Programs are the Foundation’s largest scale initiatives, which span numerous years and include an evaluation component.
LOCaid Hardship Grant Program2021 | Basic Needs | $180,000 2020 | Basic Needs | $60,000 2019 | Basic Needs | $60,000 |
The LOCaid hardship grant program assists college students who are experiencing unexpected financial difficulties which may impact enrollment. The program is administered by Areté Rising, a nonprofit organization that operates programs, builds technology tools, and provides services to support economic mobility for students from under-resourced backgrounds. Areté Rising is a social enterprise that grew out of the work of the Leonetti/O’Connell Family Foundation to create opportunity for youth through innovation. |
For many students, a small, unexpected expense – a medical bill, car breakdown, or increase in child care costs – that stretches their budget can lead to them dropping out of college. It is estimated that nearly 3 million students face such financial crises each year and leave school over an expense of less than $1,000. With at least one-third of all students saying that they don’t have $500 on hand for emergencies, the LOCaid program aims to support students through these financial crises. |
LOC Scholars Promise Program, Foundation for Los Angeles Community Colleges2021 | Education | $375,000 |
The LOC Scholars Promise Program provides regular, direct financial assistance via grants to Los Angeles College Promise (LACP) students at Los Angeles Southwest College. These stipends are intended to reduce stress, improve the recipient’s ability to focus on school, and ultimately incentivize them to successfully complete their program of study. |
Only 48% of students who enter a community college in California leave with a degree, certificate, or transfer after six years. The number one reason why students fail to complete is financial hardship: our own evaluation data indicates that 32% of community college students would have dropped out or temporarily withdrawn in the absence of emergency aid. Direct financial assistance has been shown to significantly reduce stress and improve a recipient's ability to focus on school without having to increase work or drop out altogether. |
The Family Resource Center Expansion, Foundation for Los Angeles Community Colleges & LIFT2021 | Basic Needs | $361,198 |
The Family Resource Center (FRC) at Los Angeles Valley College has partnered with LIFT-LA to pilot a program aimed at supporting students who are parents, helping them overcome barriers to staying in college and ultimately completing a two-year degree. The FRC is the only Center of its kind, offering dedicated resources for parents and their children. LIFT’s program is complementary to the FRC, as they provide integrated financial, educational, and employment coaching along with direct cash payments to parents. The goal of this partnership is to develop a concrete model to be be scaled to Los Angeles Southwest College in the 2022-2023 academic year, and across the Los Angeles Community College District thereafter. |
Thirty five percent (35%) of community college students in Los Angeles are parents. Across the country, sudent-parents graduate at less than half the rate of their non-parenting peers. Our own research has demonstrated that access to dedicated resources is a desperate need for student parents. Seventy percent (70%) of LACCD students highlighted an increased need to support family members due to the pandemic and many stated caretaking responsibilities for children and siblings were affecting their financial circumstances. Our Family Resource Expansion & Pilot project aims to develop a model framework for expanding holistic student-parent support services to community colleges across Los Angeles and beyond. |
Interest Free Micro Loan Fund at Magnolia Place, Jewish Free Loan Association2020 | Community Dev. & Basic Needs | $50,000 2019 | Community Dev. & Basic Needs | $70,000 2018 | Community Dev. & Basic Needs | $45,000 2017 | Community Dev. & Basic Needs | $33,000 2016 | Community Dev. & Basic Needs | $275,000 |
The Interest Free Micro Loan Fund offers no cost loans to residents of the Magnolia catchment area in Los Angeles. The loans are administered by JFLA, a nonprofit organization that helps people by offering no cost loans to residents of Los Angeles County. |
For many, JFLA's interest free loans offer a source of clean capital in the face of dire financial circumstances. Many interest-free loans are used to prevent eviction, keep utilities on, and provide emergency medical and dental care. Others use the interest-free loans for tuition, books, lab fees, and transportation to and from school. Additionally, JFLA has seen an increase in clients seeking small business loans for product investment. |
Math Leadership Corps, Loyola Marymount University2019 | Education | $375,000 2018 | Education | $750,000 2017 | Education | $550,000 2016 | Education | $830,000 |
From 2012-2020, MLC partnered with school districts to find sustainable solutions to grow students as mathematical thinkers, problem solvers, and self-regulated learners using a participatory problem-solving approach. Teachers and administrators use this problem solving process to improve student learning and agency, ultimately resulting in student achievement. |
MLC launched in 2013 to guide school districts in their implementation of the then recently adopted Common Core Standards in mathematics by working closely with teachers and administrators and providing professional development that promotes mathematical understanding as well as procedural skill. Beginning Fall 2020, WestEd is scaling MLC's participatory problem solving process by working with school districts to implement new math standards and curricula. For more information contact WestEd. |