August 20, 2026 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Foundation announced more than $1.5 million in new grants to help local nonprofits keep essential food, housing and health care services within reach for San Diegans impacted by federal funding cuts and changes. The funding includes $550,000 from the San Diego Unity Fund and $1 million through the Partnership to Protect San Diegans, a collaboration between San Diego Foundation and the County of San Diego.

The San Diego Unity Fund was created to respond quickly when federal funding cuts put local food, housing and health care programs at risk.

San Diego Foundation announced the new round of funding alongside a newly published San Diego Unity Fund Impact Report, which shows the scale of the community-wide response since the fund launched.

Since its launch, the San Diego Unity Fund has:

  • Raised more than $32 million
  • Granted or committed more than $30 million as part of the broader regional response
  • Supported more than 100 local nonprofits

“When San Diegans can stay in their homes, receive the health care they need and put nutritious food on the table, our whole region is stronger and healthier,” said Mark Stuart, president and CEO, San Diego Foundation. “We are thankful to the nonprofits, donors and public partners that have come together to keep essential services within reach during these times of uncertainty.”

The San Diego Unity Fund was created as a rapid response fund to help nonprofits maintain critical safety-net services when federal funding cuts and changes put local food, housing and health care programs at risk. Through the Partnership to Protect San Diegans, County and philanthropic resources are brought together to help local nonprofits continue serving San Diegans during periods of funding uncertainty. The partnership includes a Matching Stabilization Fund to help preserve County-contracted nonprofit services impacted by federal funding changes.

Among the organizations receiving funding is Meals on Wheels San Diego County, which will receive $100,000 to provide nutritious meals that support older adults’ health, well-being and independence.

“For the seniors and disabled veterans we support, even a modest increase in food costs or loss of SNAP purchasing power can have an enormous impact on an already limited monthly budget,” said Brent Wakefield, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels San Diego County. “The Unity Fund allows Meals on Wheels San Diego County to ease that burden and reassure them that this essential source of nutrition will continue. For some, learning that their meal costs will be covered has literally brought tears of relief.”

See here for a full list of the grantees.

The new San Diego Unity Fund Impact Report highlights how local nonprofits are helping San Diegans stay housed, access health care and nutritious food, and maintain their independence.

The full report, including stories from San Diegans and recognition of the nonprofit and donor partners who made this work possible, is available at SDFoundation.org/Research. An update to the report, including services provided and the communities reached, will be available in early 2027.

About San Diego Foundation

San Diego Foundation believes in just, equitable and resilient communities where every San Diegan can prosper, thrive and feel like they belong. We partner with donors, nonprofits and regional leaders to advance solutions that respond to community needs and strengthen San Diego. Since 1975, SDF has granted more than $2 billion to nonprofits to improve quality of life in San Diego County and beyond. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.

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