The work and impact of San Diego nonprofits is important to advance just, equitable and resilient communities in our region. To support your efforts, San Diego Foundation (SDF) is sharing valuable information every month about upcoming workshops, events, fundraising opportunities and resources with your organization.

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SDF Funding Opportunities

  • Escondido Community Foundation (ECF) is accepting proposals for projects that invest in and celebrate the City of Escondido, bring it together to build community and enhance its quality of life. The Letter of Intent (LOI) is the first step in a two-step application process, which will facilitate the allocation of funding for Escondido-centered projects. The funding range is $15,000 to $40,000.  Deadline: January 23, 2023, by 5:00 PM
  • The Early Childhood Initiative Equitable Opportunities Grant is accepting applications from organizations that increase equitable access to educational opportunities and supportive services for young children and their caretakers. The grant total includes $500,000 in funding from the San Diego Foundation Early Childhood Initiative and $500,000 of funding from the Dr. Seuss Foundation. Deadline: February 10, 2023, by 2:00 PM

Upcoming Events & Development Opportunities

  • Fundraising Fridays. Join local colleagues in philanthropy for this informal, virtual time to check in with one another, ask questions, and get advice on fundraising matters. This is a free virtual event and will be held on January 20 2023, from 9:00 AM-10:00AM. Register here.
  • The Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego and the Clare Rose Foundation have joined forces to offer the Clare Rose Sabbatical Program as part of the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego. Deadline: January 31, 2023, by 11:59pm.
  • Nonprofit Solutions provides effective, impactful, & relevant professional development. In-person and virtual (live and interactive) workshops are both available.
  • Nonprofit Ready offers hundreds of free professional development resources including courses and certificates on fundraising, grant writing, starting a nonprofit, finance, engagement, marketing and human resources.

Other Funding Opportunities

  • The California Arts Council (CAC) is accepting applications for their Creative Youth Development program.  CAC believes that arts learning is an essential tool for healthy human development and that it should be available to all young people throughout California. Serving children ages 0-5 and school-age youth are a priority for this program. Deadline: January 26, 2023
  • The Rose Foundation is accepting applications to the California Grassroots Fund. The fund prioritizes groups that serve & represent historically marginalized or impacted communities, especially BIPOC, frontline, and low-income communities; as well as organizations whose work is not just having a meaningful impact in their own communities, but who are thinking strategically about how their work fits into the larger landscape of environmental challenges we face today. Deadline: February 1, 2023
  • National Trust Preservation is accepting applications. Funds are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting on-going preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. Deadline: February 1, 2023
  • The S. Mark Taper Foundation is accepting Letters of Inquiry (LOI) from organizations. The Foundation provides General Operating Support, Program Support and Capital Support and typically fund organizations that work in the following fields: Arts, Civic Affairs, Education, Environment, Health and Social Services.  Deadline: February 1, 2023, by 12:00PM.
  • The Walter J. & Betty C. Zable Foundation is accepting applications and generally makes grants to fund medical and science activities, programs that benefit youth and underprivileged individuals and sports related activities. Requests from other areas will be considered. The Foundation grants generally benefit San Diego County organizations. Deadline: February 1, 2023
  • The Teichert Foundation is accepting grant applications for its current grant cycle. Grant requests for specific purposes are usually preferable to those for normal operating expenses. Make sure to review the Foundation’s funding categories and have a Guidestar. Deadline: February 3, 2023
  • Nordson Foundation is accepting applications from North County San Diego organizations. Through its grant-making the Foundation supports organizations that directly or indirectly seek to maximize success before, during and beyond the traditional classroom years. Deadline: February 15, 2023
  • As You Sow is accepting applications. Monies granted are solely for the purpose of educating, reducing, remediating, and/or preventing consumer exposures to toxic chemicals and to increase consumer, worker, and community awareness of the health hazards posed by toxic chemicals in the State of California. Deadline: February 28, 2023
  • The MIT Club of San Diego is accepting applications to assist local educators, schools and nonprofits in improving STEM education in San Diego. Deadline: Rolling 
  • The W.K. Kellogg Foundation accepts applications at any time from organizations whose projects or proposals align with their three areas of focused work: Thriving Children, Working Families and Equitable Communities. Deadline: Rolling
  • The Pollock-Krasner Foundation is accepting applications from artists for their Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant for individual artists. Pollock-Krasner grants have enabled artists to create new work, purchase needed materials and pay for studio rent, as well as their personal expenses. Deadline: Rolling
  • Based on the belief that it is important to be responsive to time-sensitive community needs and opportunities affecting the most vulnerable populations, Alliance Healthcare Foundation provides responsive funding up to $25,000. Responsive funding applications may be submitted at any time. Deadline: Ongoing
  • The Parker Foundation is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations that provide services that improve the lives of people throughout the San Diego region. Deadline: Rolling
  • American Humane’s Second Chance grant offers public and private animal sheltering agencies and rescue groups financial assistance to help offset the costs of rescuing animals who are homeless or victims of human cruelty. Nonprofits who focus on animal rights and rescue are encouraged to submit proposals. Deadline: Ongoing

Nonprofit Resources

  • CalNonprofits offers a wide array of resources for California-based nonprofits.
  • Nonprofit Hub produces free guides on several helpful topics for nonprofits.
  • The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) may provide letters of support for organizations in California applying for federal grants. If you are applying for a federal grant and would like to receive a letter of support from DHCS, you can submit a request to calsorh@dhcs.ca.gov.
  • BoardSource provides resources and tools on a wide range of board leadership topics that help educate nonprofits and their boards, including downloadable resources, articles and publications.
  • Learn how to claim and update your organization’s Candid profile. Nonprofit profiles serve as a fundraising tool in telling an organization’s story and are viewed by numerous funders and foundations.
  • The Nonprofit Institute’s Digital Library houses our public reports and evaluations, including our State of California and State of Nonprofits & Philanthropy Annual Reports.
  • Wallace Foundation offers general nonprofit resources, including articles and studies by leading thinkers in the field of nonprofit finances.
  • The National Council on Nonprofits helps nonprofits achieve greater collective impact by identifying emerging trends, sharing proven practices and promoting solutions that benefit charitable nonprofits and the communities they serve.
  • NonprofitReady provides free online course library supporting the most common nonprofit job families, including fundraising, leadership, accounting and finance, operations, marketing and communications, volunteer engagement, and program management.
  • Volunteer Management Guide provides tools and best practices for effectively managing volunteers.
  • Tech Soup offers free and discounted software and hardware for nonprofits.