The Elizabeth R. Koch Foundation today announced $2.4 million in funding to 50 nonprofit organizations serving communities across Los Angeles County, in response to the inaugural request for proposals. The funding will support a wide range of initiatives including youth mentorship, education, health care, first responders, housing, food security, arts, and community programs. This marks one of the first large-scale funding initiatives from the ERK Foundation.
Elizabeth R. Koch Foundation has launched a Request for Proposals (RFP), for grants between $25,000 to $50,000 to be awarded to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating in LA County. (PRNewsfoto/Elizabeth R. Koch Foundation)
The Elizabeth R. Koch Foundation today announced $2.4 million in funding to 50 nonprofit organizations serving communities across Los Angeles County, in response to the inaugural request for proposals. The funding will support a wide range of initiatives including youth mentorship, education, health care, first responders, housing, food security, arts, and community programs. This marks one of the first large-scale funding initiatives from the ERK Foundation.
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Elizabeth R. Koch Foundation has launched a Request for Proposals (RFP), for grants between $25,000 to $50,000 to be awarded to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating in LA County. (PRNewsfoto/Elizabeth R. Koch Foundation)
From youth mentorship to health care, community services, and the arts, the inaugural grants honor organizations making a lasting impact across Los Angeles County.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Elizabeth R. Koch Foundation today announced $2.4 million in funding to 50 nonprofit organizations serving communities across Los Angeles County, in response to the inaugural request for proposals. The funding will support a wide range of initiatives including youth mentorship, education, health care, first responders, housing, food security, arts, and community programs.
This marks one of the first large-scale funding initiatives from the ERK Foundation, which supports organizations across Los Angeles that foster connection, care, and well-being in their communities. The Foundation will continue building relationships with grantees and other local partners to deepen its understanding of the needs and opportunities to support organizations within Los Angeles County.
"Our city is so vast that it can sometimes feel disconnected," said Elizabeth R. Koch, Founder & CEO of the Elizabeth R. Koch Foundation. "But LA is overflowing with generosity, creativity, and concern for the well-being of others. These grantees are the heartbeat of that spirit in how they forge a sense of belonging and weave community into every far corner of this place we call home."
The Foundation's initial area of interest are organizations that foster healing, resilience, and growth in the greater Los Angeles community. Areas of focus include after-school programs that offer stability and mentorship; first responders who bring calm in chaos; and safe spaces for young people navigating hardship, heartache, and feelings of uprootedness. The Foundation also supports mental health programs, crisis response teams, grief support networks, rites of passage services, and organizations that guide individuals and communities through life's more difficult moments.
"There are so many inspiring organizations, so much urgent need," added Koch. "This is just the beginning of our commitment to L.A., and we can't wait to walk alongside the extraordinary people who so passionately serve these precious communities."
The application process was open from April 22, 2025, to June 1, 2025. Eligible organizations were required to be 501(c)(3) nonprofits with an annual budget of at least $250,000, and funds must be used for programs operating within Los Angeles County.
Elizabeth R. Koch is a visionary leader and entrepreneur who has founded organizations in publishing, media, neuroscience, and transformative experiences, including founding and chairing Unlikely Collaborators, a non-profit organization which, through grants, partnerships, and programs, empowers people to untangle limiting narratives and drive meaningful change. Koch's other ventures include the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, which advances research into the inner workings of Perception Box™, and Catapult, an award-winning publishing company. She is currently writing a non-fiction book that explains the science behind Perception Box which includes real life examples, personal stories, and tools for personal growth.