Los Angeles Parks Foundation
10 Years and Growing
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Los Angeles Parks Foundation was established to serve the work of the City's Department of Recreation and Parks. Our foundation's work serves one of the oldest and most abundant city park acreage in the nation supporting communities through a vast network of 450 green spaces, playgrounds, rec and senior centers, lakes and beaches, and even historical sites. That makes the need for park equity, revitalization, and environmental stewardship great in such a largely populated city. Now more than ever, as we navigate challenges of urban density, higher poverty rates, increased homelessness, and environmental threats, the need for safer, cleaner, upgraded parks, and rich programming continues to challenge city government. Our foundation was established to engage the community and philanthropic leaders in helping to raise funds to support these efforts.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
LA Park Forests
Our Park Forest Initiative adds small “forests” to city parks throughout L.A. to offset our carbon footprint, cool surface air temperatures, and educate the public about climate change. Sponsors will have the opportunity to plant groupings of climate-appropriate trees for all Angelenos to enjoy. In partnership with Mayor Eric Garcetti, we hope to plant thousands of new trees citywide in the coming years.
Adopt-A-Park
The Adopt-A-Park program engages the community to help us enhance our city parks. Individuals, corporations, local businesses or foundations can adopt a park to meet identified needs that can immediately benefit park patrons. The adoption may include capital or program improvements and needs like court refurbishments, sport and fitness amenities, scholarships, lighting, equipment, etc.
Friends of the Park
Through the Friends of the Parks Program donors can provide much needed funding to their favorite parks.
Friends of the Parks donations support these activities and many more:
- Sports court refurbishing
- Youth athletic scholarships, equipment, and uniforms
- Holiday events and senior programming
- New additions to the park like fencing, water fountains, and walking paths
PlayLA
PlayLA is a city-wide sports program focused on gender equity children of color providing exposure to a healthy lifestyle and self-esteem. It currently serves 100,000 youth throughout Los Angeles.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of trees planted
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
LA Park Forests
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
As we enter our 10-year anniversary, we remain committed to supporting the work of the City's Department of Recreation and Parks and its integral role in the delivery of social services to our communities by helping to fund their work in:
• Encouraging active healthy lives through recreational programs for all ages
• Providing respite, meal programs, cultural exchange, life skills, and shelter in crisis
• Fostering community cohesion, safe public spaces, equity, and wellness
• Serving as spaces to combat pollution, retain storm water, and protect parkland
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Partnering with the city, foundation and private funders, and local community groups, the LA Parks Foundation has been successful at raising more than $20 million in support of capital projects, city-wide initiatives, programmatic support, and land protection. Some examples of these projects include:
*Ferraro Fields – Artificial turf soccer facility with 4 fields for disadvantaged youth
*PlayLA – Campaign promoting gender equity in sports for 100,000 youth in Los Angeles
*Hazard Park in East LA - $1 million re-design and upgrade including exercise zones
*Cabrillo Beach Pier Fishing Program – summer program serving kids ages 5-16
*50 Parks Initiative - New pocket parks throughout East and South LA
*Scholarships – sports equipment, supplies, and staffing for recreational activities
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
See above section for capabilities.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Below, please find an incomplete list of projects done within the last year.
*June 2022 - With a generation donation from the Los Angeles Clippers, we were able to resurface every basketball court in Los Angeles
*June 2022 - Worked with the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation, Recs and Parks, and Council District 13 to plant 40 olive trees
*March 2022 - With Food Forward, we were able to harvest oranges from 246 trees in Franklin Canyon Orange Grove to be distributed to the community via local agencies and food banks.
*Planted several LA Park Forests within Los Angeles City Parks
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Los Angeles Parks Foundation
Board of directorsas of 12/05/2023
David Nickoll
David McGowan
Lunada Bay Associates, LLC
Barry A. Sanders
Latham & Watkins LLP
Denise Booth
Los Angeles Clippers
David Nickoll
Thomas Safran
Thomas Safran & Associates
Carmel Sella
Wells Fargo Bank
Candy Spelling
Debora Vrana
City National Bank
David Galaviz
University of Southern California
Mia Lehrer
Studio MLA
Thomas Miller
City National Bank (retired)
Kevin Parker
Artists First
Michael Shull
Ret. Gen. Mgr., LA Dept. of Recreation and Parks
Andrew Saul
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Joseph Halper
Ret. Gen. Mgr., LA Dept. of Recreation and Parks
Tony Budrovich
Executive Director, Los Angeles Parks Foundation
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as: