Foundation’s New Strategic Plan Invests in Racial Justice, Equity of Opportunity and Resilient Communities

­­For Immediate Release

June 17, 2021 – San Diego, CA – The San Diego Foundation announced today the launch of a multi-million-dollar strategic plan that will dedicate discretionary funding and fundraising to advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity and building resilient communities for the next five years.

“Our Board of Governors and staff recognize that to have just, equitable and resilient communities we must be deliberate in our philanthropic investments, partnerships and actions,” said Mark Stuart, President and CEO of The San Diego Foundation. “The disparities magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic have generated swift action from our county and city leaders who also recognize the critical need of making equity and racial justice a priority for our region.”

Strategic initiatives in the new plan will seek to eradicate systemic discrimination by addressing root causes of inequities that reinforce different outcomes based on race or social status. These efforts will focus on homeownership, education, food distribution and other health inequities, as well as mission-driven organizations that lack a race equity culture.

The plan will also work to increase access and resources for San Diegans facing barriers to realizing full and healthy lives, including increasing access to early childhood education and college degrees for underrepresented San Diegans. Additionally, the plan seeks to expand and leverage impact investing for a more equitable flow of capital for social good.

Resources will also be dedicated to programs that enable communities to adapt and persist through changing circumstances, including investments in workforce training, climate resilience and mental and behavioral health.

“We are at a unique point in San Diego’s history where we can choose to go back to systems and policies that did not work for all San Diegans, or we can choose to change them in common cause to improve our community,” Stuart said. “We will be open-minded, learn constantly, seek diverse voices, listen carefully to different experiences and perspectives, build strong and diverse coalitions, support community engagement, and engage in shared and equitable decision-making.”

To learn more about The Foundation’s new mission, values, vision and strategic priorities, visit SDFoundation.org/StrategicPlan.