Dedicated to promoting and encouraging charitable, scientific, literary, and educational activities within the Santa Monica community; guided by Rotary's motto 'Service Above Self.'
Santa Monica Rotary Club Foundation C/o Lopez & Jackson directs most of its giving to local projects in Santa Monica and nearby California communities, while also backing Rotary-linked projects and disaster response. Recent grants show a consistent pattern of equipment purchases, youth support, scholarships, and assistance for organizations serving people with special needs. The largest recent award in the list went to Rotary International Foundation for Rotary project grants, alongside support for local community work at Wise & Healthy Aging and Safe Place for Youth. The foundation’s grantmaking reflects Rotary’s service orientation and a practical, project-specific approach. Several awards are tied to capital needs or equipment purchases, including support for education, food assistance, preschool, and community services. Santa Monica College Foundation appears with funding for scholarships and equipment, showing that the foundation supports both institutional capacity and student aid. It also gave to Step Up on Second and Westside Food Bank for equipment, indicating a preference for tangible program support rather than unrestricted funding. Its portfolio also includes grants for homeless youth, special needs individuals, and Rotary district or international projects, connecting local charitable activity with Rotary’s broader network.
Education appears in both scholarship and equipment support. In 2024, Santa Monica College Foundation received $13,320 for scholarships and purchase of equipment, and in 2023 it received another $8,320 for the same purpose. The foundation also backed First United Methodist Church Preschool with $12,000 to purchase equipment, showing support for early learning infrastructure. Youth and basic needs are another clear thread. Safe Place for Youth received $14,350 to assist homeless youth, while Westside Food Bank received $9,600 to purchase equipment. Helpguide also received $11,700 for equipment, and Step Up on Second received $12,000 for equipment. The foundation also makes grants for special-needs support and disaster response. Aurelia Foundation received $9,500 to assist special needs individuals, and Habitat for Humanity received $10,350 for disaster relief.
$48K
$1.1M
$384K
$268K
Most grants fall between $9K and $12K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$12K
DOROTHY MENZIES
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Typical grants cluster in a relatively narrow band: the 25th percentile is $9,000, the median is $10,350, and the 75th percentile is $12,000. Recent awards show repeated support to some recipients across multiple years, including Rotary International Foundation, Rotary District 5280 Foundation, and Santa Monica College Foundation, which suggests recurring relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF or an individual-giving vehicle, and it gives through direct, project-specific grants. It also accepts unsolicited applications in its active grant programs.
Grantmaking is concentrated in California, which accounts for 76% of grants and is also the top state by grant count. Santa Monica is the most visible city in the recent list, with grants to Santa Monica College Foundation, First United Methodist Church Preschool, Step Up on Second, Clare Matrix, Westside Food Bank, Samohi Music Department, and Wise & Healthy Aging. Nearby recipients also include Marina del Rey and Los Angeles. Outside California, recent grants reached Evanston, Augusta, and Washington, DC, but all listed grants were made to US recipients.
The foundation supports charitable, scientific, literary, and educational activities, with active programs for capital improvement grants, community grants for Santa Monica nonprofits, and World Community Service grants outside the United States. Recent grants also show support for scholarships, equipment purchases, homeless youth services, special-needs assistance, and disaster relief.
Typical awards are in a fairly tight range: the 25th percentile is $9,000, the median is $10,350, and the 75th percentile is $12,000. The active grant programs also show smaller community grants from $500 to $3,500 and world community service grants from $500 to $10,000.
Yes. All three active grant programs listed accept unsolicited applications: Santa Monica Rotary Foundation Grants (Capital Improvement Grants), Community Grants, and World Community Service Grants.
It is mainly local. California recipients account for 76% of grants, and Santa Monica is the most frequent city in the recent list. The foundation also supports projects outside the United States through its World Community Service Grants program and has recent grants to recipients in Illinois, Georgia, and Washington, DC.
