The Vernon CommUNITY Fund (VCF) and Vernon City Council are dedicated to enriching the local community. The VCF provides grants to charitable and governmental entities for projects and programs that benefit those residing and working in Vernon and surrounding cities - the Vernon Area (which is comprised of Vernon, Maywood, Commerce, Bell, Huntington Park, the area within the City of Los Angeles known as Boyle Heights, and the unincorporated area known as East Los Angeles). These grants contribute to the health, well-being, and quality of life in local communities and support regional programs and services that address workforce development, youth advocacy, sports, the arts, violence prevention, homelessness, mental health, and more.

The Vernon CommUNITY Fund is now accepting 2024 grant applications from non-profits serving the Vernon Area! Interested nonprofits may attend our upcoming Grant Workshop at Vernon City Hall on September 11th at 9:30am to learn more about requirements, the application process, and grantmaking timeline.  Applications may be accessed through our online portal and must be submitted by October 11, 2024.

The VCF also provides scholarships for senior high school students residing in the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) area. The VCF Scholarship Program offers financial assistance for students pursuing post-secondary education at trade school, community college, or university. The Program is a great opportunity for the VCF to establish a personal, viable connection with youth in the Vernon Area while supporting their pursuits of higher education and, in turn, elevating the region as a whole by ensuring that the career goals of students in the community are more attainable. Promoting higher education is aligned with the City’s overall mission to contribute to the betterment of SELA and Vernon leaders are excited to offer the VCF Scholarship to students who are committed to investing in their education for a brighter future.

The City also accepts monetary contributions for the VCF Scholarship Program. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please see details on how you may contribute, or contact CityAdmin@CityofVernon.org for more information.

VCF grants and scholarships are awarded by the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee, a formal City board comprised of a Vernon Council Member, a local legislative representative, Vernon residents and business representatives. Grant and scholarship recommendations are presented to the committee after a comprehensive review of application materials by a third-party consultant, a firm that specializes in ethical grantmaking, grants management best practices, and charitable funds administration.

Past VCF Scholarship recipients have attended the following SELA area high schools:

1) Maywood Center for Enriched Studies
2) Huntington Park High School
3) Bell High School
4) Mendez High School
5) Bell Senior High Magnet
6) Marquez School of Social Justice
7) Garfield High School
8) Boyle Heights STEM Magnet High School
9) MSTMA at Roosevelt HS
10) East LA Renaissance Academy
11) Huntington Park Institute of Applied Medicine - Marquez
12) Libra Academy Marquez