Fifty&Forward

Campaign Update & 2025 Annual Report

Forward to a better San Diego, one act of generosity at a time.

Dear Friends,

As we mark San Diego Foundation's 50th anniversary, we are profoundly grateful for the generosity and care that have shaped this community.

For generations, San Diegans like you have stepped forward for one another, and for the past 50 years SDF has been privileged to carry that spirit forward. Thank you for being part of something bigger than yourself: opening doors for students, strengthening families in need and protecting the places that make San Diego home.

Your giving is more than a gift. It carries dignity and meaning because it connects one life to another. It is the moment when a student realizes her dream is possible, when a family feels supported in their time of need, when a child discovers the joy of being seen, heard and encouraged. That is how your generosity shapes the lives of others.

This past year, the Fifty & Forward Campaign came alive in powerful ways. Together we opened doors for first-generation students to pursue higher education. We supported families with opportunities to learn and grow stronger together. And we helped preserve the natural beauty of San Diego—the parks, trails and open spaces that help make us whole.

These collective efforts are seeds of possibility taking root across our region, carrying forward the vision of just, equitable and resilient communities.

Yet we also know the challenges are real. Federal cutbacks and widening inequities remind us that this is not business as usual. Now is the moment to double down on our values of community, belonging and opportunity. The generosity that has defined our past must also light our way forward.

When you give, you are part of a legacy that reaches beyond today. Each contribution helps shape the San Diego our children and grandchildren will inherit, a region defined by compassion, belonging and opportunity for all.

The Fifty & Forward Campaign is the most ambitious initiative in our history, and its success depends on all of us. Together with you, and all who will join us, we can shape the next 50 years of San Diego.

With gratitude and hope,

Mel Katz

Chair, SDF Campaign Council and Chair, SDF Board of Governors

Mark A. Stuart, CFRE

President & CEO

San Diego Foundation

Fifty & Forward Campaign Update

Grantmaking goal in our Education, Children and Families, and the Environment impact areas:

$500M

San Diego is a place of possibility, built on the compassion of neighbors and the determination of people who believe we are stronger together.

With your generosity, we are turning that spirit into action—transforming lives through education, supporting children and families, and protecting the natural beauty that makes this region unlike any other.

Since the campaign began in 2021, we’ve set out to do something bold: award $500 million in grants and raise $1 billion to shape a brighter tomorrow. Thanks to you, we have already made significant strides toward these goals. Communities that have too often been left behind are beginning to see new opportunities and lasting change.

As we celebrate San Diego Foundation's 50th anniversary this year, we are inspired by the five decades of generosity that built the foundation we stand on today. In the pages ahead, you'll see how that legacy continues: stories of students finding their path, families growing stronger together, and donors stepping forward to preserve San Diego's environment for generations to come.

When you give, you are not just supporting programs—you are opening doors for a student, helping a family find stability, preserving a park where children will play for generations. Every act of generosity ripples outward, making San Diego a place where everyone belongs.

Let's do more than dream of a better home. Let's create it—together.

Learn about Fifty & Forward

Focus on Education

Growing Future Leaders

In classrooms and communities across San Diego, young people are finding the support and opportunity to turn their dreams into reality.

Community Need

Student Journeys, Powered by You

Every scholarship tells a story of resilience, gratitude and hope. Across our region many students are the first in their families to attend college, doors opened by your generosity. One student cried with joy when they learned they had received a scholarship. Stories like theirs remind us that scholarships do more than ease financial burdens.

Learn More Watch the Video

Donor Spotlight

Giving Back, Lifting Up: Supporting LGBTQ+ Students

Michelle Dungan and Veronica Zerrer give back by creating scholarships for students in San Diego. Their generosity helps young people overcome barriers, pursue education with confidence, and feel affirmed in who they are as they work toward brighter futures.

Learn More

"There's plenty of other good things one can do with their lives, and we would like to support a greater breadth of possibilities for different individuals out there."
Michelle Dungan & Veronica Zerrer
SDF Donors

Real Impact

Partnering with Families to Grow Lifelong Readers

Reading together transforms families. With your support, Words Alive helps parents and children across San Diego build the habits and confidence of lifelong readers. One mother shared how her daughter began asking deeper questions after reading together, a spark of curiosity that strengthened their bond and opened new possibilities for their future.

Learn More Watch the Video

Focus on Children & Families