Funding search · EIN 952942582 · San Diego, CA

The San Diego Foundation

Name: The San Diego Foundation grants, 2021–2024
Creator: PaperOrbit
License: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organization-public-disclosure-and-availability-requirements

A grantmaking public charity (files IRS Form 990, Schedule I). Charities like this often run real grant programs with application cycles.

4,291
grants reported: $458.6M
total given: 2021–2024
filing years: $25,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 2021–2024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

diego scholarships community education youth health school scholarship

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is built Report an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

San Diego County general operating support across nearly every sector
Scholarships routed through UC, SDSU, USD, CSU San Marcos
Land conservation, lagoons, habitat management, regional parks
Climate action, clean energy, environmental health in frontline communities
Homelessness, immigrant services, food and disaster relief
Arts, museums, and science centers in Balboa Park and citywide

Typical grant

Median grant is $25,000, with the middle half between roughly $10,400 and $75,000. The six- and seven-figure checks are almost always aggregated donor-advised distributions to large anchors (UC San Diego, Campanile Foundation, Zoological Society) or contracted commitments like the Policy and Innovation Center's $250,000 per year for five years. Giving repeats heavily year over year because the same donor funds recur, so a first grant at $10,000 to $50,000 is the realistic entry point and renewal is normal.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

“FOR GENERAL SUPPORT”
“FOR SCHOLARSHIPS”
“FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT”
“FOR AREA OF GREATEST NEED”
“A MATCHING GRANT”
“FOR WHERE NEEDED MOST”

Positioning adjacent work

Tie work to a named San Diego place: a lagoon, watershed, park, or neighborhood like National City or Logan Heights.
Ask $25,000 to $75,000 for a first request; reserve seven-figure framing for multi-year regional infrastructure.
Offer a matching structure. They fund matching grants and Giving Tuesday drives repeatedly.
Connect research to their climate, workforce, or college-access themes rather than pitching pure investigation.

Worth knowing: This is a community foundation, so most dollars move at the direction of individual donor-advised funds rather than a staff-set strategy; cultivating a donor relationship matters more than a proposal. Giving is overwhelmingly San Diego County, with the out-of-state grants (Massachusetts, New York, DC) mostly reflecting donor ties to universities and national charities.

16 grants matching “mesa” · $1.7M

$175,000
Mesa Foundation · Coronado, CA · 2024
To support sdsu aztec athletic
$134,707
San Diego Mesa College · San Diego, CA · 2024
For general support
$35,000
La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation · La Mesa, CA · 2024
For the clean energy education and equipment in la mesa parks project
$10,000
Mesa Grande Business Development Corporation · Ramona, CA · 2024
A growing equity 2025 grant award
$250,000
Mesa Foundation · Coronado, CA · 2023
For general support
$207,268
San Diego Community College District · San Diego, CA · 2023
San diego mesa college, miramar community college, san diego city college
$6,023
Soroptimist International of La Mesa · La Mesa, CA · 2023
For general support
$400,000
Mesa Foundation · La Jolla, CA · 2022
General support
$181,018
San Diego Mesa College · San Diego, CA · 2022
General support
$40,000
City of La Mesa · La Mesa, CA · 2022
Age friendly program
$34,500
La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation · La Mesa, CA · 2022
Electric tool lending library and green community events for la mesa park and recreation foundation
$15,000
Chaparral Lands Conservancy · San Diego, CA · 2022
Otay mesa habitat restoration project ii
$157,873
Mira Mesa Instrumental Boosters · San Diego, CA · 2021
For mira mesa high school band and orchestra
$29,034
San Diego Mesa College · San Diego, CA · 2021
For general support
$18,525
San Diego Mesa College Foundation · San Diego, CA · 2021
For presenting sponsorship in honor of dr. Luster's retirement
$5,138
Aauw La Mesa - El Cajon Ca Fdn · El Cajon, CA · 2021
For general support

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

Uc San Diego Foundation4 grants · $24.8M
Regents of the University of California at San Diego1 grant · $19.7M
Southwestern Community College District2 grants · $13.2M
Salk Institute for Biological Studies4 grants · $13.1M
Campanile Foundation4 grants · $11.1M
Sharp Healthcare Foundation4 grants · $6.5M
University of San Diego4 grants · $5.7M
Community Foundation for Monterey County2 grants · $5.6M
Ymca of San Diego County4 grants · $5.3M
Schwab Charitable Fund3 grants · $4.5M

Giving over time

$144.3M

2021

$117.7M

2022

$102.3M

2023

$94.3M

2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 4,291 grants.

