For Immediate Release
Latest grantmaking round made possible thanks to dozens of contributions, including an $8 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
December 17, 2020 – San Diego, CA – The San Diego Foundation today announced the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund has granted an additional $1.8 million to nonprofit organizations helping San Diegans in need.
The latest round of grantmaking is made possible thanks to dozens of individual and business contributions, including an $8 million gift from MacKenzie Scott, author and Giving Pledge participant.
The 34 nonprofit grant recipients are delivering much-needed food security, financial assistance, learning loss support and other basic needs to local communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic. In total, the fund has granted $54.7 million to over 200 nonprofit organizations working on the frontline of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.
“The holiday season is about hope and generosity,” shared Mark Stuart, President & CEO of The San Diego Foundation. “The transformational gift from MacKenzie Scott and generosity from other charitable San Diegans provides a critical lifeline to nonprofit organizations helping San Diegans in need right now.”
MacKenzie Scott considered more than 6,400 nonprofits nationwide for funding. The 384 – or 6% — that received her support were selected through a rigorous, data-driven approach that valued strong leadership teams, results, and high potential for impact.
Since March 16, The San Diego Foundation has raised more than $64 million for the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund through 3,500 individuals, businesses, foundations, government funding and donor-advised funds.
The latest round of rapid response grants includes:
San Diego County Office of Education – $1,000,000
To provide thousands of students and their families internet connectivity and technology required for distance learning
Feeding San Diego – $50,000
To increase the number of San Diegans receiving food assistance during the pandemic
North County Lifeline – $50,000
To provide support and resources to children impacted by the health and economic crisis
San Diego LGBTQ Community Center – $50,000
To provide virtual crisis counseling, support and other essential services such as food, housing and healthcare to the LGBTQ community
University of San Diego Nonprofit Institute – $50,000
To evaluate the impact of local crisis philanthropy efforts to help inform future grantmaking efforts
Wakeland Housing & Development Corporation – $50,000
To provide children in need with one-on-one homework tutoring and support English-Language Learner parents
Urban Life Ministries, Inc. – $41,000
To deliver nutritious meals, enhance existing after-school college-prep program and provide academic tutoring to prevent learning loss
Just in Time for Foster Youth – $40,426
To assist transition-age foster youth with stable housing, education support, financial assistance and other critical services that will help them remain independent
California State University, San Marcos – $40,000
To support the Pathways to Academic Success & Opportunities initiative
Concerned Parents Alliance, Inc. – $35,000
To provide college-bound students with the resources and support they need to continue their academic journey
Community Through Hope – $32,000
To provide food security and other critical resources to seniors who have difficulty obtaining food and items from local pantries
Lincoln High School – $30,000
To further bridge the digital divide and provide high speed internet access for students at Lincoln High School
Paving Great Futures – $30,000
To provide food and basic resources to San Diegans in need, while also supporting other organizations with transportation of essential products
Alzheimer’s San Diego – $25,000
To provide dementia-specific services with experts, including education, support groups and virtual social activities
Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition – $25,000
To remove victims of human trafficking from dangerous environments and provide them with emergency housing, medical care, food, education and a pathway forward
Center for Community Solutions – $25,000
To provide shelter and other essential services to survivors of relationship and sexual violence
San Diego Canyonlands – $25,000
To provide City Heights and Southeast San Diego students with STEAM education lessons during the pandemic
Fallbrook Senior Citizens Service Club – $21,000
To provide meals for seniors living in poverty in the Fallbrook community
Elder Law & Advocacy – $20,000
To protect the health and well-being of long-term care residents with advocacy, public awareness and education
Girls Rising – $20,000
To provide young girls with mentorship and other support critical to their development
HealthRIGHT 360 – $20,000
To provide personal protective equipment and meal prep services, as well as telehealth support and COVID-19 testing at congregate living sites
La Colonia de Eden Gardens – $20,000
To develop a community of parents dedicated to their children’s education and confident in navigating the current landscape by offering culturally competent native language education and resources
No Silence No Violence – $20,000
To provide rent and financial assistance to women living in abusive situations who have lost a job due to COVID-19 and need a safe place to live
transcenDANCE – $20,000
To provide youth with artistic education, as well as social and emotional resilience support during the pandemic
Youth Will (via RISE Urban Leadership Institute of San Diego) – $20,000
To provide capacity building and technical assistance resources
Educational Enrichment Systems – $17,291
To support distance learning programs and provide learning supplies for students and teachers
Boys & Girls Club of Vista – $15,000
To expand access to academic support for students disproportionately impacted by the pandemic
Ramona Senior Center (via Pacific Educational Facilities) – $15,000
To provide homebound seniors with weekly nutritious meals, toiletries and visits
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum – $15,000
To provide virtual workshops, as well as art and STEM activity kits for children in preschool through grade three
San Diego Young Artists Music Academy – $15,000
To offer music-focused distance learning programs that help students struggling with depression and social isolation
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center – $11,000
To support Fleet Distance Learning Hubs and give youth more access to digital learning opportunities
Christie’s Place – $10,000
To provide telehealth services, food security and other critical resources to children and families living with HIV and AIDS
Timken Museum of Art – $7,000
To provide educational programming for marginalized teenagers who are incarcerated at the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Hall
Fulfilling Destiny – $5,000
To provide health supplies and critical support services to homeless and low-income women
Businesses, individuals and organizations can donate and find additional information about the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund at SDFoundation.org/COVID19.
The San Diego Foundation is part of a national movement of more than 600 community foundations that have mobilized more than $1 billion to aid in the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis through response funds. Individual donations are bolstered by San Diego corporations and numerous donor-advised funds at The San Diego Foundation.
About the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund
The San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund at The San Diego Foundation was created in partnership with San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, San Diego Gas & Electric, United Way of San Diego County, San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, NEWS 8 and Alliance Healthcare Foundation to receive donations and make rolling rapid response grants to nonprofit organizations supporting impacted communities, particularly those that are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic and its economic consequences. Thousands of individuals, businesses and foundations have contributed to the Fund, and 100 percent of donations are provided to nonprofits. Learn more at SDFoundation.org/COVID19.
About The San Diego Foundation
The San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve quality of life in our region. For more than 45 years, The Foundation and our donors have granted more than $1.3 billion to support nonprofit organizations and strengthen our San Diego community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org and consider a donation to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund, helping nonprofits and San Diegans affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The Foundation also provides helpful COVID-19 resources to support nonprofit organizations through this public health and economic crisis.
Contact
Theresa Nakata, The San Diego Foundation, theresan@sdfoundation.org
