General Operating Support Grant

Geographic focus: Los Angeles County, CA

Focus areas: Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Operational Support, Capacity Building, Historically Underfunded Communities

General Operating Support Grant - Perenchio Foundation Mission, Vision, Values, and Approach General Operating Support Mission, Vision, Values, and Approach General Operating Support APPLICATION WINDOW FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT WILL OPEN ON JANUARY 27 AT 10:00 AM APPLICATION WINDOW FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT IS NOW CLOSED NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR OPERATING SUPPORT General Operating Support Grant Overview The Perenchio Foundation is dedicated to supporting the arts in Los Angeles, focusing on visual and performing arts organizations that partner with, support, and represent historically underfunded communities.

The arts play an essential role in creating a more equitable, culturally vibrant, and inclusive region. Our multi-year Operating Support Grants provide LA County arts organizations with unrestricted funding for their greatest needs – including but not limited to payroll and benefits for staff, rent or mortgage, leadership and staff development, and strategic planning.

By offering flexible support with a multi-year commitment, we enable arts organizations to strengthen their infrastructure, plan from a place of greater confidence and stability, build capacity, and address immediate needs. Arts organizations know their needs—this grant provides the flexibility to make impactful allocations. Before beginning an application, review our Pre-Application Checklist to ensure you have everything you need.

Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - 10:00 AM PT Thursday, February 26, 2026 - 3:00 PM PT Community input from review panelists Assessment of organizational financial health, leadership, and governance practices Alignment with Foundation values and mission View the Selection Criteria in the application portal--> To be eligible to apply for an Operating Support Grant, your arts organization and its staff must be headquartered in and serving the communities of Los Angeles County.

The following requirements must also be met: Be a 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored visual and/or performing arts organization Have a mission and all programming fully dedicated to the arts Maintain active year-round programming, activities, or direct services accessible to the public in LA County Maintain staffing and operational capacity necessary to achieve strategic goals and manage funds, with at least three (3) paid full-time staff members for the current fiscal year.

(Note: For fiscally sponsored organizations, fiscal sponsor staff do not count toward this requirement.)

Have been established and operating as a 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored organization in LA County and fully operational for at least five (5) consecutive years Have an annual operating budget of at least $500,000 and less than $30 million Have a Board of Directors and/or Advisory Council Partner with, support, and/or represent communities that have been historically underfunded in the arts Ineligible organizations include: Organizations that received a multi-year Operating Support Grant from Perenchio Foundation in 2022 or 2024 Organizations with an active Special Project Grant from Perenchio Foundation (Note: Reach out to our team with any questions.

Receiving a Capital Improvements Grant in 2023 or 2025 does not impact eligibility.) Organizations that operate primarily as commercial ventures. This includes private schools whose tuition restricts community access and presenting venues that do not produce or develop original work.

Organizations with programming taking place only during a particular season (e.g., short-term festivals or concert series) National or statewide arts organizations Arts service organizations Educational institutions, including K-12 schools, universities, and programs that lead to a degree or diploma Municipal or County government agencies and departments Proposals should be clear, concise, free of jargon and repetition.

We ask organizations to describe who they are and what they do in a way easily understood by any reader. All applicant organizations will be evaluated on their alignment with Perenchio Foundation’s values of quality, accessibility, and permanence . Beyond application clarity and values alignment, we will consider the following criteria: Is there a clear description of the following?

Programming ( what the organization does and who they are) Practices ( how they do their work) Purpose ( why they do their work) Community ( whom they define as their community served) Does the application demonstrate the organization’s reach and authentic engagement within historically underfunded communities in LA County?

Reach and depth of community relationships Evidence that work is informed by community feedback Alignment between the organization’s stated values and their programmatic and operational practices Artistic Practice & Pursuit of Excellence Does the organization’s work demonstrate high artistic quality and commitment to excellence? Is the organization nurturing, strengthening, and advancing their craft or field?

Does the work show consistency, depth, and distinct artistic voice? Leadership, Capacity & Track Record Does the organization have a sound governance structure and financial management practices? Does the organization have formalized assessment and learning practices for continuous improvement?

Does the organization have the staffing and capacity to achieve strategic goals and manage grant funds? Has the organizational executive/artistic/board leadership demonstrated key operational or programmatic initiatives in recent years? Does the leadership have a compelling vision and strategic plan that positions the organization for long-term success?

Is the strategic plan both ambitious and grounded in current realities, changing conditions, and organizational capacities? Will requested funding strengthen the organization’s capacity for long-term sustainability? Eligibility Requirements for Arts Organizations To be eligible to apply for a General Operating Support Grant, an arts organization must be based in and serving the communities of Los Angeles County.