$19.7M
Regents of the University of California at San Diego · La Jolla, CA · 2023
Student financial aid at uc san diego and scripps institution of oceanography
$13.4M
Uc San Diego Foundation · La Jolla, CA · 2021
For the halicioglu data science institute at uc san diego to be used for purposes stated in the agreement dated december 12, 2017 between the san diego foundation, the halicioglu family foundation, ucsd, and the ucsd fo… read allFor the halicioglu data science institute at uc san diego to be used for purposes stated in the agreement dated december 12, 2017 between the san diego foundation, the halicioglu family foundation, ucsd, and the ucsd foundation. This is a grant by an other interested party as referred to in such agreement less
$8.0M
Southwestern Community College District · Chula Vista, CA · 2021
To support the sbdc for the city of san diego american rescue plan fund direct grants for small business and nonprofit relief grant program per agreement. Approved at bog meeting 9/23/21.
$7.0M
Campanile Foundation · San Diego, CA · 2021
To establish the james silberrad brown artificial intelligence center
$6.8M
Salk Institute for Biological Studies · La Jolla, CA · 2021
For the campaign for the future challenge match
$6.1M
Salk Institute for Biological Studies · La Jolla, CA · 2022
Campaign for the future challenge match
$6.0M
Sharp Healthcare Foundation · San Diego, CA · 2021
To support the sharp healthcare foundation envision campaign and recognize the legacy of james s. Brown
$5.2M
Southwestern Community College District · Chula Vista, CA · 2022
City of escondido nonprofit relief fund
$5.0M
Community Foundation for Monterey County · Monterey, CA · 2024
For the "bob" fund at cfmc.
$4.2M
Schwab Charitable Fund · Orlando, FL · 2021
For the joan waitt family foundation fund
$4.1M
Uc San Diego Foundation · La Jolla, CA · 2023
Birch aquarium at scripps and general support
$3.7M
Uc San Diego Foundation · La Jolla, CA · 2024
For general support
$3.6M
Uc San Diego Foundation · La Jolla, CA · 2022
Global policy & strategy excellence fund
$2.7M
California Community Foundation · Los Angeles, CA · 2021
For expanded learning advancing educational equity: a philanthropic investment strategy spanning eight california counties - per agreement
$2.7M
Community Foundation Sonoma County · Santa Rosa, CA · 2021
For expanded learning advancing educational equity: a philanthropic investment strategy spanning eight california counties - per agreement
$2.7M
Inland Empire Community Foundation · Riverside, CA · 2021
For expanded learning advancing educational equity: a philanthropic investment strategy spanning eight california counties - per agreement
$2.6M
Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce · San Diego, CA · 2021
To support the city of san diego american rescue plan fund direct grants for small business and nonprofit relief grant program per agreement. Approved at bog meeting 9/23/21.
$2.5M
The Brookings Institution · Washington, DC · 2021
To support the partnership of the san diego regional policy and innovation center (sdr pic) and the brookings institution to launch the brooking institution san diego research and policy initiative per the grant agreeme… read allTo support the partnership of the san diego regional policy and innovation center (sdr pic) and the brookings institution to launch the brooking institution san diego research and policy initiative per the grant agreement letter. This grant is funded by the county of san diego grant to the san diego foundation to be paid $500,000 per year for five years beginning august 2021. less
$2.4M
University of San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2022
Nonprofit institute
$2.2M
Policy & Innovation Center · San Diego, CA · 2024
For support of the san diego regional policy and innovation center per agreement. $1,250,000 grant to be paid $250,000 per year for 5 years in fy22 - fy26
$2.2M
Fidelity Charitable · Boston, MA · 2021
For cgf 1232728 carol and henry f. Hunte fund
$1.9M
Just Transition Alliance · San Diego, CA · 2024
To support just transition alliances time as part of the tcc post award consultation (pac)
$1.9M
Scripps Health Foundation · La Jolla, CA · 2021
To support the build of 6 hospital rooms in scripps health la jolla tower 2 (floors 4-6)
