Cal State LA gets $48M grant, the largest philanthropic gift in its history

A historic $48 million grant was given to California State University, Los Angeles on Monday — the largest philanthropic gift ever received by the university.

Ballmer Group made the landmark, 5-year investment meant to help the university expand its work to address youth mental health services in Los Angeles schools and communities.

According to a press release, the grant will “deepen Cal State LA’s partnership with K–12 districts and community agencies to increase access to high‑quality, culturally responsive mental health services for children, adolescents, and families in under‑resourced areas.”

The grant is also the sixth largest philanthropic gift in CSU system history.

Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes said the grant will help prepare a new generation of counselors and social workers who deeply understand and reflect local communities, including East LA.

Immediately, the funding will allow the university to help more than 1,000 new social workers and family counselors through its Master of Social Work (MSW) and School‑Based Family Counseling (SBFC) programs — programs that contribute significantly to the region’s mental health and public service workforce.

The grant will expand program capacity by doubling the 1-year MSW program, increasing the 2-year MSW program by 50 percent, and doubling the SBFC program.

Most of the funding will support student scholarships to reduce “financial barriers that often limit graduates from pursuing careers in public service,” a press release said.

Eanes said growing the program “will change lives across Los Angeles.”

Cal State LA Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs and grant Principal Investigator Heather Lattimer said preparing more graduates for careers in public service will have long-lasting effects on local communities.

“The impact will be felt in schools, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations across Los Angeles for years to come,” Lattimer said.

Kim Pattillo Brownson, Director of Strategy, Policy, and Partnerships for Ballmer Group Los Angeles, said Cal State LA has a proven record of preparing diverse graduates who “make a meaningful difference.”

This grant is a way of continuing to support that good work.

“This investment expands pathways into the field and supports the vital work of delivering high‑quality, culturally responsive care where it is needed most,” Pattillo Brownson added.

Ballmer Group has also gifted grants to UCLA and Cal State University, Dominguez Hills to help support similar professional training for grads pursuing careers in public and nonprofit roles that will help LA youth.

Together, the three universities have received $110 million from the Ballmer Group to focus on their individual efforts “with a shared purpose.”