Liberty Hill: 50 Years of Solidarity and Progress
For five decades, Liberty Hill has helped power grassroots organizing and advocacy that has reshaped the region.
From community-powered victories to national policy change, the work supported by Liberty Hill has strengthened movements, transformed communities, and nurthered generations of leaders who are at the forefront of systems change in Los Angeles and beyond.
This timeline tracks the evolution of a bold philanthropic experiment into a lasting movement — one rooted in the belief that the people closest to the pain must be closest to the power.
It Started with a Picnic
In 1975, four young people of privilege gathered for a picnic in Topanga Canyon to discuss better ways to donate to progressive causes. The conversation planted the seeds of a new vision for philanthropy, one that centered community voices and trusted frontline organizations to lead.
A Vision for the Future
In 1976, Sarah Pillsbury, Larry Janss, Win McCormack, and Anne Mendel founded Liberty Hill Foundation, laying out the roots for an organization that would help transform the social justice landscape of Los Angeles.
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1975
Founding the Model
1976–1989
Liberty Hill's early years redefined philanthropy by shifting grantmaking power to the community via the pioneering Community Funding Board. Early investments fueled grassroots movements, establishing core values of trust, partnership, and community leadership that guide Liberty Hill today.
1976
Liberty Hill makes its first 34 grants, totaling $69,000, laying out the groundwork for a new approach to social justice philanthropy.
1977
A Liberty Hill grant to Grassroots Action Information Network sparks antinuclear teach-ins and helps give rise to the Alliance for Survival, mobilizing thousands at San Onofre, Diablo Canyon, Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station and beyond.
1979
Liberty Hill co-founds the Funding Exchange, a national network of foundations supporting grassroots social justice movements for nearly 35 years.
1979
Liberty Hill launches the Institute for Non-Profit Management, later formalized as the Technical Assistance Program, providing grassroots organizations with critical training in organizing, fundraising, leadership, and media strategy.
1981
Liberty Hill incubates two new foundations — the Fund for Santa Barbara and the San Diego Foundation for Change — extending its model across California.
1983
Liberty Hill hosts its first Upton Sinclair Awards Dinner, raising visibility for grassroots movements. Actor-activist Mike Farrell receives the inaugural award, presented by Loretta Swit, marking the start of a signature fundraising tradition.
1985
Liberty Hill continues funding organizations opposing U.S. intervention in Central American, including CARECEN, CISPES, El Rescate, and SCITCA, while supporting asylum seekers fleeing wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua
Scaling Movement Infrastructure
1990–2005
These years marked a shift from isolated victories to sustained power-building, laying the foundation for lasting reforms. The foundation focused on investing in long-term organizing, coalition building, and the infrastructure needed to win durable systemic change.
1991
A transformative $1M gift from Clark Branson leads to the creation of the Branson Fund for Organizing, allowing Liberty Hill to scale operations while continuing early-stage support through its Seed Fund
1992
In the wake of the Los Angeles civil unrest, Liberty Hill rapidly distributes $240K to community-based organizations addressing housing, youth advocacy, economic development, and policy reform.
1993
Liberty Hill launches donor learning bus tours, including a widely recognized "Toxic Tour" of Southeast Los Angeles, connecting donors directly to frontline communities and organizing efforts.
1996
Liberty Hill establishes the Environmental Justice Fund, using settlement funds from corporate polluters to fuel a growing environmental justice movement across Southern California.
1997
The Living Wage Coalition, supported by Liberty Hill, secures passage of the Living Wage Ordinance, raising wages for more than 10K workers and inspiring similar policies nationwide.
1998
Liberty Hill co-sponsors the Progressive L.A. Conference at Occidental College, convening organizers, advocates, and scholars to examine the history of progressivism in L.A., explore contemporary challenges, and begin building a directory of local progressive organizations.
1999
The Lesbian & Gay Community Fund transitions out of California Community Foundation into Liberty Hill Foundation, expanding multiyear support for LGBTQ organizing.