$1.7M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation · San Diego, CA · 2022
Seed entrepreneurship program and technical assistance
$1.7M
Ymca of San Diego County · San Diego, CA · 2021
For ymca day camp
$1.6M
Campanile Foundation · San Diego, CA · 2023
For general support
$1.6M
United Women of East Africa Support Team · San Diego, CA · 2022
Uweast purchase and development of the hub
$1.5M
California Department of Fish & Wildlife · San Diego, CA · 2024
To complete maintenance dredging at batiquitos lagoon
$1.5M
Wta Foundation · St Petersburg, FL · 2024
For global women's health support
$1.5M
Uc San Diego · La Jolla, CA · 2024
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$1.4M
Ymca of San Diego County · San Diego, CA · 2023
Youth and summerbridge programs, "community connection" events, and annual gala
$1.4M
Interfaith Community Services · Escondido, CA · 2022
Change your mind festival
$1.4M
Ymca of San Diego County · San Diego, CA · 2022
Kids to camp
$1.4M
King Baudouin Foundation US · New York, NY · 2021
To the humanitarian response fund for ukraine for the three organizations in the fund: people in need, caritas- ukraine, and the polish red cross
$1.4M
United Women of East Africa Support Team · San Diego, CA · 2023
For general support
$1.4M
Campanile Foundation · San Diego, CA · 2024
For general support
$1.4M
The Planetary Society · Pasadena, CA · 2021
For general support, a charitable contribution for q3 2021
$1.3M
La Jolla Community Foundation · La Jolla, CA · 2022
General support
$1.3M
Zoological Society of San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2021
For sdzwa native biodiversity corps
$1.3M
University of San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2021
For the burnham moores center for real estate
$1.3M
Rancho Santa Fe Foundation · Rancho Santa Fe, CA · 2021
For the prince james memorial fund
$1.3M
Uc San Diego · La Jolla, CA · 2022
Health senior medicine
$1.2M
Uc San Diego · La Jolla, CA · 2021
For create young leaders internship & staff training
$1.2M
Sierra Health Foundation · Sacramento, CA · 2021
For expanded learning advancing educational equity: a philanthropic investment strategy spanning eight california counties - per agreement
$1.2M
San Diego Regional Policy and Innovation Center · San Diego, CA · 2022
Research project for sdrpic and sdf
$1.2M
Casa Familiar · San Ysidro, CA · 2022
Youth stem workforce development program
$1.2M
San Diego Community College Auxiliary Organization · San Diego, CA · 2024
For general support
$1.2M
Zoological Society of San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2024
For general support
$1.2M
San Diego Humane Society & Spca · San Diego, CA · 2023
For general support
$1.2M
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies · San Jose, CA · 2021
For general support
$1.1M
Endangered Habitats Conservancy · San Diego, CA · 2022
Montecito ranch framework resource management plan
$1.1M
University of San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2024
For scholarships
$1.1M
San Diego Regional Policy and Innovation Center · San Diego, CA · 2021
For general support
$1.1M
San Diego Symphony Orchestra · San Diego, CA · 2022
General support
$1.1M
Campanile Foundation · San Diego, CA · 2022
General support
$1.1M
Zoological Society of San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2022
San diego zoo wildlife alliance
$1.1M
Vista Hill Foundation · San Diego, CA · 2021
For general support and to recognize the life of james silberrad brown
$1.1M
International Rescue Committee · San Diego, CA · 2022
Fund emergency services for afghanis harmed by the earthquake
$1.0M
San Diego Habitat Conservancy · San Diego, CA · 2022
General support
$1.0M
Catalina Island Medical Center Foundation · Avalon, CA · 2023
Construction of a new medical center
$974,388
Lazarian World Homes · Eagle, ID · 2024
To build arriaga church of the nazarene
$966,353
International Community Foundation · National City, CA · 2022
Community impact and house building
$961,666
Local Initiatives Support Corporation · San Diego, CA · 2024
A sdg&e economic prosperity grant to support the 2024 seed entrepreneurship program and technical assistance
$960,374
San Diego Habitat Conservancy · San Diego, CA · 2023
