About
The Lark Awards provides small, Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations with deep roots in their communities a $30,000 grant and support for staff-driven collective care and well-being.
Durfee recognizes that the nonprofit sector has a culture of burnout. This is particularly true in smaller nonprofit organizations that are underfunded and overextended in their efforts to meet community needs. At the same time, community-rooted nonprofits often employ staff with lived experience, who often sacrifice their own well-being for their communities and have limited access to time off and rest. This program offers staff at these organizations an opportunity to experience well-being practices for rest and renewal, imagine what collective care means for them, and create a plan to institute a culture of care in their organizations
The Lark Awards provide up to 15 nonprofit organizations with a one-time grant of $30,000 each. Organizations have one year to use the award. Each organization determines the best way to allocate the funds, including staff-wide and individual renewal activities.
Durfee understands that funding for well-being and collective care is a unique resource that can feel new and unfamiliar. Therefore, in addition to the grant, organizations have access to up to four hours of coaching. A coach can help organizations identify what they hope to get out of the Lark experience and how to get there.
We aim to convene each cohort three times a year, including an early orientation for brainstorming, a mid-point convening rooted in well-being practices and community-building, and a culmination to celebrate the grant experience.
Goals
- Provide small budget, community-rooted nonprofit organizations with the resources to pause, reflect, and create a culture of collective care and wellbeing at their organization
- Support nonprofit staff by offering an opportunity to explore wellbeing and collective care that foster sustained renewal and care practices
- Recognize organizations as champions of collective care and wellness in the nonprofit sector
Reflections from Past Recipients
“As an organization, we made a conscious decision to utilize the support from the Lark Award for a work-free group retreat, with the intention of strengthening our bond, deepening our respect for one another, and cultivating a sense of love within our team. This retreat has had a transformative effect on our capacity to serve and make a meaningful difference. It provided us with a valuable opportunity to spend quality time together as a team with our families and allowed our staff to take a moment to slow down and find respite from the constant movement and demands that arise from the important work we do. It was a rare chance for us to recharge, rejuvenate, and reflect on our individual and collective well-being and the results have been remarkable. Since our return from the retreat, our staff has been working together more efficiently than ever before, and our work feels more rewarding and supported.”
– 2023 Lark Award Recipient
“The agency we were given to decide to care for ourselves, went a LONG way. I felt empowered to take a trip and do what I know brings me relaxation and joy, so when I came back I felt good about the work I do and who I work for. When group and individual care are combined, it allows people to step into whatever care they need.”
– 2024 Lark Award Recipient
How to Apply
The application cycle is open. For any inquiries, please reach out to admin@durfee.org.
Current Awardees
Lark Galloway-Gilliam
The award is named in honor of the late Lark Galloway-Gilliam. Lark was the founder and Executive Director of Community Health Councils, a recipient of the Durfee Sabbatical Award, and a beloved member of our community. She passed away in 2014, leaving behind a powerful legacy for improving health and environmental equity in South Los Angeles.
