What We Fund

The Foundation focuses on four areas: Social Impact, Civic and Cultural Programs, Health and Higher Education. The application process is rigorous, resulting in awards to those non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, and health care facilities that are improving lives today.

Excellence, access for disadvantaged populations, and the active participation of volunteers, board and staff are key characteristics the Foundation seeks in its applicants.

The Foundation does not act explicitly as an agent of change or to develop public policy, but concentrates on service delivery — on programs that change lives by helping one person at a time. Foundation grants are made to select higher education institutions nationwide and to eligible tax-exempt organizations in Los Angeles County. Private foundations are ineligible.

Potential applicants are encouraged to explore this website thoroughly for examples of the kinds of programs and organizations that the Foundation will typically support. The Foundation does not distribute requests for proposals, but invites organizations to submit requests for support of their best charitable and educational programming.

What We Do Not Fund

The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation does not fund requests for the following:

• fundraising events, dinners and mass mailings;
• direct aid to individuals;
• conferences, seminars, workshops, etc;
• sectarian, religious or fraternal purposes;
• federated fundraising appeals; or
• support of candidates for political office or to influence legislation;
• for-profit organizations or businesses;
• scholarship support is provided only to nonprofit institutions; individuals are not eligible to apply.
• organizations outside of Los Angeles County (with occasional exceptions in the area of higher education)
• loans or program-related investments
• multi-year funding, with rare exception for compelling need.