Yes. Recent grants include repeat awards to Rotary International Foundation, Rotary District 5280 Foundation, and Santa Monica College Foundation across 2023 and 2024. That pattern points to ongoing relationships in addition to one-time awards.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Santa Monica Rotary Club Foundation C/O Lopez & Jackson that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Local nonprofit organizations serving Santa Monica residents may apply.
Deadline: The published 2026-27 application deadlines are October 9, 2026 and March 5, 2027.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLAYA VENICE FOUNDATION | PLAYA DEL REY, CA | $12,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO LA FIRE DISASTER RELIEF PROJECT |
| UPWARD BOUND HOUSE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EEQUIPMENT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SANTA MONICA | SANTA MONICA, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| READY TO SUCCEED | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| ROTARY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION | EVANSTON, IL | $6,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS |
| SANTA MONICA BLACK LIVES ASSOCIATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SANTA MONICA | SANTA MONICA, CA | $8,600 | 2025 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| ELEMENTAL MUSIC | SANTA MONICA, CA | $8,250 | 2025 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| SANTA MONICA YMCA | SANTA MONICA, CA | $8,200 | 2025 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| SAMOHI GRAD NITE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $7,760 | 2025 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| GO UKRAINE INC | OAK PARK, CA | $5,750 | 2025 | GRANT TO ASSIST REBUILDING OF HOMES IN UKRAINE |
| SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH | MARINA DEL REY, CA | $14,350 | 2024 | GRANT TO ASSIST HOMELESS YOUTH |
| SANTA MONICA COLLEGE FOUNDATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $13,320 | 2024 | GRANTS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PRESCHOOL | SANTA MONICA, CA | $12,000 | 2024 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| STEP UP ON SECOND | SANTA MONICA, CA | $12,000 | 2024 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5280 FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $11,500 | 2024 | GRANTS TO ROTARY 5280 PROJECTS |
| WESTSIDE FOOD BANK | SANTA MONICA, CA | $9,600 | 2024 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| AURELIA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $9,500 | 2024 | GRANT TO ASSIST SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS |
| ROTARY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION | EVANSTON, IL | $6,000 | 2024 | GRANTS TO ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS |
| ROTARY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION | EVANSTON, IL | $25,503 | 2023 | GRANTS TO ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS |
| WISE & HEALTHY AGING | SANTA MONICA, CA | $16,000 | 2023 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| HELPGUIDE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $11,700 | 2023 | GRANT FOR PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | AUGUSTA, GA | $10,350 | 2023 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| CLARE MATRIX | SANTA MONICA, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5280 FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $9,000 | 2023 | GRANTS TO ROTARY 5280 PROJECTS |
| SAMOHI MUSIC DEPARTMENT | SANTA MONICA, CA | $8,500 | 2023 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
| SANTA MONICA COLLEGE FOUNDATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $8,320 | 2023 | GRANTS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,833 | 2023 | GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT |
PLAYA VENICE FOUNDATION
$12,000GRANT TO LA FIRE DISASTER RELIEF PROJECT
SANTA MONICA BLACK LIVES ASSOCIATION
$10,000GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTAL MUSIC
$8,250GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT
SANTA MONICA YMCA
$8,200GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT
SAMOHI GRAD NITE
$7,760GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT
GO UKRAINE INC
$5,750GRANT TO ASSIST REBUILDING OF HOMES IN UKRAINE
GRANTS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PRESCHOOL
$12,000GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT
ROTARY DISTRICT 5280 FOUNDATION
$11,500GRANTS TO ROTARY 5280 PROJECTS
AURELIA FOUNDATION
$9,500GRANT TO ASSIST SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS
HELPGUIDE
$11,700GRANT FOR PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT
ROTARY DISTRICT 5280 FOUNDATION
$9,000GRANTS TO ROTARY 5280 PROJECTS
SAMOHI MUSIC DEPARTMENT
$8,500GRANT TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT
GRANTS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT