OVERVIEW: The Snap Foundation supports arts, education and youth in Los Angeles, California.
IP TAKE: This is a new foundation on the Los Angeles grantmaking scene, so only limited information is currently available about the funder’s strategy and priorities, but that will likely change in the near future. Collaboration is important to this funder as it works to assist organizations and help young people build and tell their own stories. There is an overarching commitment to creativity with the Snap Foundation to help youth stretch their imaginations and reach their potential, so it would be a good idea to incorporate this concept into your proposal — if you can get on their radar.
While this is a collaborative funder, it’s not transparent, approachable or accessible. It doesn’t provide a way to apply for a grant or even contact the foundation because it is, several years after it’s establishment, still “currently engaged in a phase of research and strategic planning.” This is a tough nut to crack unless you can network with the founders or previous grantees. This funder’s web presence is very limited save for a single page on it’s corporate sister’s site.
PROFILE: Established in 2017, the Snap Foundation is a corporate foundation based in Santa Monica, California in the Los Angeles area. This is the charitable arm of Snap Inc., a camera company and the makers of the multimedia messaging app, Snapchat. Snap Inc. founders Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy created this foundation as a separate entity that operates outside the company to pursue charitable goals. Born in Pacific Palisades in 1990, Spiegel completed design classes at the Otis College of Art and Design, and at the Art Center College of Design. He attended Stanford University, and in 2011, co-founded Snapchat with Murphy, his fraternity brother. Snapchat allows users to send photos and messages that disappear after a few seconds. Spiegel became the youngest public company CEO when Snap began trading in March 2017. The company and cofounders pledged to donate shares of stock to the foundation for many years into the future. The foundation aims to “develop pathways to the creative economy for underrepresented youth in Los Angeles.” It funds local efforts for arts, education and youth.
The Snap Foundation hopes to build “scalable, equitable, systems-level change, our efforts aim to be efficient, effective, and data-driven,” but it remains very quiet on how it expects to fulfill this work. Tax filings show an interest in grassroots efforts based in Los Angeles to Contributions to support funds and programs that focus on youth, families, and support for childcare services for first responders.
Grants for K-12 Education, Higher Education, Youth and Arts Education
Education funding takes a broad approach with a focus on Southern California.
- The foundation reportedly plans to donate 13 million Class A shares of Snapchat stock to the foundation over the next 15 to 20 years. With its last private valuation at some $25 billion, the donation could mean hundreds of millions of dollars for the initiative when the company goes public. The donations are set to benefit primarily youth, education and nonprofit arts programs.
- In 2018, Spiegel gave $20 million to Stockton Scholars, a scholarship program in Stockton, California. He and Kerr, through their separate Spiegel Family Fund, paid off all student debt for 285 graduates of Otis College of Arts and Design in 2022.
- Other Spiegel Family Fund education grantees include code.org, Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences, Episcopal School of Los Angeles, Ojai Foundation, Stanford University, and the Stockton Scholars Program.
- Past Snap Foundation education grantees include LAUSD’s LA Students Most in Need Fund, LAEDC’s COVID-19 Community Connectory, One Family LA and Fairplex Child Development Center.
This funder partnered with LA2020 to support young people in the creative economy.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range between about $25,000 and $75,000.
- Grantmaking focuses on Los Angeles, California.
- Past local grantees include Mission Asset Fund, Lost Angels Children’s Project – Good+Life Manufacturing and Boyle Heights Beat – Radio Pulso/Voces.
- This foundation is not currently accepting unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits because it is in a research and strategic planning phase. However, check the foundation website because this will likely change in the future and more guideline and application information will be available.
- Direct general questions to the staff at 800-839-1754.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
