
Demonstrate organizational leadership and support
Reflect evidence of thorough implementation planning
Focus on low-income children, youth, and families
Improve the lives of those who are uniquely abled, in the foster care or probation systems, or are homeless
Can result in significant, long-term impact for the target population, organization, and/or region
Are innovative and have potential to inform the field and/or make “systems change” at scale
Can provide data on the effectiveness of the approach
Expand or replicate a proven program or model
Demonstrate other funding sources are being fully utilized.

Eligibility Criteria

The Foundation awards grants to organizations headquartered in Southern California. The Foundation may also consider national or statewide organizations that have an independent affiliate, local chapter or office in Southern California for projects that benefit communities within Los Angeles County.

Tax: Organizations must provide:
- An IRS determination letter demonstrating exemption from federal taxation as defined by 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and designating one of the following:
  - A public charity as defined by Section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) or 170(b)(A)(I-VI) of the Internal Revenue Code.
  - An exempt operating foundation as defined by Section 4940(d)(2).
- A California FTB letter demonstrating exemption from California State Franchise or Income Tax under Section 23701(d) of the Revenue and Taxation Code, if located in the State of California.
- Current full, certified, audited financial statements prepared on an annual basis in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. If in existence less than five years, the organization must be able to provide at least two consecutive full, certified, audited financial statements prepared on an annual basis.
- The most recently filed complete Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), including Public Charity Status and Public Support (Schedule A).
- Any organization designated as an exempt operating foundation must be able to provide the most recently filed complete Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF) in place of Form 990.
Organization: If the Organization:
- Will be part of a collaborative project, the lead institution must be identified and all members must meet the Foundation’s eligibility requirements. They may request additional documentation from the other members of the collaboration.
- Is a government unit as defined by Section 170(b)(1)(A)(v) and (c)(1) and, therefore, does not receive a determination letter as to such organization’s tax exempt classification from the Internal Revenue Service, the organization must submit a Declaration of Status signed by the organization’s Chief Executive or President and by its Chief Legal Officer. The declaration must specify:
  - the federal, state or local laws pursuant to which the organization is created and governed;
  - whether the organization also is a school as defined by Section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii), hospital or medical research institute as defined by Section 170(b)(1)(A)(iii) or other organization described in Section 170(b)
  - that the organization is legally and financially responsible for its debts; and
  - that the organization is not a non-operating private foundation within the meaning of Section 509.
- Is part of a group that received a determination letter as to such group’s tax exempt classification from the Internal Revenue Service, such organization must provide such determination letter that identifies such organization as part of such group. Such organization must also provide an attestation as to the continued group status of such organization. Such attestation must be signed by the organization’s chief executive or president and by its chief legal officer. The Form 990 required for such organization may be the Form 990 of the group.
Legal
- All tax-exempt documentation, audited financial statements and the Form 990 must be in the same, current and full name of the qualifying organization.
- The management and fiscal condition of an institution is considered when reviewing an institution for eligibility.
- The Parties to a grant agreement will agree it is deemed to have been entered into in the County of Los Angeles, State of California; and, California law will apply to the interpretation and enforcement of the grant provisions.