Equity and Diversity Fund
Request for Proposal (RFP)
The Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative, in collaboration with Southern California Grantmakers (SCG), are excited to announce the launch of the County of Los Angeles Equity and Diversity Fund. On April 6, 2021, the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted the motion, Los Angeles County Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, co-authored by Supervisors Hahn and Mitchell. In this motion, ARDI was directed to explore the feasibility of launching the LA County Equity and Diversity Fund. ARDI submitted three report backs leading up to the submission of the recommendation for the Equity Fund spending plan on November 29, 2022, which was adopted by the Board on March 7, 2023.
The initial goal of the fund is to provide resources to Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and County departments to prevent and combat identity-based hate, bias, discrimination, and xenophobia against marginalized groups, enhance community safety, as well as celebrate the diversity of Los Angeles County’s communities through cultural and artistic activities. We are currently seeking proposers to respond to the release of the RFP.
RFP Service Categories
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Community Safety and Violence Prevention
- Proposed activities that address violence and protect members who are at increased risk for and/or vulnerable to experiencing violence, including, but not limited to, people of color, older adults, women, trans individuals, and immigrants.
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Healing-Centered Practices
- Proposed activities that promote healing and restorative justice-centered practices that center victims’ needs, repair harm, and/or reduce future violence among former offenders when targeted violence occurs.
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Intergroup Relations
- Proposed activities that facilitate cross-racial solidarity and collaborative action toward advancing racial equity. Services provided will include programs that build, foster, and/or strengthen community- and faith-based partnerships in various different communities, including between AANHPI, American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and Latino/a/x and all faiths.
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Arts-based Cultural Performance and Community Events
- Proposed activities that offer creative placemaking and cultural activities to facilitate conversations about culture, truth, and racial healing.
Under the guidance of ARDI, SCG will manage the distribution of funds according to the County Equity and Diversity Fund Spending Plan (Equity and Diversity Fund). This entails subcontracting with a diverse range of qualified organizations including tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, a State Recognized Tribe that appears on the State of California’s Native American Heritage Commission’s List, or a Federally Recognized Tribe that has an office/operation in Los Angeles County. Fiscally sponsored organizations are eligible as well.
See below for more information about the RFP timeline, how to join the upcoming information session on the funding opportunity, and contact information to submit questions or request additional information.
RFP Process: Dates and Activities
This section contains key dates and activities, as well as instructions to Proposers on how to prepare and submit their proposal to SCG for the Equity and Diversity Fund initiative.
The following timeline represents SCG’s solicitation schedule for the solicitation process. SCG reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to adjust this schedule, as it deems necessary. Please note that all times indicated are Pacific Time.
ACTIVITY
DATE
RFP Released
Friday, September 13, 2024
Information Session
Monday, October 7, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. PT
Final Date to Submit Questions
Monday, October 14, 2024 by 5:00 p.m. PT
Posting of Responses to Questions
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Application Due
Friday, October 18, 2024 by 5:00 p.m. PT
Applications Assigned to Proposal Review Boards
Monday, December 2, 2024*
Review Board Meetings
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Week of December 2, 2024
Week of December 16, 2024
Week of January 13, 2025
Week of February 3, 2025 (Final Selections) *
Announce Subcontractor Selections
Monday, February 10, 2025*
Conduct Appeals Process
February 12-14, 2025*
Subcontracts Start Date
March 1, 2025*
*Dates have changed
Proposers' Questions
Proposers may submit questions in writing and/or requests for additional information regarding this RFP via the email below. SCG reserves the sole right to determine the timing and content of the responses to all questions and requests for additional information. SCG may respond to individual inquiries and then post replies to all questions by the posting date.
Contact: Erica Rey, Director, Equity Arts and Culture at SCG
Email: EquityDiverseFund@socalgrantmakers.org
Please include Subject Line: Question(s) ARDI RFP
Information Session
SCG and ARDI will hold an information session to discuss the RFP. They will provide an overview of the funding opportunity and respond to questions from potential Proposers. The Information Session webinar will take place on October 7, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. PT. Potential Proposers are highly encouraged to participate to learn more about the RFP requirements and process. Please register for the webinar by clicking the below button or through SCG’s website, Equity and Diversity Fund. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the info session.
Eligibility
Organization Eligibility
- Organization must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, a State Recognized Tribe that appears on the State of California’s Native American Heritage Commission’s List, or a Federally Recognized Tribe that has an office/operation in Los Angeles County. Fiscally sponsored organizations are eligible.
- Applicants must demonstrate dedicated staffing and presence in Los Angeles County.
- Applicants’ primary direct service activities serve Los Angeles County residents. Residents of Los Angeles Supervisorial districts, unincorporated communities, school districts, and cities.
- Applicants must demonstrate a working history in the Service Planning Area (SPA) if they are proposing a place-based approach. A Service Planning Area, or SPA, refers to one of eight regions within Los Angeles County, which allows for more localized “organizing, planning, statistical tracking, and provision of health and social services.” To see a map of SPAs, click here.
- Applicants must demonstrate the ability to provide linguistically and culturally appropriate services to reach highly impacted and/or vulnerable communities.
- The proposed services must directly focus on communities and community members highly impacted by identity-based hate, violence, and related issues.
Eligible Activities
Contracts will be awarded to eligible entities with final selections based on availability of funds, adherence to program guidelines, the submission of all required information and supporting documentation, and strength of proposal. The Equity and Diversity Fund will fund community programs that have the capacity to:
- Reach highly impacted and/or vulnerable communities, organizations, and/or small business owners.
- Describe their project/proposal clearly and concisely with as much detail as possible.
- Effectively outreach, engage, and support communities, individuals, and families across the diverse cultural communities in the County.
- Increase access to necessary resources and services to foster awareness, inclusion of, and a sense of belonging among the diverse cultural communities in the County.