COVID-19 Community Response Fund Prioritizes Education and Childcare

For Immediate Release

Nonprofits focused on educational needs encouraged to apply TSDF Board of Governors announces $500,000 match challenge

September 9, 2020 – San Diego, CA – The San Diego Foundation today announced the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund will commit future donations to communities with educational needs and gaps, including the digital divide, childcare and learning loss.

According to the San Diego County Office of Education, one in five students in San Diego County were under-connected or not connected at all even before the pandemic began. Those broadband gaps are particularly pronounced in black and Hispanic households with school-age children – especially those with low incomes.

“The systemic inequities within our region’s education system have been compounded by challenges related to COVID-19,” shared Mark Stuart, President & CEO of The San Diego Foundation. “By focusing on disparities in education, including early childhood development and care, the COVID-19 Community Response Fund provides philanthropists with an opportunity to help San Diegans impacted by the crisis while also bridging economic, educational and racial gaps in meaningful ways.”

To maximize the impact of future giving, The San Diego Foundation Board of Governors has also announced a $1-for-$1 match up to $500,000. Donations to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund will help close the digital divide by providing computers and internet access to students; mitigate learning loss due to COVID-19; increase access to education and childcare for families, including essential workers; and respond to emergent community needs amid the ongoing crisis.

To date, the COVID-19 Community Response Fund at The San Diego Foundation has raised $53 million in private donations and government funding and granted more than $51 million to rapidly respond to the many needs of the San Diegans impacted by the pandemic crisis. The new focus will further that impact as students get back to school and families get back to work.

“While there has been an overwhelming amount of generosity during this pandemic, we know through the COVID-19 Community Response Fund nonprofit application process there is more than $56 million in requests for unmet needs in the community and every donation plays an important role as we get better, together,” explained Stuart.

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.

Businesses, individuals and organizations can donate and find additional information about the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund at SDFoundation.org/COVID19.

Nonprofit organizations focused on education-related programs and projects that address the digital divide, childcare and learning loss, are encouraged to apply through the new application found here.

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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. Grants currently focus on education, including bridging the digital divide, closing the gap on learning loss and accessing quality, affordable early childhood education and developmental care, as well as other emergent needs. 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 $1.2 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.

Contact

Justin Nunez, The San Diego Foundation, 336-254-7056, justin@sdfoundation.org