About LACHSA Foundation
The LACHSA Foundation exists to advance one of the nation’s most remarkable public arts high schools: the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA). For more than four decades, we’ve been the charitable partner bridging the gap between what’s possible and what’s visionary mobilizing a vibrant community of donors, advocates, and partners who believe in the limitless potential of students who are born to create.
Our Roots
In 1984, a visionary group of arts advocates, philanthropists, government officials, education leaders, and artists incorporated the LACHSA Foundation as a 501(c)(3) charity with a bold mission: “To promote the arts and advancement of young artists by raising and distributing funds for the establishment and operation of a public arts high school in Los Angeles County.”
The very next year, LACHSA opened its doors in 1985. Since then, the Foundation has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with LACHSA, the LA County Board of Supervisors, and the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) in a very unique public/private partnership to ensure every student has access to LACHSA’s exemplary arts education opportunities, from working with a faculty of internationally recognized teaching artists, to attending master classes with industry leaders, to developing their artistry in theatre productions, concerts, film festivals, dance showcases, and gallery exhibitions.
Our Impact
Every year, thanks to the generosity of our donor family — including individual philanthropists, corporate partners, and private foundations — the LACHSA Foundation works tirelessly to raise the critical funding needed to keep LACHSA’s exemplary arts education programs thriving. Our giving portfolio includes a multi-strategy approach to fundraising and also includes scholarships and endowed funds established by our founders and individuals who invest in our long-term vision. All of these efforts are sustained by our community, guaranteeing financial support for LACHSA year after year.
We also amplify LACHSA’s story capturing its innovation and excellence in arts education. As a model specialized high school for the arts, LACHSA’s outcomes are rich with stories of student artists from diverse, socioeconomic backgrounds who become the artistic leaders of tomorrow. The Foundation’s mission is to share these stories with the global community.
Your donations further this impact and the Foundation continues to be grateful for our new and longstanding partners in our mission.
Our Vision for the Next 40 Years
As we look towards how the LACHSA Foundation can best support LACHSA’s future beyond our shared 40th Anniversary, we’re thinking big, dreaming big, and planning big. Because LACHSA’s students and faculty deserve nothing less.
- A $40 million Endowment: Providing at least $2 million annually for arts education in perpetuity.
- A New School Site: A capital campaign to launch the building of LACHSA 2.0, designed for the next generation of creative excellence.
- New Foundation Offices at the Hollywood Arts Collective (2027): Expanding opportunities for student performances, community partnerships, and outreach.
These are ambitious goals, but they’re achievable with the help of those who believe in the power of student artists. Whether you give, volunteer, or share your voice as an advocate, you are part of shaping the next chapter of LACHSA’s story.
Join us in honoring LACHSA’s past, elevating its present, and igniting its future.
About LACHSA
Founded in 1985, LACHSA has been a creative home for thousands of student artists who come from every corner of Los Angeles County to learn in a public high school setting with an exemplary arts education focus. The opportunity LACHSA offers to student artists provides access to a free conservatory style arts education in all five arts disciplines combined with a comprehensive academic education to all of LA County’s high school youth. Every student at LACHSA is an artist.
LACHSA is governed under the direction of the LA County Office of Education and is located on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles. The LACHSA Foundation is a founding charitable partner in this specialized education model providing supplemental funding to ensure LACHSA’s excellence in artistic education.
Recent News
Alumni Spotlight: Michael Fitzpatrick
LACHSA alum Michael Fitzpatrick ‘88 is the founding voice and principal songwriter of Fitz and the Tantrums, one of the bands you can see at LACHSApalooza on May 30 at the Greek Theatre. Make sure you
Gerald Clayton ’02 Performing at LACHSApalooza
LACHSA alumnus Gerald Clayton ’02, will be performing at LACHSApalooza and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to see this outstanding pianist and composer, as well as seven-time Grammy nominee! Clayton is one of
Our Interview with Theatre Department Chair Lois Hunter
Lois Hunter has a very long history with LACHSA, in fact she has been at LACHSA for 33 years. She became Chair of both the Theatre and Dance Departments in 2001, and when the departments
About Us
LACHSA Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit supporting LACHSA since 1985.
369 E. 1st Street, 3rd Fl. Suite 3
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tax ID: 95-393-8009
For more information, email info@lachsafoundation.org.
