Assistance League of Laguna Beach

Assistance League® of Laguna Beach is striving to put caring and commitment into action through our community based philanthropic programs. Assistance League of Laguna Beach provides the overarching structure enabling approximately 140 local volunteers to effectively execute our approved philanthropic programs in our local community. Ongoing education, administrative guidance and empowerment are key principles employed to collectively guide our chapter. Our members design, fund and effectively implement unique philanthropic programs to meet specific needs in the local community.

2022-2025 Goals:

Goal 1: Philanthropy – Provide at least 8 philanthropic programs of excellence to meet community needs. Choose programs that are effective to ensure maximum impact of our philanthropic funding.
Goal 2: Membership – Grow a more diversified and committed membership
Goal 3: Resource Development – Implement Thrift Shop and other funding initiatives to insure current and long-term support of philanthropic programs, operating expenses, and required operating reserves.
Goal 4: Marketing and Communications – Increase public awareness with an emphasis on expanding social media presence.

Goal 1: Philanthropy
• Track program effectiveness to ensure alignment with our vision.
• Capture and report the numbers of individuals served and dollars spent on philanthropic programs.
• Educate our membership on the philosophy of “Charity vs. Philanthropy” and obtain the needed balance for our Chapter.

Goal 2: Membership
• Increase membership numbers by 15%
• Utilize technology to facilitate new member applications, dues, and chapter documents/correspondence.
• Retain and engage current volunteers, and develop plans for recruiting a diverse new group of volunteers.
• Increase Assisteens* membership and provide educational events to connect with the community.

Goal 3: Resource Development
• Optimize the revenue and operations for the Thrift Shop.
• Add $40k in new revenue streams to augment the thrift shop. Actively pursue private donations, and evaluate opportunities for grants and corporate sponsorships.
• Investigate e-commerce sales through the Chapter website.

Goal 4: Marketing and Communications
• Develop and implement social media plan.
• Use software to create new marketing material and update existing materials
• Maintain Guidestar Platinum Status


To facilitate our goals we partner with the Laguna Beach Girls' and Boy's Club, Laguna Beach Senior Center, Camp Pendleton Marine Base, Shea Therapeutic Riding Center, Laguna Playhouse, Laguna Live, Homefront America, Laguna Food Pantry, Laguna Beach High School, ICEC and Waymakers.

Assistance League of Laguna Beach is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that puts caring and commitment into action through philanthropic programs. Member volunteers are dedicated to ongoing support and a long-term presence in the community through hands-on involvement and innovative philanthropic programs.

In 1952, fourteen women with a philanthropic vision organized the Laguna Beach chapter, initially called Las Amigas. The chapter was chartered in 1962, and was the 29th chapter of National Assistance League. There are ~120 Assistance League chapters in 26 states with just under 22,000 members.

Assistance League of Laguna Beach currently has ~130 member volunteers working to make Laguna Beach and surrounding communities better places to live and work through our programs. Assistance League of Laguna Beach supports thirteen community based philanthropic programs benefiting everyone from infants to adults. We encourage you to learn more about our chapter and the many ways you can become involved and make a difference.

While individual donations are gratefully accepted, the Thrift Shop, located at 526 Glenneyre Street is our main source of funding. The shop is staffed and managed entirely by our member volunteers. Donations are always welcome and are tax deductible.

Assistance League Laguna Beach facilitates the Early Intervention Program (EIP) which provides funding and the facility to deliver therapeutic services to developmentally delayed infants who have limited opportunities for therapy until age one. Therapy is provided in small group sessions that provide skills for the parents to utilize at home. Additionally, a one-hour group session is provided to parents with a Marriage and Family Counselor.

Assistance League of Laguna Beach provides funding to the J. F. Shea Therapeutic Center for scholarships for children with disabilities as well as for the Military Riding Therapy Program. The Center is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through therapeutic horse-related programs.

Through Operation School Bell programs, ALLB provides clothing, school supplies, backpacks and back-to-school supplies as well as cultural enrichment opportunities for youth from low income families so that they can be equipped for success academically and socially. In addition, we support the Laguna Food Pantry and it's mission to provide nutrition to food-challenged individuals. We also provided eight $5,000 scholarships and one $2,500 scholarship Laguna Beach High School seniors.

Membership Growth: Membership grew by 5% and at least 50% of our members participated in a philanthropic or chapter-sponsored event. There is a direct correlation between the earnings of the thrift shop to the funding of EIP and our other programs, and 100% of our voting membership volunteer in the shop. Members recognize how their volunteer hours staffing the shop are vital for EIP success and the success of our other 12 programs.

Fund Development: The Early Intervention Program benefits from member memorials and monetary donations earmarked specifically for the program. This year, a local restaurant donated 25% of the proceeds from a Tuesday night dinner to EIP. In addition, donations to our thrift shop have contributed proportionally to the success of EIP and our other philanthropic programs.

Philanthropic Programs: The thousands of lives that we have affected by our long and successful history calculate the measured success of our philanthropies. Several times a year we have a celebration during the EIP program during which babies graduating from the program are feted with a cap-and-gown celebration, while family and friends look on. in addition, we supported nine graduating Laguna Beach High School seniors with a total of $42,500 in scholarships, provided clothing to 501 school-aged military children and we made monetary and food donations to the local food bank. Events such as these serve to further promote the value of our organization and its positive impact in the community.