Toa didn’t always know if college was a certainty.
Now a student at the University of California, San Diego, he approaches higher education with determination, focus and a clear sense of purpose. Receiving a scholarship marked a meaningful moment – not as a solution, but as support that affirmed existing goals, talents and future plans.
“It means not only that I’ll have enough funds to support myself throughout my college journey,” Toa shared, “but that I’m being recognized as a person – the first generation in my family – to ever attend a four-year institution.”
Toa’s story is just one of nearly 1,400 students who carry a unique journey, each united by gratitude for the donors who made higher education more accessible and attainable.
Navigating the Cost of College
As students and families navigate college and career decisions, inflation and rising everyday costs continue to shape what is possible. Higher education is no exception, with increased financial pressure placing added strain on households across the region.
“Students are making important decisions about their futures at a time when financial pressures are affecting nearly every part of daily life,” said Danielle Valenciano, Director of the San Diego Foundation (SDF) Community Scholarship Program. “Through the generosity of community donors, we can support students across San Diego County as they pursue college, advance their goals and help shape our region’s future.”
In this landscape, access to scholarships can be transformative, opening doors and pathways that might otherwise feel out of reach.
“It’s meant the world to me and my family,” said Madison, attending college at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. “This scholarship helped make my dream a reality. It’s allowed me to finance my education, which has been hard.”
Record-Breaking Impact
In 2025, San Diego Foundation awarded more than $5.5 million in scholarships to nearly 1,400 students through the Community Scholarship Program. Many recipients, like Toa, are the first in their families to pursue higher education, come from low-to-middle income households, or represent communities historically underrepresented in higher education – including students who identify as Latino/a or Black or African American.
Across San Diego County and beyond, these students are preparing to shape the region’s future workforce. Each student carries not only individual goals, but also the support of families and a broader San Diego community invested in their long-term success.
For Sarah, that future is rooted in giving back. Inspired by the educators who shaped early learning experiences, Sarah hopes to follow a similar path.
“Growing up in San Diego, I was inspired by my teachers to become a high school math teacher and change the lives of students in my community,” Sarah said.
Gratitude in Action
For students supported through the Community Scholarship Program, donor generosity extends beyond financial assistance. It is a vote of confidence in their hopes and dreams.
Allandale, a 2025 scholarship recipient, shared that sense of affirmation.
“This isn’t just a gift,” he said. “This is reassurance that our dreams are worth believing in.”
He added that a donor’s kindness makes it possible for him to pursue college with less worry, more purpose. The support lightens his load and lifts his spirit.
Through the generosity of community donors, students like Allandale across San Diego County can focus on learning, growth and the futures they are building – carrying that support forward into classrooms, careers and communities for years to come.
Top declared areas of study for SDF scholarship recipients include STEM, business and finance, psychology, public health and education, while others pursue skilled trades, vocational pathways and advanced degrees. Each one of these nearly 1,400 students accessed scholarship support through a single application: The SDF Common Scholarship Application — a single entry point designed to connect students with donor-funded opportunities across a wide range of educational pathways.
The Common Scholarship Application
Designed to reduce barriers and expand access, the Common Scholarship Application connects students to more than 150 donor-funded scholarships through a single, streamlined process. Through this approach, students are connected to opportunities at four-year universities, two-year colleges and graduate or vocational programs – making higher education more accessible across different pathways.
Education changes lives, and donor-funded scholarships make opportunities possible. To learn more about establishing a scholarship fund or supporting students across San Diego County, contact the SDF Community Scholarship Program.
