The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation has officially unveiled a massive $7.4 million investment strategy for 2025, marking a significant step in its ongoing mission to provide a “home away from home” for Angelenos through stability and community support. This latest funding cycle prioritizes recovery for those hit hardest by recent natural disasters, specifically focusing on fire relief and long-term rebuilding in the Altadena, Pasadena, and Pacific Palisades areas. This allocation is part of a broader decade-long commitment that has seen the foundation pour more than $76 million into the region, benefiting over 11 million young people and 300 different non-profit organizations.
CEO Nichol Whiteman emphasizes that the organization’s role as “champions” extends far beyond the baseball diamond, focusing instead on using their massive platform to level the playing field for all residents. This year’s financial layout targets the core pillars of social justice, healthcare, education, and the prevention of homelessness. The reach of these grants is extensive, touching major educational hubs such as the Los Angeles, Compton, Bellflower, Glendale, Lynwood, and Pasadena school districts.
The 2025 grant recipients represent a diverse cross-section of essential services. Major allocations include $895,575 for the Dodgers Dreamteam program to support 17 affiliate partners and 14,000 youth, and a $200,000 contribution to the Jackie Robinson Foundation to fund 10 LADF Scholars. In response to the devastating January 2025 wildfires, the foundation is providing $100,000 to Baby2Baby, $75,000 to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, and $20,000 to the Anti-Recidivism Coalition for their Fire Fighter Fund and reentry services. Brotherhood Crusade received $160,000 to tackle food insecurity by providing 640,000 meals while also supporting wildfire relief, and Food Forward was granted $50,000 to distribute an additional 550,000 pounds of produce to fire-affected neighborhoods.
Furthering their commitment to health and wellness, the foundation awarded $150,000 to Vision to Learn for eye exams and glasses in Altadena, $100,000 to Shoes That Fit for the distribution of 3,000 pairs of shoes, and $50,000 to the Therapeutic Play Foundation for interactive healing labs and wellness kits. Structural recovery is also a priority, with $75,000 going to the YMCA of Metro LA to rebuild the Palisades-Malibu YMCA and $57,500 to the YMCA of the Foothills for rental assistance for displaced seniors and youth programming. Additionally, Para Los Niños received $20,000 to support families impacted by immigration raids.
Beyond direct financial checks, the LADF maintains an active role in the success of its partners by offering in-kind resources, co-hosting community events, and utilizing “Giving Moments” at Dodger Stadium to introduce these causes to millions of fans. Looking toward the future, the foundation plans to modernize its philanthropy in 2026 by moving to a letter-of-intent process, which is intended to streamline funding access and foster sustainable, high-impact partnerships. This evolution aligns with their “Lasting Impact for Los Angeles” strategic plan, which has earned the foundation prestigious honors such as the ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year and the Beyond Sport’s Sport for Reduced Racial Inequalities Collective Impact Award.
