COVID-19 Community Response Fund Grants Additional $1.8 Million to Help San Diegans in Need

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.

---