Our Mission, Vision & Values

The San Diego Foundation's purpose is to improve the quality of life within all of our communities by promoting and increasing responsible and effective philanthropy. Entrusted with this responsibility, we have a four-part mission.

The San Diego Foundation’s mission is:

• Assist donors to build and preserve enduring assets for charitable purposes in all of San Diego's communities;
  
  
• Monitor and assess changing needs;
  
  
• Meet those needs through financial awards and organizational support;
  
  
• Convene members of the community to promote creative dialogue and action on issues affecting our communities.
  
  

The San Diego Foundation’s vision is a community in which…

• The “San Diego Way” prevails: People care about the Common Good;



• There are always expectations for a better future;



• There are good jobs for all adults;



• Every child has a secure, healthy, nurturing family and excellent educational opportunities;



• All people are welcomed and respected regardless of age, race, religion, sexual orientation, mental and physical disability, and circumstance;



• Access to high-quality, diverse educational institutions enables all citizens to maximize their potential as human beings;



• Arts, Culture, and the Humanities are valued and shared;



• Neighbors help neighbors;



• All people have access to quality health care;



• Our neighborhoods and streets are safe;



• There are abundant parks and wild places;



• The air and land are clean, and our lakes, streams and coastal waters are swimmable, fishable and surfable;



• Natural, open spaces can sustain the unparalleled diversity of native plants and animals;



• And all people enjoy their later years with comfort, dignity and respect.

The San Diego Foundation's Values:

As trustees, staff and volunteers of The San Diego Foundation, we are guided in our work by the following values.

• Generosity - We believe that serving others by giving time and money, based on important needs, is a fulfilling part of any responsible and well-led life.
  
  
• Integrity - Our relationships with our donors, recipients and the community are based on mutual trust, candor and transparency.
  
  
• Communication of Knowledge - We believe that sharing what we learn is a primary contribution to community engagement and civic health.
  
  
• Results - We believe that philanthropy should have transformational goals and achieve measurable, positive outcomes.
  
  
• Choices - Since we work with limited resources, we must prioritize among competing needs. We therefore prefer to support projects that: are impactful, have important goals, achieve measurable results and develop leaders.