Welcome! Thank you for your interest in applying to the 2026 LA2050 Grants Challenge.
Before starting the application using one of the links at the bottom of this page, please review the information below to understand the requirement and process updates we made for 2026.
MANDATORY INFORMATION SESSIONS:
Please note that virtual Information Sessions are mandatory for applicants. At least one representative from each organization must attend an Information Session before submitting Part 1 of the application. These sessions walk through the updated process, timelines, and expectations, and provide space for questions.
TWO-PART APPLICATION PROCESS:
For the first time, the LA2050 Grants Challenge application is structured in two distinct parts. This change is designed to help us better understand organizations before reviewing specific funding proposals.
Part 1: Organization Screening
Open now through April 22nd, 2026
Part 1 is a competitive first stage focused on learning about your organization as a whole. Rather than submitting a program proposal right away, applicants will share key information about their organization, including:
- Mission and core activities
- Administrative structure
- Budget and financial context
- Overall alignment with LA2050’s goals
This stage allows us to assess organizational eligibility and alignment, before moving into proposal review.
Part 2: Funding Proposal
By invitation only | Open April 29th to June 5th, 2026
Organizations selected through Part 1 will be invited to advance to Part 2, where they’ll submit a specific program, project, or initiative for funding consideration.
Ready to open an application? Scroll to the bottom of this page and select the correct form for your organization type by pressing "Submit." There is one form for nonprofits and one form for both government agencies and for-profit companies.
About the LA2050 Grants Challenge:
The LA2050 Grants Challenge is an open call for ideas to make Los Angeles County the best place to connect, create, learn, live, and play. Since 2013, we’ve given $23+ million in grants to local social impact organizations and supported hundreds of winning ideas to make our region better for all.
The 2026 LA2050 Grants Challenge unfolds in several phases:
- Application, Part 1: Organization Screening (January 26 - April 22nd, 2026) Organizations interested in submitting a funding proposal first provide information about their administration, mission, core activities, budget, and more. We will assess organizational eligibility and alignment, and invite select organizations to advance to Part 2.
- Public Voting (March 18th - April 22nd, 2026) Angelenos vote to determine the issue areas that will be eligible for grant funding.
- Application, Part 2: Funding Proposal (April 29th at 8:00 am - June 5th at 5:00 pm, 2026) Organizations selected to advance from Part 1 submit specific proposals to make an impact in the top-voted issue areas.
- Submission Evaluation (June - October 2026) In collaboration with funding partners, we evaluate proposals and select grant recipients. Each winning organization will receive up to $75,000.
We accept applications from registered non-profit, for-profit, fiscally-sponsored, or governmental organizations serving Los Angeles County and its residents. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Be sure to select the correct application form for your organization type from the options listed below.
Learn more about the LA2050 Grants Challenge here.
More questions? Email us at connect@la2050.org.
About Submittable:
To submit an application, you will need to first create a free Submittable account or sign in with Google/Facebook credentials.
This platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported. Make sure that you are using a supported browser, and that any files that you upload are valid file types.
Once you launch the form, you can save a draft of your work and log in and out of Submittable.
After submitting, you will receive follow-up communications by email. Be sure to safelist notification emails from Submittable and regulary check the e-mail that you used to sign up for your Submittable account.
Technical questions? Check out the Submitter Resource Center for help videos and articles or to reach out to Submittable's Customer Support team.
This application form is for non-profit organizations – both those with independent 501(c)(3) status and those with 501(c)(3) status through fiscal sponsorship. Government entities and social enterprises must use the separate form provided here.
This application form is for government entities and for-profit organizations, including social enterprises and B corps. Nonprofits must use the separate form provided here.