Volunteer and outreach program support
$958,341
Forever Balboa Park · San Diego, CA · 2024
To support the botanical building and gardens project: phase 2 exterior gardens restoration, attn: jacqueline higgins & phillip sammuli
$950,000
San Diego Community College Auxiliary Organization · San Diego, CA · 2022
San diego community college auxiliary organization
$938,232
Lazarian World Homes · Eagle, CA · 2023
To build iglesia bautista christa
$929,175
San Diego Habitat Conservancy · San Diego, CA · 2024
For general support
$927,456
Vapa Foundation · San Diego, CA · 2023
For general support
$916,719
Vapa Foundation · San Diego, CA · 2021
For visual and performing arts (vapa) camps
$914,140
Junior Achievement of San Diego County · San Diego, CA · 2021
For ja paid work based learning opportunities
$904,290
Ocean Discovery Institute · San Diego, CA · 2021
For ocean discovery's k-8th grade summer out-of-school programs (osp)
$900,000
Data Science Alliance · San Diego, CA · 2024
For general support
$900,000
The Planetary Society · Pasadena, CA · 2022
General support
$890,450
San Diego State University · San Diego, CA · 2024
For scholarships
$880,576
Outside the Lens · San Diego, CA · 2021
For abc's of photography program
$878,612
University of San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2023
For general support
$868,443
San Diego State University · San Diego, CA · 2021
To support the guardian scholars program
$860,688
Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2021
For day camp at the encanto boys & girls club
$860,292
Vapa Foundation · San Diego, CA · 2022
General support
$850,000
Policy and Innovation Center · San Diego, CA · 2023
For support of the policy and innovation center per agreement
$849,348
San Diego State University · San Diego, CA · 2023
Matthew h dietschman and marion c dietschman education fund
$847,670
Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank · San Diego, CA · 2022
General support
$841,810
Ymca of San Diego County · San Diego, CA · 2024
For the ymca mission valley summerbridge program
$826,661
Chicano Federation of San Diego County · San Diego, CA · 2021
For chicano federation soccer academy
$825,000
Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation · La Jolla, CA · 2022
General support
$783,475
San Diego State University · San Diego, CA · 2022
General support
$759,890
San Diego Habitat Conservancy · San Diego, CA · 2021
For general support
$750,293
United Way of San Diego County · San Diego, CA · 2021
For the san diego whole child, whole community project
$750,000
Family Assistance Ministries · San Clemente, CA · 2022
Housing assistance and hunger program
$748,072
Zoological Society of San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2023
For general support
$742,183
Fleet Science Center · San Diego, CA · 2024
For general support, this grant is from the reuben h. Fleet foundation fund at the direction of susan welsch
$730,655
Feeding San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2022
General support
$714,220
Jewish Family Service of San Diego · San Diego, CA · 2024
For immigrant services ($40,000) and safe parking ($25,000)
$710,695
Sbcs · Chula Vista, CA · 2022
Mural project
$701,425
Elementary Institute of Science · San Diego, CA · 2021
For eis summer stem camp
$699,813
Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation · San Diego, CA · 2024
For general support
$699,135
Treobytes · San Diego, CA · 2021
For legos, mario, pokemon go and infento progrram
$686,834
Lazarian World Homes · Eagle, ID · 2021
For new medical/dental clinic building for buenas nuevas - guatemala
$679,000
Central Valley Community Foundation · Fresno, CA · 2021
For expanded learning advancing educational equity: a philanthropic investment strategy spanning eight california counties - per agreement

View all 4,291 grants →

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Grants already paid are the record; PaperOrbit reads your paper and finds the funders whose record matches it — then explains why.

Search funders like this one

Source: IRS Form 990, Schedule I, as filed by this organization. These are grants already paid. Grants paid directly to individuals are reported to the IRS only as totals, so they do not appear as named lines here.