The Los Angeles-based Weingart Foundation has announced grants totaling $4.2 million.

Unrestricted operating support grants were awarded to thirty-nine organizations working to advance racial and socioeconomic justice in Southern California, including direct services in communities of color as well as efforts to create systemic change. Recipients include SELA Collaborative, a place-based initiative in southeast Los Angeles; the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, which works to address the needs of low-wage workers; the Downtown Women's Center, which serves the area's homeless; and a number of organizations working to address anti-Black racism, including Congregations Organizations for Prophetic Engagement, the Coalition for Responsible Community Development, and the Los Angeles Community Action Network.

To expedite funding for core partners working to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the foundation has temporarily suspended its practice of accepting unsolicited grant proposals and instituted an invitation-only process. During its current fiscal year, the foundation plans to award $20 million in unrestricted grants.

"While this has been such a challenging and trying time, we also recognize we are at an incredible moment that can become the movement that is needed to reach the equity and justice we are striving for," said Joanna Jackson, the foundation's vice president for programs. "As a foundation, we made this commitment to advancing racial justice and addressing systemic and structural racism several years ago, so while these demands for racial justice and against anti-Black racism confirm our commitments, it's also frankly pushing us to ask ourselves if we should do more, if we can be bolder."

(Photo credit: Pomona Economic Opportunity Center)