The San Diego Foundation
San Diego, California · EIN 952942582 · Private foundation
Based in San Diego, California, The San Diego Foundation has awarded $442.3M across 4,439 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2023. Its largest grant on record went to UC San Diego Foundation. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.
What The San Diego Foundation funds
The San Diego Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on adult education, arts & culture, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, criminal justice, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include black communities, children, disabled, families, foster youth, hispanic communities.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The San Diego Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC San Diego Foundation FOR THE HALICIOGLU DATA SCIENCE INSTITUTE AT UC SAN DIEGO TO BE USED FOR PURPOSES STATED IN THE AGREEMENT DATED DECEMBER 12, 2017 BETWEEN TH | La Jolla, CA | $13.4M | 2022 |
| Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego PHILANTHROPY, VOLUNTARISM & GRANTMAKING FOUNDATIONS | San Diego, CA | $12.0M | 2018 |
| UC San Diego Foundation EDUCATION | San Diego, CA | $10.5M | 2018 |
| Southwestern Community College District TO SUPPORT THE SBDC FOR THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUND DIRECT GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND NONPROFIT RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM | Chula Vista, CA | $8.0M | 2022 |
| Campanile Foundation TO ESTABLISH THE JAMES SILBERRAD BROWN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER | San Diego, CA | $7.0M | 2022 |
| Salk Institute for Biological Studies FOR THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE FUTURE CHALLENGE MATCH | La Jolla, CA | $6.8M | 2022 |
| Salk Institute for Biological Studies CAMPAIGN FOR THE FUTURE CHALLENGE MATCH | La Jolla, CA | $6.1M | 2023 |
| Sharp Healthcare Foundation TO SUPPORT THE SHARP HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION ENVISION CAMPAIGN AND RECOGNIZE THE LEGACY OF JAMES S. BROWN | San Diego, CA | $6.0M | 2022 |
| YMCA of San Diego County FOR COVID RESPONSE FOR CHILDCARE, DAY CAMP, AND OTHER SERVICES | San Diego, CA | $5.9M | 2020 |
| Southwestern Community College District CITY OF ESCONDIDO NONPROFIT RELIEF FUND | Chula Vista, CA | $5.2M | 2023 |
| Child Development Associates Inc FOR COVID RESPONSE FOR CHILDCARE, FOOD AND SUPPLIES PER GRANT AGREEMENT LETTER | Bonita, CA | $5.0M | 2020 |
| Schwab Charitable Fund FOR THE JOAN WAITT FAMILY FOUNDATION FUND | Orlando, FL | $4.2M | 2022 |
| UC San Diego Foundation GLOBAL POLICY & STRATEGY EXCELLENCE FUND | La Jolla, CA | $3.6M | 2023 |
| UC San Diego Foundation TO SUPPORT THE UCSD STUDENT FOUNDATION ENDOWMENT FUND FOR THE UCSD STUDENT FOUNDATION | La Jolla, CA | $3.3M | 2020 |
| San Diego Symphony Orchestra FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | San Diego, CA | $3.3M | 2020 |
The San Diego Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from The San Diego Foundation
The San Diego Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at sdfoundation.org.
Is The San Diego Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what The San Diego Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about The San Diego Foundation
- Does The San Diego Foundation accept grant applications?
- The San Diego Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does The San Diego Foundation fund?
- The San Diego Foundation's grants focus on adult education. Recent recipients include UC San Diego Foundation, Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, UC San Diego Foundation. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does The San Diego Foundation give in grants?
- The San Diego Foundation reported $72.6M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $442.3M over 4,439 grants.
- Where is The San Diego Foundation located?
- The San Diego Foundation is based in San Diego, California. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 952942582.
- How can I find foundations similar to The San Diego Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The San Diego Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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