Community Opportunities Fund

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. COF provides two types of grants:

• Organizational Capacity Building
• Policy and Advocacy

Technical assistance components comprised of an organizational self-assessment of four core capacities - Adaptive, Leadership, Management, and Technical and consulting services focused on supporting project implementation are included in COF grants. Technical Assistance consultants also provide group trainings and peer learning opportunities designed to address issues common among COF-funded agencies.

COF Cycle One
In April 2008, 14 grantees (3 Policy and Advocacy projects and 11 Capacity Building projects) were approved by the First 5 LA Board of Commissioners for Cycle One funding, totaling $3,137,160. Project implementation began on July 1, 2008.

COF Cycle Two
In November 2008, 15 agencies (3 Policy and Advocacy projects and 12 Capacity Building projects) were approved by the First 5 LA Board of Commissioners for Cycle Two funding, totaling $3,192,472. This included over $2 million to be invested in agencies or collaboratives new to First 5 LA. Cycle Two projects began in March 2009.

COF Cycle Three
To coordinate with the FY 2009-2015 Strategic Plan, COF award only one type of grant for Cycle 3: policy and advocacy. Policy and advocacy projects support First 5 LA's goal of bringing about improvements that have a widespread impact on LA County children across LA County.

COF Cycle Four
Released March 5, 2010. Additional information about the RFP can be found by clicking here. To view the Funding Recomendations approved by the Commission on June 10th, click here.