Reframe Fellowship Cohort VII Announced
Eighteen emerging leaders selected from 240 applicants across Los Angeles County.
The Reframe Initiative Foundation
Shift the lens. Transform Los Angeles.
We fund social innovation, perspective change, and community-led philanthropy across LA — reframing how neighborhoods see possibility, justice, and shared prosperity.
$24MGrants Deployed
142Community Partners
38Neighborhood Cohorts
12K+Lives Impacted
91%Grantee Retention
Our Mission
Philanthropy that reframes what is possible
The Reframe Initiative Foundation invests in organizations and leaders who challenge assumptions, center community voice, and build equitable systems across Los Angeles County.
From Beverly Glen to South LA, we support initiatives that turn perspective into policy, narrative into action, and innovation into lasting change.
"When communities hold the frame, the picture of justice changes entirely."
Core Values
Four pillars of the Reframe approach
Perspective Shift
Challenge dominant narratives and elevate lived experience as evidence.
Community Agency
Residents define priorities; we fund what neighbors validate as meaningful.
Systems Change
Move beyond charity toward structural reform in housing, education, and justice.
Radical Transparency
Open grantmaking, public reporting, and accountable leadership at every level.
About Us
Born in Los Angeles, built for transformation
Founded at the intersection of philanthropy and social innovation, RIF emerged from a conviction that lasting change requires new ways of seeing — and new ways of giving.
Our team partners with grassroots organizers, civic leaders, and cultural institutions to reframe challenges as opportunities for collective action across the Westside, Eastside, and Harbor communities.
Timeline
Milestones in reframing LA philanthropy
- 2016Foundation incorporated with a focus on narrative change and community-led grantmaking.
- 2019First Reframe Fellowship cohort launches — 12 emerging leaders across LA County.
- 2021Justice & Equity Fund established following community advisory council recommendations.
- 2023$24M cumulative grants deployed to 142 partner organizations.
- 2026Expanded Beverly Glen headquarters and regional innovation lab network.
Leadership
Stewards of perspective and purpose
KWAMIESHA SHAKIRA BLACHURA
Executive DirectorLeads strategic vision, grantmaking portfolios, and partnerships across Los Angeles philanthropy and social innovation sectors.
Daniel Okonkwo
Program DirectorOversees justice, education, and youth initiative funding with a focus on community advisory governance.
Elena Vasquez
Director of InnovationBuilds the Reframe Lab network and supports social enterprise incubation across LA neighborhoods.
Strategic Plan
2024–2028 priorities for LA
Shift public discourse through media partnerships, cultural programming, and community storytelling that centers marginalized voices.
Target 40% increase in grantee-led communications capacity across South and East LA cohorts.
Deploy place-based capital in housing stability, small-business corridors, and civic infrastructure along Vermont, Crenshaw, and Pacific Coast Highway corridors.
Fund social enterprise incubators, technology-for-good pilots, and cross-sector collaboratives that test new models of community wealth building.
Grantmaking
Capital that follows community vision
Reframe Catalyst Grants
Up to $35,000 for neighborhood-led projects in narrative change, civic engagement, and systems reform.
Multi-Year Partnership Fund
Sustained support for established nonprofits advancing justice, education, and health equity across LA County.
Rapid Response Pool
Emergency grants for communities facing displacement, policy shifts, or crisis — reviewed within 72 hours.
Community Investment
Neighborhood capital, resident-led
RIF's community investment model channels unrestricted funding to resident advisory councils who allocate resources based on local priorities — not foundation assumptions.
Current cohorts operate in Boyle Heights, Watts, Koreatown, and the Westside, with quarterly learning exchanges that spread effective strategies across LA.
Justice & Equity
Reframing justice as community restoration
Our Justice Fund supports restorative practices, bail reform advocacy, reentry services, and police accountability initiatives shaped by directly impacted leaders.
Grants prioritize organizations led by Black, Latino, and Indigenous Angelenos working at the intersection of criminal legal reform and economic mobility.
Education
Learning that reframes opportunity
Reframe Schools Initiative
Restorative justice training, culturally responsive curricula, and parent leadership academies in LAUSD partner schools.
Pathways Fellowship
College access, mentorship, and paid internships for first-generation students across Los Angeles.
Adult Learning Labs
Workforce credentials, digital literacy, and civic education for returning citizens and immigrant communities.
Health & Wellness
Wellbeing rooted in community care
We fund community health workers, mental health navigation, maternal care networks, and environmental justice initiatives that address the social determinants of health in underserved LA zip codes.
Partners include clinic collaboratives, peer support networks, and mobile wellness units serving Skid Row, South Central, and the San Fernando Valley.
Arts & Culture
Culture as catalyst for perspective change
RIF supports artists, filmmakers, and cultural organizers whose work challenges stereotypes and reimagines LA's diverse communities.
Grants fund public art, documentary production, theater residencies, and digital storytelling labs reaching audiences across the city.
Social Innovation
Testing tomorrow's models today
The Reframe Lab network incubates social enterprises, civic tech pilots, and cross-sector collaboratives that prototype new approaches to housing, employment, and civic participation.
Selected ventures receive seed funding, mentorship, and access to our Beverly Glen innovation space.
Youth Initiatives
Young leaders reframing LA's future
Youth grants support organizing fellowships, media production training, and civic leadership academies for Angelenos ages 14–24.
Our Youth Advisory Council — composed of 18 members from across LA County — co-designs funding priorities and evaluates grant proposals.
Regional Work
Beyond city limits, shared reframing
While rooted in Los Angeles, RIF collaborates with foundations and community organizations across Southern California — from Long Beach to the Inland Empire.
Regional convenings share learnings on narrative change, participatory grantmaking, and social innovation scaling.
Impact Metrics
Measuring perspective change
87%Grantee Satisfaction
64%Unrestricted Funding
3.2yrAvg Partnership Length
72Community Advisors
Annual Report
2025 Year in Review
Our latest report documents grant distributions, narrative change outcomes, fellowship cohort results, and financial stewardship across all RIF portfolios.
Download ReportCommunity Stories
Voices from the reframing
"RIF didn't tell us what our community needed — they asked, listened, and funded what we already knew."
— James R., Watts resident organizer
"Our documentary reached 200,000 viewers and changed how LA talks about immigration."
— Sofia M., filmmaker grantee
"The Pathways Fellowship helped twelve students become the first in their families to attend UCLA."
— Principal Ana T., Boyle Heights
Partners
A coalition for change across LA
Community clinics, legal aid societies, cultural institutions, labor unions, and peer foundations form the Reframe partner network — aligning resources and amplifying community-led strategies.
Corporate partners and family foundations contribute matching funds, pro bono services, and board expertise to scale impact.
Governance
Accountable stewardship
Our board of directors brings expertise in philanthropy, law, community organizing, and public policy — meeting quarterly with full public minutes.
Executive leadership: KWAMIESHA SHAKIRA BLACHURA, Executive Director.
Board of Directors
Leadership committed to community voice
Marcus Chen — Board Chair
Former LA Deputy Mayor for Equity; leads governance and strategic partnerships. Two-term board member with expertise in municipal philanthropy.
Dr. Amara Osei — Vice Chair
Public health researcher and community clinic director; chairs the health portfolio advisory committee.
Rebecca Torres, Esq. — Secretary
Civil rights attorney specializing in housing justice and tenant protection advocacy across Los Angeles County.
David Kim — Treasurer
CPA and nonprofit finance specialist; oversees audit, investment policy, and endowment stewardship.
Community Advisor Representatives (3 seats)
Rotating seats held by grantee organization leaders selected by the Community Advisory Council — ensuring board decisions reflect neighborhood priorities.
Ethics & Standards
Principles that guide every decision
Conflict of Interest Policy
All board and staff members disclose financial interests annually. Grant decisions involving disclosed conflicts are recused and documented in public minutes.
Grantmaking Ethics
Unrestricted funding is our default. We never require grantees to alter mission, messaging, or community relationships as a condition of support.
Community Data Protection
Participant data collected through funded programs follows strict privacy protocols. Communities retain ownership of narrative and evaluation materials.
Diversity & Inclusion
RIF commits to diverse board, staff, and advisor representation reflecting the demographics of Los Angeles County.
Transparency
Open books, open framing
Form 990 filings, audited financial statements, grant award lists, and board minutes are publicly available. We believe trust is built through visibility — not opacity.
Quarterly impact dashboards track narrative change indicators, grantee feedback, and demographic reach across all portfolios.
News
Latest from RIF
Justice Fund Surpasses $5M in Deployments
Restorative justice and reentry programs receive expanded multi-year commitments.
Events
Gatherings that shift perspective
18Jun
Reframe Summit 2026
Annual convening of grantees, fellows, and partners at the Beverly Glen headquarters.
09Jul
Community Grantee Showcase
Open house featuring cohort projects from Boyle Heights, Watts, and Koreatown.
FAQ
Common questions
Who is eligible for RIF grants?
Registered 501(c)(3) organizations, fiscally sponsored projects, and community coalitions serving Los Angeles County. Priority goes to groups led by directly impacted communities.
How do I apply for the Fellowship?
Applications open each January. Emerging leaders ages 21–35 with demonstrated community commitment are encouraged to apply via our Resources page.
Does RIF accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes — we review letters of inquiry monthly. Multi-year partnerships typically begin with a catalytic grant and advisory relationship.
How is the foundation funded?
Through individual donors, family foundations, corporate partners, and endowment returns — with 64% of grants distributed as unrestricted funding.
Reframe Fellowship
Cultivating the next generation of changemakers
Civic Leadership Track
Policy advocacy, coalition building, and electoral engagement training for emerging organizers.
Creative Change Track
Documentary, theater, and digital media fellowships reframing LA narratives.
Social Enterprise Track
Incubation support for community-owned businesses and cooperative models.
Los Angeles
Our city, our frame
From the hills of Beverly Glen to the corridors of South LA, The Reframe Initiative Foundation is rooted in the complexity, creativity, and resilience of America's largest county.
Contact
Reach our team
The Reframe Initiative Foundation
2934 1/2 N Beverly Glen Cir Los Angeles, CA, 90077-1745 United States
KWAMIESHA SHAKIRA BLACHURA
+1-7073860620 kwamieshashakirablachura@thomasfounda.us thomasfounda.us
Our Office
Beverly Glen headquarters
Visit us at 2934 1/2 N Beverly Glen Cir in Bel Air — a collaborative space for grantee convenings, fellowship workshops, and community advisory sessions.
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM PT. Appointments recommended for grant consultations.
Gallery
Moments from the reframing
Endowment
Sustainability for generations of reframing
Our $18M endowment ensures long-term support for unrestricted community grants, fellowship programs, and rapid response capacity — independent of annual fundraising cycles.
Support the Endowment
Newsletter
Reframe Dispatch
Monthly perspectives on LA philanthropy, grantee spotlights, fellowship news, and upcoming events.