Santa Monica Council Accepted $1 Million Beach Grant

The city will use the funds from the Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation to increase access to the public Beach House.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Philanthropy

Isometric editorial illustration of a coastal pavilion and pedestrian bridge, representing the expansion of public access at the Annenberg Community Beach House. — The Santa Monica City Council has accepted a $1 million grant from the Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation to expand operations and programming at the Annenberg Community Beach House. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Santa Monica City Council voted 6-0 to accept a $1 million grant from the Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation. These funds will support operations and new programming at the Annenberg Community Beach House over the next three years.

Why it matters

The grant allows the city to expand financial, physical, and cultural access to the popular waterfront facility without requiring a local matching investment. Officials aim to increase inclusivity at the site, which has been a public resource since 2009.

The city received a $1 million grant to be distributed evenly over three years, with $333,000 allocated for the first year of operations. This funding is projected to reach approximately 2,700 participants in the first year alone.

The players

Santa Monica City Council

This local governing body serves as the primary legislative authority responsible for managing municipal resources and approving citywide funding agreements.

Wallis Annenberg Legacy Foundation

This philanthropic organization provides charitable grants to support community, educational, and cultural projects.

The details

The city will divide first-year funds into thirds to support major public events, new programming, and partnerships with community-based organizations. This initiative will cover projects and operations that were not included in the city's original 2026-27 budget request.

The city opened the Beach House to the public on April 25, 2009.
The foundation announced a $10 million gift on September 11, 2025.
The foundation approved the city's first-year proposal on August 25, 2026.
The Santa Monica City Council accepted the grant on September 29, 2026.

Market Landscape

This grant follows the 2009 opening of the Annenberg Community Beach House and marks a significant evolution in the public-private model for maintaining local landmarks. The funding positions the site to sustain higher levels of public participation compared to standard municipal budget allocations.

Residents can expect improved access to the Beach House through new free public programs and community-designed events. These initiatives aim to lower barriers to entry for various cultural and social activities at the waterfront.

The takeaway

This funding represents a shift toward more robust, grant-supported programming for public spaces in the city. Residents should look for upcoming event schedules as the city begins implementing the new initiatives funded by this multi-year partnership.