Updated:
Children's Institute
Martine Singer leads Children's Institute, the 1906-founded Los Angeles nonprofit serving 30,000 children annually from a Frank Gehry-designed campus in...
Children's Institute
Children's Institute was established in 1906 by Minnie Barton to support children and families navigating the Los Angeles court system. Over more than a century, the organization has evolved into a multi-campus service provider delivering early education, youth programs, counseling, and family support. President & CEO Martine Singer oversees daily operations from the Otis Booth Campus headquarters on Temple Street. The institute now serves roughly 30,000 children and families annually across Los Angeles County. The institute's deployment strategy relies on a hybrid model of direct programming and an investment portfolio that supports operating expenses. Programmatic spending flows through clinical behavioral health services, early childhood education centers, and community-based youth development initiatives. A notable structural asset is the institute's real estate portfolio — four owned campuses including the Frank Gehry-designed Watts Campus at 10200 S. Success Avenue. That campus co-locates community safety partners from the LAPD Community Safety Partnership and the Watts Gang Task Force, embedding the institute's strategy directly into neighborhood infrastructure. The endowment, estimated at $23 million (Altss estimate), funds ongoing operations alongside philanthropic support from foundations including the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, the Johnny Carson Foundation, and The Ahmanson Foundation. Lionsgate Co-President Erin Westerman serves as a major supporter and gala honoree. Board members hold professional network memberships including YPO. Long Beach and Main Street campuses extend the institute's geographic reach across Southern California. Children's Institute differs from a typical grantmaking foundation through its direct service delivery model and owned real estate assets. The Watts Campus operates as both a service hub and a community anchor, hosting third-party partners like the LAPD Community Safety Partnership on-site — a co-location structure rare among nonprofit social-service providers and one that shapes how the institute deploys capital into neighborhood-level infrastructure rather than purely programmatic grants.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1906
AUM
$23M (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Los Angeles
Corporate office
2121 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026, United States
Additional offices
10200 S. Success Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90002, United States · 1500 Hughes Way, Suite C100, Long Beach, CA 90810, United States · 9505 S. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90003, United States
Principals
Martine Singer
President & CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is the relationship between Children's Institute's endowment and its operating programs?
The endowment, estimated at $23 million (Altss estimate), supports the institute's operating expenses rather than functioning as a traditional grantmaking vehicle. Most program funding comes from a mix of that portfolio, direct philanthropy from foundations like the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and the Johnny Carson Foundation, and public contracts. The investment portfolio exists to sustain the direct-service model the institute has operated since 1906.
Who designed the Watts Campus and why does it matter for the institute's strategy?
Frank Gehry designed the Watts Campus pro bono and remains a long-term advocate. The building co-locates clinical services, early education programs, and community safety partners — including LAPD's Community Safety Partnership and the Watts Gang Task Force — on a single site. This physical integration of service delivery and community partners makes the campus a structural differentiator for the institute's neighborhood-level deployment.
Who runs investment decisions at Children's Institute?
The institute has not publicly disclosed its investment committee composition or whether it employs internal investment staff. As a nonprofit with an estimated $23 million portfolio (Altss estimate), it is likely governed by a board-level investment committee that may engage external managers. No named CIO or investment lead has been identified.
How is Children's Institute related to the Los Angeles child welfare system?
The institute was founded by Minnie Barton, LA's first female probation officer, and has maintained deep ties to the county's child welfare infrastructure for over 115 years. Its programs — early education, mental health counseling, and family support — serve families in communities affected by underinvestment, many of whom interact with the dependency court and child protective systems. The institute is not a county agency but operates as a contracted service provider with public and philanthropic funding.
Does Children's Institute participate in fund commitments or only direct service delivery?
Children's Institute does not operate as an institutional allocator making fund commitments. The endowment of approximately $23 million (Altss estimate) funds direct operating expenses for clinical and educational programs across its four campuses. There is no evidence of alternative-asset fund commitments, co-investments, or an investment program structured like a family office or foundation CIO office.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: