Ballmer Group Welcomes New Grantees for June 2025
Ballmer Group shares its most recent recent grants as of June 2025.
Ballmer Group is pleased to share some of our recently announced grants:
Woodcraft Rangers: Woodcraft Rangers is a leader in expanded learning, supporting 25,000 youth at over 110 Title I schools throughout Los Angeles County. Our grant will support Woodcraft Rangers in hosting weekend camps for more than 900 fire-impacted youth, providing them with a valuable restorative experience in their recovery after the trauma of the fire events.
Los Angeles Unified School District Education Foundation: The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest in the nation and enrolls more than 429,000 students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. Our grant will support trauma-informed mental health services, trainings, and crisis response to aid LAUSD students and caregivers affected by wildfires.
Pasadena Unified School District: Pasadena Unified School District works to achieve excellence and equity in all PUSD schools. Our grant supports summer sports camps for middle schoolers, college readiness workshops and advising, college prep summer programs at UCLA, and arts and science enrichment programming.
California State Alliance of YMCAs: Our grant will provide LA County YMCA organizations in fire-impacted or fire-adjacent communities with funds to expand summer programs, day and overnight camps (week-long), sports and enrichment activities, and leadership training; improve existing program quality, and serve more youth.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America: For Los Angeles County Boys & Girls Clubs located near the Palisades and Altadena fire-affected areas, this summer is focused on restoring a sense of normalcy, consistency, and fun for kids who lost homes or have been displaced. Funds will enable clubs to expand capacity, offer financial assistance to affected families, and ensure essential staffing and resources required to support vulnerable youth—allowing kids to be kids again, despite the upheaval in their lives.
Pasadena City College Foundation: Pasadena City College’s 2025 Summer Skilled Trades Program will support high school students in the fire-impacted region of Pasadena and Altadena to have access to a skilled trades program providing college credit and stipends.
Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation: The Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation will provide funds to 6 charter schools and approximately 1,200 students impacted by disruptions like wildfires, ensuring they have continued access to academic enrichment, mental health support, and safe, engaging environments. These programs help mitigate learning loss, promote recovery, and ensure equitable opportunities across the public education landscape.
LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment: Our grant to LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment will provide and increase services for 400 young children and families, increase quality via play and art therapy, provide mental health support for new moms, babies, and low-income Palisades families, and support up to 15 ECE centers and family child care to serve up to 800 children.
Goodwill Industries International, Inc.: Goodwill Industries International (GII) is dedicated to enhancing the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by strengthening communities, eliminating barriers to opportunity, and helping people in need reach their full potential through learning and the power of work. Ballmer Group’s grant will support the expansion of the “Opportunity Accelerator” (OA) methodology across the Goodwill network in the U.S., enabling more local Goodwill organizations to provide tailored workforce development services. This investment will help GII improve programmatic outcomes, expand adoption of the OA system, and address the evolving needs of communities and employers.
Center for Public Sector AI: The Center for Public Sector AI (CPSAI) is dedicated to empowering government leaders with the tools, knowledge, and expertise needed to make informed decisions about deploying AI and other emerging technologies to tackle critical service delivery challenges. Our grant supports the launch and scaling of CPSAI’s network for state Health and Human Services (HHS) leaders, enabling them to effectively integrate AI solutions and enhance their capacity to serve their communities.
Southern California Counseling Center: The Southern California Counseling Center (SCCC) is dedicated to providing affordable, culturally attuned, and trauma-informed mental health services, with a focus on addressing root causes such as poverty and discrimination, particularly in under-resourced communities of color. Our grant will support SCCC’s efforts to expand its workforce development and capacity building, enhancing its ability to work with Medi-Cal and deliver innovative mental health solutions. This funding will help SCCC deepen its impact, advance its sustainability, and empower communities through high-quality, culturally affirming care.
The Institute of College Access and Success: The Institute For College Access And Success (TICAS) enhances college access and success by ensuring that financial aid is more accessible and better targeted to students who need it most, while also advocating for state policies that reduce the financial burden of obtaining a public college certificate or degree. Our grant will support efforts to increase financial aid application and utilization rates, address policy implementation challenges, and focus state policymakers’ attention on reducing barriers that disproportionately affect students with the greatest need, ultimately aiming to prevent significant drops in postsecondary attainment.
Proyecto Pastoral: Proyecto Pastoral partners with the Boyle Heights community to drive grassroots change through initiatives focused on education, leadership development, and family support, all with a strong commitment to equity and community-driven solutions. Ballmer Group’s grant will support Proyecto’s implementation of a new Theory of Change as part of a multi-year strategic plan, enhance major donor engagement, and re-engage Promesa Boyle Heights stakeholders. This funding will also strengthen Proyecto’s organizational capacity by building on past investments in workforce stabilization, data infrastructure, and staff development, ultimately increasing its ability to deliver impactful services to the community.
