Participatory Grantmaking: Putting Community at the Center
For seven years, our partnership with the Goldhirsh Foundation has been built on the premise that community members belong at the center of the grant-making process.
When Lucero Noyola volunteered as an SJP community reviewer for the LA2050 Grants Challenge Evaluation Committee, she brought a perspective shaped by the lived experience of someone whose life was positively impacted by nonprofit programs, and as a philanthropic professional now helping move resources into communities.
“As a social worker at heart, I’m all about uplifting folks and being a bridge for people,” she shared. “Philanthropy is a space where we have the opportunity to steward resources, connect folks, and uplift community.”
SJPLA facilitates the evaluation process, convening groups of social impact leaders to review and score grant applications together. Reviewers discuss the proposals and make final grant recommendations as a group. It’s a process built on the belief that the people most impacted by systems and programs are best positioned to evaluate who should be resourced to change them.
What Community Reviewers Bring
One of the most consistent observations from volunteers is how meaningful it is to review grant applications when they’re connected to the work as members of the community.
Lucero, now a Program Officer at the Doheny Foundation, described it this way: "Community is coming from lived experience. They're making connections every day across multiple challenges and identities."
Community reviewers bring an interconnected understanding of how housing, health, economic justice, and belonging all shape each other in real people's lives. They evaluate proposals in part on whether they reflect an understanding of the communities they serve.
"I was really appreciative of being in a space that knows how to share power and decision-making with the community and trusts that community knows how to solve their problems," shared Lucero.
Why This Partnership Matters
The LA2050 Grants Challenge exists to put the power of grantmaking in the hands of Angelenos through public voting, while driving and tracking progress toward a shared vision for the future of LA. Our partnership with the Goldhirsh Foundation is a long-term commitment to a community-centered funding model. It’s a model that strengthens as more community voices shape the process and helps resources reach organizations that traditional philanthropy too often overlooks.
As Lucero put it, "It's an opportunity to steward resources into your community. It's a way for you to connect with others and contribute to solutions by helping tangible resources get where they need to go."
Be Part of This Work
Volunteering for a future LA2050 Evaluation Committee doesn't require anything more than showing up with your perspective and your community knowledge. While volunteers are not required to be SJPLA Partners to join the LA2050 Evaluation Committe, it might be worth considering if the spirit of this work resonates with you.
SJPLA Partners are a community of Angelenos who show up curious, learn from the wisdom of those most impacted by systemic injustice, and support each other in the ongoing work toward a more just and loving Los Angeles. Collectively, we can do so much.
