Community Investment Grant Program

The Port of Los Angeles Community Investment Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025-26 provides funding opportunities for small to large community events, programs, and projects that directly benefit the Port community and align with the goals of the Los Angeles Harbor Department. The Harbor Department’s intent is to partner with organizations that share similar interests and objectives, building relationships that foster mutual support. This program is funded entirely from the Harbor Department’s annual budget, which is self-supported through shipping and lease revenues, not taxpayer funds. Funding amounts and available categories fluctuate from year to year, and grant applicants must apply annually for consideration.

For Fiscal Year 2025-26, the total anticipated grant funding is $2,000,000. This amount includes funds designated for “Large Grants” that are in their second year of funding. Individual grants can range up to $100,000 for single-year projects that must be completed within the fiscal year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026). Awards exceeding $100,000 are considered Large Grants and will cover two consecutive fiscal years: July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. The Harbor Department reserves the right to award amounts lower than requested, meaning partial funding may be provided in some cases.

All projects must demonstrate compliance with the Tidelands Public Trust Doctrine, ensuring they have a clear relationship to the purposes of the Trust. This requirement is documented in the application’s Nexus Statement, which must show how the proposed project benefits the Harbor Department, the Tidelands Public Trust, and the Port community. Only activities related to navigation, maritime commerce, fishing, marine environmental preservation, marine-related scientific study, water-based recreation, and visitor-serving waterfront activities qualify for funding. Applications with components that do not align with the Tidelands Trust will have those ineligible elements excluded from funding.

Applicants must be nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Proposals must clearly align with the program’s goals, provide a comprehensive description of how Harbor Department funding will be used, and detail specific deliverables and timelines. All funded activities must take place within or directly benefit the Harbor District communities, including Wilmington, Terminal Island, San Pedro, and Harbor City/Harbor Gateway. Proposals must also address public health and safety measures, contingency plans for events affected by government health orders, and include detailed budgets.

Applications must specify how the Harbor Department will be acknowledged in all funded activities, whether through sponsorship recognition, banners, advertisements, or website presence. Grantees must submit a final report documenting all deliverables, expenses, and materials showing the Port’s logo and recognition. Failure to provide this wrap-up report will disqualify the organization from future funding opportunities. Additionally, all funded programs are subject to audit and site visits.

The grant application process opens on July 1, 2025, and closes on June 30, 2026. Funding decisions are made based on alignment with program goals, clarity of the Tidelands nexus, benefit to the Port and community, compliance with budgetary and reporting requirements, and evidence of public engagement and involvement. Certain entities are excluded from eligibility, including individuals, political campaigns, religious organizations, municipal departments of the City of Los Angeles, and organizations in litigation with the Harbor Department or the City. Examples of eligible projects include beach clean-ups, tidepool education, waterfront public events, sailing programs, wildlife rescue initiatives, and maritime history festivals.