The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation released a coronavirus (COVID-19) grantee needs assessment this week, determining local nonprofit organizations require increased flexibility as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
The LADF called on grantmaking organizations in Los Angeles to join them in offering nonprofit partners clear and consistent communication, creative collaboration, basic needs support that includes technology, grant requirements adjustments, and a platform to share best practices.
“To remain successful, nonprofits need philanthropic funders to create crisis response funds to support their drastically shifting work during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation CEO Nichol Whiteman said in a statement.
“As experienced with the organizations we directly fund, these local nonprofits are implementing new online programming and are expanding services to address basic needs like food and hygiene assistance for a much larger demographic.”
LADF distributed a survey to 47 of its grantees from this year and last. The questionnaire focused on the effects of the coronavirus on nonprofit programming, operations, and what assistance from funders would be most helpful during the crisis.
“Addressing how this pandemic has decimated our community’s social safety net means more than just delivering goods and services,” LADF COO Chaitali Gala Mehta said. “We knew we must first listen to the organizations on the frontlines and once informed, provide the support so that we can continue to serve more and serve more effectively.”
In 2020, the L.A. Dodgers Foundation has awarded 68% of grants to organizations addressing homelessness and food insecurity, 20% to organizations improving education outcomes for youth, and 12% to improve access to health care for Angelenos.
Grants have been provided to organizations such as the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, My Friend’s Place, the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, and Brotherhood Crusade.
“We are only as strong as those that stand beside us. To have the Dodgers Foundation at our side during such scary times really means that we have our community champions at our side,” My Friend’s Place executive director Heather Carmichael said.
“It has really bolstered our confidence, and also they have made sure we have the resources to feed the hungry bellies that are coming to our doors and that we can be here for the duration of this pandemic.”
The complete COVID-19 Grantee Needs Assessment can be found at Dodgers.com/Grants. For more information on relief efforts, educational programs and community resources, visit Dodgers.com/Relief or LosDodgers.com/Ayuda.
