Eligibility Requirements
Important Changes to COF Since the First Funding Cycle
Evaluation
Information Sessions
How to Apply
Contact Us
Sample Contract (pdf)
Contractual Consideration (doc) First 5 LA announces the release of the second funding cycle of the Community Opportunities Fund! Organizations may now apply for the second funding cycle of the Community Opportunities Fund (COF). Please read the information below as well as the COF Funding Guide (pdf) to learn more about the fund. Information sessions will be held in early July. To register to attend a session, click here. The Letter of Intent, including all required documentation, is due on Monday, July 28 at 5:00 p.m. COF supports long-term sustainable change for Los Angeles County's young children and their families in the following three Funding Priority areas: - Supportive Parents and Caregivers
- Good Health (including nutrition, physical activity, and oral health)
- Prevention of Unintentional Injuries
While we will continue to fund direct services for children ages 0-5 and their families through other investments, direct services are not eligible for this particular fund. The Community Opportunities Fund provides two types of grants: - Organizational Capacity Building
- Policy and Advocacy
Applications that propose organizational capacity building or policy and advocacy projects that clearly indicate how the proposed activities will create movement toward impacting a long-term outcome within one of the three Funding Priority areas identified above will be considered for funding. In April, 2008 the First 5 LA Board of Commissioners approved the funding of 14 organizations through the first funding cycle of COF. Read about their projects here. (doc) Eligibility Requirements - Nonprofit organizations must have evidence of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and deemed "not a private foundation" under Section 509 (a). Those applicants or sponsored projects lacking 501(c)(3) status must have a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization serving as a fiscal sponsor;
- Public agencies may apply for policy and advocacy grants, but are not eligible for organizational capacity building grants;
- Applicant organizations must reside within and serve residents of Los Angeles County; and
- Proposed project activities must ultimately benefit children age prenatal through five years old.
Important Changes to COF Since the First Funding Cycle Prioritization of Applicants New to First 5 LA While former and current First 5 LA grantees are eligible to apply for COF in the second cycle, preference will be given to applicants that have never previously received a grant from First 5 LA in order to further diversify impact across LA County. It is also strongly encouraged that former and current grantees partner with agencies that have not received a past grant from First 5 LA. Please note that in the third and fourth cycles, former and current First 5 LA grantees that are not applying as a partnership will not be eligible for COF grants. Policy and Advocacy Applicants: Alignment with First 5 LA's Policy Agenda In order to more effectively coordinate efforts between First 5 LA's policy interests and grantees' activities, preference will be given to those policy and advocacy applicants that propose a project that will have an impact on one or more of the 22 First 5 LA Policy Agenda policy goals. You may review the Policy Agenda here. Evaluation All COF applicants are required to budget at least eight percent of the total project budget for evaluation activities (a project budget will be required for those applicants requested to submit a full proposal). All applicants selected for a COF grant will additionally be expected to participate in First 5 LA evaluation activities with other COF grantees. Information Sessions Information sessions were held throughout Los Angeles County between July 7 and July 14. You may download the PowerPoint that was presented at those sessions here (ppt). If you have additional questions, please direct them to Aleece Kelly at cof@first5la.org or (213) 482-7504. How to Apply The Community Opportunities Fund will require a two-stage application process (submission of a Letter of Intent, and if requested, submission of a full proposal). Organizations that wish to apply for the Community Opportunities Fund must complete and submit a Letter or Intent (LOI) online (no hard copy or emailed submissions will be accepted). The Letter of Intent, including all required documentation, is due on Monday, July 28 at 5:00 p.m. After completing the online form, you will be requested to attach a Letter of Intent that addresses the following questions (click on the links below to access the questions). LOI Questions for Policy and Advocacy Applicants (doc)
LOI Questions for Capacity Building Applicants (doc) To assist you in crafting your LOI, you may reference the appropriate review tool below that will be used by reviewers to evaluate LOI submissions. Policy and Advocacy LOI Review Tool (doc)
Capacity Building LOI Review Tool (doc) To begin the online Letter of Intent submission, click on the appropriate link below.
Apply for a Policy and Advocacy grant click here.
Apply for a Capacity Building grant click here. Applicants will be required to submit the following documents through the online application form: - Your most recent financial audit (or 990 if an audit is not available)
- Your 501(c)(3) verification letter from the IRS (for nonprofits only)
- Letter of Intent (Word)
If electronic versions of the above documents are not available, you may submit hard copies to the following address. Please keep in mind, however, that the Letter of Intent itself must be submitted online. Attn: Community Opportunities Fund
First 5 LA
750 N. Alameda St., Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90012 Detailed information on the Community Opportunities Fund, including required outcomes, frequently asked questions, funding amounts and lengths, and other pertinent information may be found in the COF Funding Guide (pdf). Please note that this funding is expected to entail a very competitive review process. Please direct any questions regarding the Community Opportunities Fund to COF@first5la.org or 213-482-7504. | 
