Our History
In 1988, the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation (RBCF) was founded to make Rancho Bernardo an even better place to live and work. As the organization became more successful, an endowment fund was established to provide funds for nonprofit community activities in Rancho Bernardo for decades into the future.
In 1993, RBCF’s first organized fundraiser was established — the “Pathway of Pride”. Donors of $1,000 or more benefit from an engraved granite plaque commemorating their donation set in the walkway around the lake in our beautiful Webb Park.
Other fundraising programs, including an annual Community Cruise and an annual Thanksgiving Community Luncheon, have generated more than $150,000 for our community, with 50% going to the endowment and 50% distributed to nonprofits serving Rancho Bernardo every year.
In 1996, RBCF became a proud affiliate of The San Diego Foundation, which invests our endowment, assists with managing our grant application process, manages our funds, and supports our events so RBCF members can make a difference in our community, now and forever.
Become a Member
You can be remembered as someone who made a difference in the Rancho Bernardo Community by making a gift today that will meet tomorrow’s needs.
When you become a member of the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation, you make a difference for the causes you care about in this special community. Half of all membership dues go immediately into grantmaking efforts, while the other half goes into a permanent endowment to sustain future efforts for the good of the Rancho Bernardo community.
Matt McLaughlin established an endowment legacy fund at The San Diego Foundation that continues to make a profound impact on the North County region. The Matt McLaughlin Live Here, Give Here program supports membership dollars raised, growing Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation grantmaking from member contributions for our community.
Other member benefits include participating in grantmaking, board and/or committee leadership, attending events, and recognition in promotional materials. All members get one vote each year for the local grant applications they deem most worthy and valuable to Rancho Bernardo.
Pathway of Pride Program
This program recognizes individuals or groups who contribute $1,500 or more to RBCF. It is a great way for people of vision to contribute to the well-being of Rancho Bernardo and its citizens. Your plaque donation of $1,500 also includes 1 year of RBCF membership. Click here to learn more.
Regional Affiliates
Regional Affiliates
Regional Affiliates
Regional Affiliates
2024 – 2025 Grant Cycle
In 2024, RBCF celebrated 36 years of grantmaking by awarding over $90,000 to 24 nonprofit organizations that help make Rancho Bernardo a great place to live, work and play.
- Bernardo Heights Middle School Performing Arts Boosters Inc. – Music Library – $2,500 to revitalize music library offerings for BHMS orchestra and band programs.
- Best Buddies in California – School Friendship and Inclusion – $4,000 to build mutually enriching friendships between Rancho Bernardo students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Ed Brown Center – Cultural Connections – $3,500 to provide older adults with strong social connections to prevent isolation.
- Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library – Concert Series – $5,000 to host a series of eight concerts, including piano soloists, trios, jazz artists and larger ensembles.
- Let’s Light the Cross – Sustainability – $2,800 to preserve the integrity, enhance visibility and accessibility with lighting.
- Poway Onstage – Arts in Education Initiative – $5,500 to introduce 4th graders to musical instruments and support for its 35th Season.
- Poway Unified School District – The Kitchen Table Academy – $5,000 to provide a culinary, nutrition, smart farming, and green waste curriculum for students with autism and developmental disabilities.
- Rancho Bernardo High School Foundation – Robotics – $3,000 to support student competitions, travel, materials and machinery.
- Rancho Bernardo High School Friends of the Library – Multifacets of Growth – $4,000 to provide the RBHS Library with the learning tools necessary to enhance the RBHS students’ learning experiences in reading, resources, research, and technological development.
- Rancho Bernardo High School Parent Teacher Student Association – Breaking Down Walls Workshop – $5,000 to provide social-emotional programming for students where they will discuss real-life challenges, such as anxiety, depression, family crisis, loss of a loved one, bullying, etc.
- Rancho Bernardo High School Music Boosters Inc. – $2,500 to support the RBHS Royal Regiment – Mallets for Percussion.
- Rancho Bernardo Historical Society Inc. – Historical Image Preservation – $3,500 to professionally digitize old and fragile images.
- Rancho Bernardo Senior Services – Rancho Bernardo Services – $5,000 to provide free information, volunteers and a variety of services to senior citizens in need.
- Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial Association – Patriots Walk Plaque – $4,000 to dedicate Patriots Walk plaques for fallen heroes who were killed in action while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces since 9/11 and were also graduates of Poway Unified School District high schools.
- Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center – Rider horse show team – $2,500 to assist the disabled community in achieving their goal outside of horseback riding lessons with horse showing.
- San Diego Harmonics Chorale-Sound Equipment – $2,500 to purchase sound equipment that will help lessen performance costs and allow the group to perform in a variety of local venues that may require special sound design to accommodate the size and acoustics of the venue.
- San Diego Oasis – Bridging the Digital Divide Program – $5,000 to increase older adults’ wellness and quality of life, foster integration of technology and encourage lifelong learning.
- Spirit of the Fourth Inc. – Spirit of the Fourth July 4, 2025, Celebration – $7,700 to contribute to a full day of activities, including a Community Fair in Webb Park, the RB Star competition winners concert and other performances.
- The Continuing Education Center at Rancho Bernardo – History Classes – $2,500 to promote mental health and well-being among the senior citizens by providing intellectual stimulation and learning opportunities for them to socialize in a welcoming and secure environment.
- The Rise Concept – Resources in Support of Empowerment- $3,000 to support a community hub with volunteer resources, professional services, a resale store with affordable shopping and a pathway to self-fulfillment for at-risk youth, survivors of human trafficking and challenged veterans.
- Tremble Clefs – Therapeutic program for people with Parkinson’s – $3,000 to support voice therapy that is both therapeutic and socially supportive.
- Turtleback Education Foundation – Bringing World Music to Students – $3,000 to teach about diversity and share different cultures through musical assemblies that give students the opportunity to interact with performers and hear music from another culture.
- Voices For Children – Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program – $2,500 to provide advocacy on behalf of two Rancho Bernardo children in foster care and fund the recruitment, training, screening and supervision of new CASAs.
- YMCA of San Diego County – Teens in Motion – $3,000 to support a program for teens and young adults with developmental disabilities at Rancho Bernardo High and provide a safe space to foster friendships, learn life skills and create fun opportunities for our students to thrive and become connected in our community.
Contact Us
For more information or to join today, contact Trudy Armstrong, Regional Affiliates Director, at trudy@sdfoundation.org or (619) 764-8602.