The following requirements must also be met: Be a 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored visual and/or performing arts organization Have a mission fully dedicated to the arts, with all programming and/or services dedicated to the arts Have active and ongoing programming, activities, and/or direct services available to the public in LA County throughout the year Have staffing and operational capacity necessary to achieve strategic goals and manage funds, with at least three paid full-time staff members for the current fiscal year Have been established and operating as a 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored organization for at least five (5) consecutive years Have an annual operating budget of less than $15 million Have a Board of Directors and/or Advisory Council Partner with, support, and/or represent communities that have been historically underfunded in the arts Ineligible organizations include: Organizations that received a multi-year General Operating Support Grant from Perenchio Foundation in 2022 Organizations whose primary mission is not arts-related (for example: therapeutic and social services, entertainment, tutoring, healthcare, housing, sports, and living collections) National or statewide arts organizations Arts service organizations Educational institutions that lead to a degree or diploma Municipal or County government agencies and departments We understand that some organizations may have more time-sensitive projects, while others may need additional time to gather bids and cost estimates to inform their capital improvements request.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 8, 2023. Applications submitted by March 8: will be prioritized for notification in late July Depending on the volume and complexity of applications received by March 8, some organizations may not hear from us until October.

Applications submitted from March 8 – June 8: will receive notification in late October Submitting earlier within this timeframe increases the likelihood that we may be able to respond in July. We encourage organizations to submit early and not wait until the final deadline. Application Submissions Window: January 8 – June 8, 2023 Application Opens: Thursday, January 19, 2023, at 9:00 a.

m. PST Application Closes: Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 12:00 p. m.

PST Please be mindful of the noon deadline, as no extensions will be provided beyond this time. Review Process: March through September 2023 As part of our review process, we may conduct virtual meetings and/or in-person site visits. may be conducted.

For questions about your organization’s eligibility to apply for this grant, read through our Eligibility Requirements above before submitting a question. For technical issues or questions about the application process, read the Questions and Answers section below. If your question is not addressed there, contact our team.

If you are unsure whether your capital improvements project fits into the scope of this grant or have a request that is under $10,000, provide the following in your question to receive guidance on whether to proceed with an application: A brief summary (2-3 sentences) of what your project entails The grant amount you would like to request from the Perenchio Foundation Frequently Asked Questions About General Operating Support Grant What do Perenchio Foundation’s General Operating Support Grants fund?

We seek to nurture creativity while helping organizations build operational resilience for the long-term future. These three-year grants offer flexible, unrestricted operating support. How much funding may I request?

We do not ask you to specify a requested funding amount though we do want to understand what an unrestricted, multi-year grant would mean to your organization. Grant amounts will depend on fund availability and be based on a percentage of an organization’s most recent 990. For fiscally sponsored organizations, grant amounts will be based on your operating budget, as reflected in your fiscal sponsor’s audit.

Do you accept applications from arts service organizations? No, arts service organizations are not eligible to apply through this open call. We are interested in supporting arts service organizations’ capacity-building efforts that strengthen their ability to serve the LA County arts sector more robustly.

Given the small number of arts service organizations that focus on and are based in LA County, this funding is currently offered only through an invitation-based process. If you are an LA-based arts service organization interested in exploring alignment with our priorities, reach out to our team here . How do I know if you would consider my organization to be fully dedicated to the arts?

We consider organizations eligible if they center arts and culture in their mission, vision, and all programming. Organizations that use art as a tool for a broader mission, rather than centering art as their core work, are not eligible. What is considered year-round programming for eligibility purposes?

Organizations with programming occurring only during a particular season (e.g., short-term festivals or concert series) are not eligible for this grant cycle. Are organizations that have received funding from the Perenchio Foundation eligible to apply? Organizations that received a multi-year Operating Support Grant from us in 2022 or 2024 are not eligible to apply for this round.

Capital Improvements grantees are eligible if they have not received an operating support grant. Those with an active Special Project or Program Grant from us should reach out before applying to inquire about eligibility. Organizations new to the Foundation will be prioritized.

My organization is undergoing a leadership transition. Does this impact our potential to be awarded a grant? We understand that leadership changes are a normal part of an organization’s evolution.

While transition may create instability, they also offer moments of opportunity and growth. If your organization is currently undergoing a transition or anticipating one within the next year, we want to understand your plan, and how the leadership (current and/or exiting, along with the board) is ensuring stability, sound governance practices, and continued artistic quality.

