South LA Decides
ENG | ESP
Best Start Communities, Region 2 ANNOUNCE A NEW ROUND OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
The Best Start Communities of Region 2 (West Athens, Compton/East Compton, Broadway Manchester and Watts/Willowbrook), invite you and your organizations to apply for funding through the South LA Decides and Community Change Fund Initiative, located within each respective community.
About South LA Decides and The Community Change Fund Initiative
South LA Decides is how Best Start Region 2 will expand grant making decisions to the residents of South LA and Compton. This community-based grant making initiative builds on the successful work that each Best Start community in Region 2 has achieved. This initiative will ensure that residents of Region 2 are able to participate in the decision-making process of distributing funding to organizations working to increase the health and well-being of children living in South LA and Compton, prenatal to 5 living in South LA and Compton.
This funding will support the planning and implementation of projects focused on strategic actions that create policy-centered solutions and/or improve systems of services around early childhood education, parks, green spaces and more, with the goal to improve the lives of children, prenatal to 5, and their families.
Funds from this initiative may NOT be used to fund capital projects, or capital improvement projects.

A total of up to $200,000 will be awarded per each Best Start community. Awards will be made for a 12-MONTH period (anticipated: August 1, 2021 – July 31, 2022).
Work under this program must take place in one or more of the four Best Start Region 2 geographies. Funds awarded are intended to support work on priority issues (see page 4) that benefit residents and stakeholders of Best Start Region 2 and are not for individual or personal use.
CHC encourages applications from a spectrum of organizations, community groups and/or coalitions.
Proposed Timelines:
June 5, 2021, at 2:00PM PST
Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the Best Start four (4) geographic areas.
June 9, 2021, 5:00PM
Questions and requests for additional information due
June 11, 2021, 10:00AM to 11:00 AM
Bidders/applicants Q&A webinar
June 18, 2021, 5:00PM PST
Full proposals due
A PDF of the Community-Based Grant Making Initiative: Local Communities Request for Proposals – Q&A Session presentation, which took place on Friday, June 11, 2021 is located here. Links to the event recording can be accessed via the following link:
Week of July 5, 2021
Intent to award announcements
West Athens
Watts and Willowbrook
Compton/East Compton
Broadway Manchester
South LA Decides Election #1
FAQ’s
What is the summit and why are we doing it?
Where does the funding for this grant-making come from?
What will be discussed at the summit on Feb. 25th?
What is South LA Decides?
What issues will be included in the vote between Feb. 25 – 28?
How much money will be distributed?
Who is the Regional Task Force?
Who elected the Regional Task Force members?
Who will be allowed to vote?
When will the Request for Proposals be released?
When will the Request for Proposals be due?
Who will be allowed to apply for funding?
How will winning proposals be selected?
Who do I talk to if I have more questions about this process?
We will be hosting a Bidders Conference Q & A session on Friday, March 12th from 1:00 – 2:00 PM.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/south-la-decides-community-based-grant-making-summit-tickets-141025463959
Will we be able to use any community change agenda funds for current local council initiatives?
What is the role of the Regional Task Force?
What key dates do we need to be aware of during this process?
- February 25: 2021 South LA Community-Based Grant Making Summit
- February 25 – 28: South LA Decides Vote on Top Community Priorities
- March 5: Request for Proposals Released
- March 12: Bidders Conference
- March 19: Proposals Due
- March 25 – April 7: South LA Decides Vote on Best Proposals
- April 9: Grant Awards Announced
