The San Diego Foundation

The San Diego Foundation became a Live Well San Diego partner on October 27, 2015. The San Diego Foundation has taken a regional leadership role as a resource for charitable giving and community needs. They focus on a variety of social impact areas that help influence community wellness, including arts, culture and humanity; civil society and social innovation; disaster preparedness and relief; education and environment; food, agriculture and nutrition; health and human services; housing and shelter; public safety; science and technology; and youth development.

The San Diego Foundation works collaboratively with nonprofits, public agencies, business, philanthropy, academia and other community leaders to create new strategies and solutions for our region’s most pressing challenges.

The result is a set of programs and funds that bring positive change to the San Diego region, including:

• The largest scholarship program in San Diego County outside of the university system, annually awarding more than $2 million to more than 800 students.
• Support for preparedness, response, recovery and rebuilding efforts through a network of community recovery teams and $15 million in grants from the San Diego Regional Disaster Fund, donated by individuals and corporations.
• A network of 9 regional affiliate foundations that together have awarded more than $3 million to nonprofits serving 4S Ranch-Del Sur, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Escondido, La Jolla, Oceanside, Rancho Bernardo, Ramona and San Ysidro.
• A partnership with the San Diego Women’s Foundation which has granted more than $2.5 million to local community partners.
• Their unique and determined leadership role in preparing our region for the impacts of climate change by investing more than $2 million in research, public education, technical assistance, and collaborative projects that help governments and communities plan for a changing climate.
• Bringing the community together through their Malin Burnham Center for Civic Engagement to learn and discuss challenges and opportunities to create a more vibrant and cohesive San Diego region.
• Support for efforts to create more vibrant neighborhoods by transforming blighted urban spaces into community Gathering Places and public arts spaces; and by nurturing Creative Catalyst fellows who connect art to community issues for civic engagement and social change.
• The advancement of efforts for more Age-Friendly Communities across San Diego, to make our cities more livable for older adults with safer, walkable neighborhoods and more amenities that enable people to age in place.

The San Diego Foundation is committed to advancing Live Well San Diego into the future by growing a vibrant San Diego region.