01 Jul Miller Foundation Launches New Strategic Plan
The Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller Foundation has officially unveiled its new five-year strategic plan, expanding the organization’s role as a community partner for nonprofits serving children, youth and families in Long Beach. The framework, grounded in community input, seeks to address systemic and critical needs in new and responsive ways.
Core Pillars of the New Plan
The strategic plan outlines four core priorities identified by the Foundation:
- Impact: What specific outcomes do we want to achieve for children and families in Long Beach?
- Our Grantmaking Approach: How should we focus our grantmaking for the greatest impact?
- Our Role Beyond Grantmaking: What should our role be beyond grantmaking to best support the Long Beach community?
- Operational Effectiveness and Efficiency: How can we evolve our strategies and tools to increase our effectiveness, efficiency and relevance?
“As the social and economic challenges facing communities persist, we feel a strategic and moral responsibility to evolve,” said Foundation Board Chair Annette Kashiwabara. “This isn’t just a document; it’s a commitment to increasing our connection and support for nonprofits working to improve the lives of our youngest residents.”
Foundation leadership noted that the plan’s development relied heavily on input from civic and educational leaders, nonprofit directors, funders and other stakeholders. This community-driven approach ensures that the foundation’s investments reflect the immediate realities and aspirations facing Long Beach families.
Looking Ahead: The 2027/28 Grant Cycle
In alignment with the new framework, the foundation is expanding its annual grantmaking process. Beginning with the 2027/28 grant cycle, the Miller Foundation will implement a small co-hort of multi-year grants, in order to assess and provide this type of funding on a larger scale in future cycles. The foundation will continue to offer both operational and capacity-building funding.
Former program areas will be replaced by Funding Priority Areas:
“However,” Foundation president Darick J. Simpson points out, “Nonprofits serving in the arts and other fields will still have a place under the new funding areas.”
The foundation will also be making concerted efforts to bring in regional and corporate funding to help close the gap left by government funding cuts and a changing funding landscape. They will also hold nonprofit convenings to connect organizations, encourage collaboration and identify resources.
“We look forward to hearing from the community and our nonprofit partners on our new plan,” Darick notes. “We are in this together.”