The San Diego Foundation Launches the Civic Leadership Fund
Jul
12
Written by:
7/12/2011 8:15 AM
July 12, 2011 - The San Diego Foundation has launched its Civic Leadership Fund to support The Foundation as it: identifies the critical challenges facing the San Diego community; publishes fresh research that illuminates challenges for the San Diego region; and holds public forums and platforms for informed public dialogue. In addition the Civic Leadership Fund will convene task forces to accomplish ambitious action agendas; and, most important, engage the community in a civil and progressive manner as we plan for the future of the San Diego region.
“It is within our mission to improve the quality of life in the San Diego region, and we
believe that grantmaking alone will not preserve and protect what’s good and plan
for the change necessary to keep the region thriving. The issues that our community
and our country face today require not only grantmaking, but civic leadership,” said
Bob Kelly, president and CEO of The Foundation. “In recent years, The San Diego Foundation, as well as many other community foundations throughout the country, has identified this as a core need and we are equipped to bridge the gap.”
According to Bob Kelly, President and CEO of The San Diego Foundation, the Civic
Leadership Fund will enable the development of leadership and action plans to
drive results in our region. The Fund will also support The Foundation’s series of
popular and provocative Understanding the San Diego Region forums and reports.
“With the help of San Diego’s generous and concerned philanthropic and business
community,” said Kelly, “we look to have a positive impact on affordability issues,
public education, workforce development, clean water, and other challenges that
are more urgent than ever as we work together to keep the San Diego Region one of
the most beautiful and desirable in the world.”
Kelly explained that the Civic Leadership Fund will support numerous programs at
the Center for Civic Engagement including Our Greater San Diego Vision, and other
leadership activities. The Center for Civic Engagement will serve as the epicenter
of civic activity where nonprofits, government agencies and businesses convene to
plan the future of San Diego. “The San Diego Foundation,” said Kelly, “will house
think tanks for each program so thought leaders –volunteer and staff – can conduct
research and develop strategic roadmaps for our future.”
Kelly noted also that the recently-launched Our Greater San Diego Vision is a vital
part of the Civic Leadership Fund. “The Vision campaign,” he said, “hopes to
engage tens of thousands of San Diegans in developing a shared vision for the San
Diego region to create a future that preserves and enhances what we all hold dear.”
Other civic leadership activities supported by the Fund include The San Diego
Foundation Environment program that preserves and protects San Diego’s stunning,
natural assets in grants that have saved more than 28,000 acres of natural lands; the
Balboa Park Conservancy which, in conjunction with the Legler Benbough and the Parker Foundation, conducted critical research to plan the future of Balboa Park; Fire
Pit Preservation; and the San Diego Regional Disaster Fund, a supporting
organization of The San Diego Foundation, which facilitates long-term rebuilding
and recovery of the San Diego community after the devastating fires of 2007.
“By joining hundreds of other civic leaders in a collective effort to improve the
quality of life for all in San Diego,” said Kelly, “participants in the Civic Leadership
Fund can make a difference for everyone who lives, work and plays in San Diego.”
For additional information on Civic Leadership Fund participation, contact Heather
Back at The San Diego Foundation at (619) 235-2300 or email
heather@sdfoundation.org.
View as PDF