The ZONE Spokane: The ZONE, a resident-led initiative in Northeast Spokane, is dedicated to advancing economic mobility and stability for families through employment, education, and financial coaching. With the support of the Ballmer Group grant, The ZONE will expand its Housing Stability and Economic Mobility program, enhancing case management services and financial coaching workshops to connect more residents with financial security and increased income. This funding will enable The ZONE to address immediate needs while supporting long-term goals, streamline operations, and attract additional support from strategic partners, ultimately fostering economic opportunities for one of Spokane’s most under-resourced areas.
Trust for Civic Life: The Trust for Civic Life is a cross-ideological funder collaborative working to support cross-sector partnerships in high-need small to mid-size communities across the country, to address critical local needs as a means of promoting civic engagement. Our grant will support the Trust in investing directly in local “Civic Hubs” that serve as community backbones, prioritizing and coordinating action, promoting the use of qualitative and quantitative data, and making targeted investments in projects often focused along the cradle-to-career continuum. By contributing to this initiative, Ballmer Group will support local impact and engage with funders to learn effective ways to support local partnerships, driving meaningful change.
Heluna Health: The Little by Little (LBL) School Readiness Program, a project of Heluna Health, is dedicated to closing the opportunity gap for young children by integrating early literacy resources into WIC services, transforming these centers into trusted “learning places” that emphasize dignity, resilience, and community. Our grant will support LBL’s programming at three WIC sites in Los Angeles County, serving 18,500 participants annually. It will provide 160,000 books to families over three years and enable strategic planning to diversify funding, ensuring the program’s sustainability and demonstrating its impact on WIC retention and community service delivery.
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health: The LA Trust for Children’s Health is dedicated to bridging health and education to promote student mental health and well-being, ensuring equitable access to mental health services for students and families within the Los Angeles Unified School District. Our grant of $750,000 will support the infrastructure and activities of their school-based mental health initiatives, including the expansion of the peer-to-peer Wellness Youth Advocate program, training and technical assistance, and policy advocacy efforts. This funding will enhance access to mental health care, empower youth-led wellness efforts, and facilitate sustainable funding strategies, ultimately improving student health and academic success.
Developing Kingdoms In Different Stages: Developing Kingdoms In Different Stages (Developing K.I.D.S.) is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening urban communities by fostering inter-generational youth leadership, enhancing academic enrichment, and promoting civic engagement. Our grant will support their capital expansion project, enabling the organization to renovate a newly acquired building to house their comprehensive after-school programming. This expansion will allow Developing K.I.D.S. to serve up to 1,000 youth, launch a career-focused workforce development program, and increase leadership opportunities for their Youth Advisory Council and parents, ultimately empowering young people to become strong contributors to their communities.
Jobs For The Future, Inc.: Jobs for the Future (JFF) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to creating system-level innovations that enhance economic mobility for all. Our grant will support JFF’s partnership with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to improve Career and Technical Education (CTE) dual credit pathways in Washington. This initiative aims to streamline the transition from high school to postsecondary education and careers, ultimately providing clear and meaningful pathways aligned with regional high-demand industries.
PeacePlayers: PeacePlayers Detroit is dedicated to using basketball as a tool to unite young people from diverse backgrounds, fostering leadership, and bridging divides to build a more equitable Detroit. Our grant will support PeacePlayers’ year-round youth programming and the 2025 Friendship Games, a global event that brings together young leaders from divided communities to promote peacebuilding and understanding through sport. This funding will help sustain high-quality programming, cover essential costs, and enable the organization to track and evaluate its impact on youth leadership and community connections.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles: The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, through its Stay Housed LA initiative, is dedicated to advancing housing stability and justice for low-income residents by providing essential legal services, education, and resources to prevent eviction and homelessness. Our grant will support Stay Housed LA in expanding tenant outreach and legal representation, enhancing housing stability across Los Angeles. This funding will enable the hiring of 75 post-graduate fellows and the recruitment of 100 law students, bolstering the attorney pipeline for eviction defense. Additionally, it will aid in organizational capacity-building for smaller subcontractors, support retreats and training for legal staff, and improve the tenant experience through website enhancements.
Centinela Youth Services, Inc.: Centinela Youth Services (CYS) provides diversion, restorative justice, and counseling to young people, helping them stay in school and avoid the justice system. Ballmer Group’s grant will support CYS in championing a shift away from punitive responses to youth behavior, advocating instead for restorative processes proven to build self-awareness, accountability, and lasting behavioral change.
Khmer Girls in Action: Khmer Girls in Action is dedicated to empowering Southeast Asian youth by involving them in strengthening their community’s youth safety infrastructure. Our grant will support the organization’s mission by investing in the development of young leaders who actively participate in public oversight and governance, influencing budget and programming decisions that impact their safety and growth. This funding will enhance their co-governing strategy, enabling youth to share real power in decision-making.