There is a section in the application where you may share the details of your situation. Fiscally Sponsored Organizations What information will fiscally sponsored organizations need to provide about their fiscal sponsor?

If you are a fiscally sponsored organization, you will need to provide: Name, address, and Tax ID of your fiscal sponsor Contact at the fiscal sponsor organization Memorandum of understanding (MOU) or letter of agreement between your organization and your fiscal sponsor How should fiscally sponsored organizations answer the budget-related questions in the application?

If you are fiscally sponsored, provide your organization’s budget information, not your fiscal sponsor’s. Is there a version of the application I can download to work on outside of GivingData? Yes, once you begin an application in GivingData, the application questions are available to be downloaded as a Google Document or directly through GivingData as a PDF.

Can I start my application and come back to it later? Yes, GivingData allows you to save your open application and return to complete it later. Can I add additional members from my organization to collaborate on the application?

Yes, multiple people from the same organization may work on the same application. After logging into GivingData, click “Manage organization” in the top right corner. Add members of your team on the “Members” tab of this page.

Then, once you have started an application, click “Add Member or Team” on the left side of the application page to invite a collaborator. Can I print the application prior to or after filling it out? We recommend downloading the application questions (Google Doc linked within GivingData) and saving your responses on your own document to keep a record of your submission.

While the application can be printed out directly from the GivingData platform, the formatting is such that it may cut off content when printing. After submission, you may view the application through the GivingData portal after submission, but will not be able to make further edits. Will I receive confirmation that my application was received?

Yes, you will receive an automatic confirmation email upon submission. If you do not receive it, check your spam folder. If not found there, please reach out here .

How do you suggest that I be concise while also sharing a comprehensive snapshot of my organization? Please spell out terms before using abbreviations. Use bullet points, numbering or dashes (-) as bullet points to organize information and guide readers.

Define specialized terms as needed. Use data points, research, or specific examples to demonstrate how feedback and patterns inform your approach. Prioritize clarity in describing your identity, objectives, and practice.

We value brevity and ask that you limit responses to 400 words. The system will accommodate longer responses should you need more space. Several sections allow you to upload materials or visuals to highlight your work and priorities.

Additional tips on how to strengthen your grant narratives to help us better understand your organization can be found here . Are there examples of responses that can help me understand the level of the detail requested? In the file linked here , we provide sample responses to illustrate our expectations for succinct, clear writing that illuminates your work.

Note: Our team wrote these responses as illustrative examples—they do not represent actual organizations. My fiscal year does not align with the financial information requested in the application. What should I do?

Enter financial information and attachments based on your fiscal year end . (For example, we refer to the current fiscal year as the fiscal year ending in 2026 .) This should allow you to enter your financial information regardless of what month your fiscal year begins and ends How should I upload financial attachments if my organization is currently in the midst of an audit?

If you have audited financial statements available for the fiscal year ending in 2024 , we ask that you upload them in the application. Regardless, you must also upload internal year-end financial statements (both Profit & Loss Statement and Balance Sheet) for the fiscal year ending in 2025 . What does the review process entail?

Grant awards will be competitive. Beyond the eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria noted above, these awards will be determined based on an equity-centered review process. Applications will be reviewed by our staff and community panelists, and recommendations are then reviewed and approved by our Board of Directors before grant decisions are announced.

Who are the community review panelists? Panelists are members of the LA County and regional arts community, including active arts practitioners and individuals with deep understanding of, sustained commitment to, and active engagement with local visual and performing arts organizations. Our panel process incorporates in-depth sector knowledge and infuses community wisdom into our grantmaking.

Will you conduct site visits as part of the review process? We may conduct in-person site visits or virtual meetings for the Foundation team to get to know an applicant organization’s leadership and understand more about their vision and work. If needed, we will reach out to organizations accordingly.

How do I check on the status of my request? Please refrain from emailing or calling about the status of requests. The Foundation will contact you via email if more information is needed.

Otherwise, all organizations will hear from us by mid August. How can I submit a question about the application? Technical difficulties with the application portal?

Contact our team by clicking “Ask a Question” below. Have a question about the application process that is not addressed elsewhere on this page? Before reaching out, all organizations should thoroughly review the guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions to see if their query is addressed.

For our team to respond, all questions must be submitted by clicking “Ask a Question” below rather than by emailing individual staff members. We cannot guarantee responses to questions submitted on the final application day. We strongly recommend submitting applications at least 2 business days before the deadline to allow time to resolve any issues.

Perenchio Foundation: 800 E. Colorado Blvd. , Suite 840, Pasadena, CA 91101