2000
The Ford Foundation awards Liberty Hill $1.5M to launch the Fund for Community Organizing Initiative, strengthening cross-movement collaboration.
2004
Liberty Hill launches Liberty Vote! investing $385K to build long-term civic engagement and leadership among new and disengaged voters.
Building Long-Term Power
2006–2016
As Los Angeles movements grew and matured, Liberty Hill expanded its focus on building lasting power and connecting movements across key issues. This era saw the foundation evolve into a backbone for social change, investing in leadership, donor organizing, and movement infrastructure to ensure enduring impact.
2006
Liberty Hill grantees, including CHIRLA, played a leading role in the historic May Day marches, mobilizing more than half a million people in downtown Los Angeles to oppose H.R. 4437 and defend immigrant rights.
2008
Liberty Hill convenes organizations from highly polluted neighborhoods to launch Clean Up Green Up, uniting community groups with scientists and researchers to document and challenge environmental health disparities.
2009
In response to the economic downturn of 2008, Liberty Hill consolidates its grantmaking into the Fund for Change, aligning investments across social justice priority areas including economic and racial justice, environmental justice, and LGBTQ justice.
2010
Liberty Hill launches the Wally Marks Leadership Institute, named in memory of longtime donor activist and board member Wally N. Marks, Jr. The institute provides leadership development, peer learning, coaching, and skills-based training for grassroots organizations.
2013
Liberty Hill launched the Commissions Training Program through the Wally Marks Leadership Institute, preparing community leaders for appointments to City and County boards and commissions across Los Angeles.
2015
With Liberty Hill support, groups from five neighborhoods form Stand Together Against Neighborhood Drilling (STAND-LA), drawing national and global attention to the public health dangers of oil drilling near homes, schools, and churches.
2016
The Lesbian & Gay Community Fund transitions out of California Community Foundation into Liberty Hill Foundation, expanding multiyear support for LGBTQ organizing.
Driving Structural Systems Change
2017–Present
As movements confronted deepening inequality and overlapping crises, Liberty Hill stepped into a new area defined by bold, community-led solutions and transformative policy change. Building on decades of organizing and infrastructure-building, the foundation helped drive system reforms across youth justice, housing justice, environmental justice, and nattive change — shifting not only policies, but power itself.
2017
Liberty Hill launches the Agenda for a Just Future campaign, committing to three core priorities: Ending Youth Incarceration As We Know It, Fighting for a Roof Over Every Head, and Eliminating Neighborhood Oil Drilling
2018
The Obama Foundation partners with Liberty Hill, investing $1M to advance efforts to end youth incarceration. Liberty Hill also joins LA County's My Brother's Keeper Impact Community initiative, strengthening youth-led organization and collaboration to support LA youth.
2019
Liberty Hill launches Ready to Rise, a public-private partnership that invests $12.5M in 49 nonprofits to expand community-based alternatives to youth incarceration and provides resources to LA's young people.
2020
Stay Housed LA launches in partnership with Liberty Hill, the County of L.A., housing justice community organizations and legal service providers, reaching over 180K tenants to help prevent eviction and homelessness in the region.
2021
Liberty Hill partners with LA County and worker advocates to launch Public Health Councils, protecting workers from retaliation and strengthening COVID safety enforcement.
2021
Liberty Hill makes historic withdrawal of 14% of its endowment, distributing more than $3.3M in multiyear general operating grants to 65 grassroots organizations.
2022
In two historic victories for Liberty Hill partners at STAND-LA and environmental justice advocates, LA City Council and LA County vote to ban new drilling and phase out existing oil drilling in LA.
2025
Liberty Hill completes the 5th year of multi-year Fund for Change grantmaking providing $490K to 49 organizations, relaunching the Community Funding Board and the Fund for Change as a part of longstanding participatory grantmaking work.
2026
Liberty Hill and its community of donor activists, partners, and supporters celebrate 50 Years of Solidarity and Progress, marking a half-century of movement-building in Los Angeles.