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 

  • Community Food Spring 2023 Grant – In partnership with the County’s Public Health Services, SDF will award funding to new and existing community food projects to improve community food security including food production, processing, and distribution projects across San Diego County to increase food sovereignty, especially in low-income communities and communities with limited access. Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 31, 2023.
  • Healthy Children & Families Grant – San Diego Foundation is awarding up to $500,000 in total funding for eligible nonprofit organizations that support the mental and behavioral wellness of children and families. Applicants may request a maximum of $40,000 per proposal. Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2023.

SDF Career Opportunities

The SDF team is committed to advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity and building resilient communities. By delivering world-class philanthropy and offering best-in-class services, we help our donors transform lives across our region. SDF is consistently rated a Top Workplace by The San Diego Union-Tribune. 
  
San Diego Foundation is currently seeking applicants for the following: 

  • Administrative Assistant, Community Impact 
  • Finance Senior Manager
  • Programs & Grants Manager, San Diego Women’s Foundation

Upcoming Events & Development Opportunities 

  • Forever Balboa Park’s newly created sPARK Awards recognize people and organizations that amplify Balboa Park’s distinct role and increase its positive impact on wellbeing through creativity, collaboration, and imagination. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. Check out Forever Balboa Park’s site for more information about the event and the award categories. 
  • National survey participation opportunity – The American Institutes for Research developed a survey to learn more about youth-serving professionals and volunteers in the youth fields. These are adults who work with young people outside the regular school day. Examples include summer camp counselors, sports coaches, music teachers, museum educators, youth librarians, and after-school program staff. The resulting data from this survey can be used to inform policy, practice, and research to support the youth fields workforce.
  • Nonprofit Learning Lab is a national nonprofit that trains leaders in the nonprofit sector and offers daily online nonprofit training on various subjects.
  • Nonprofit Solutions provides effective, impactful and 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 Animal Welfare Funders Collaborative (CAWFC) will begin accepting applications on March 20 to its annual grant cycle. The CAWFC brings together grant-makers to creatively and flexibly respond to the needs of animal shelters throughout the state of California. Deadline: March 31, 2023. 
  • Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation is accepting applications for their Business Accelerator program that provides support for business startups with mentors, free co-working space, and guidance on scaling their business. The program focuses on low-to-moderate income and diverse founders. Deadline: March 17, 2023. 
  • Citi Foundation is accepting registrations to the Global Innovation Challenge. The inaugural challenge is intended to help scale the impact of nonprofits around the world that are developing innovative solutions to improve food security. Grants of $500,000 will be provided to 50 organizations to support the piloting or expansion of ideas and projects that are designed to address this issue and strengthen the physical and financial health of low-income families and communities with a priority on projects in four areas: Access, Affordability, Availability and Resilience. Deadline to register: March 22, 2023, by 4:00 p.m.
  • Far South/Border North is accepting applications for a new grant opportunity for artists and cultural practitioners to creatively increase awareness of public health, civic engagement, climate and social justice within San Diego and Imperial Counties. Deadline: March 22, 2023, by 5:00 p.m.  
  • The California Department of Aging is accepting applications for its Local Aging & Disability Action Planning Grant Program. CDA anticipates awarding grants to up to 36 communities throughout the state to support local communities in planning and creating their own new age- and disability-friendly action plans. Deadline: March 24, 2023, by 5:00 p.m.  
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is accepting applications for their Evidence for Action: Innovative Research to Advance Racial Equity grant from organizations to support studies about “upstream” causes of health inequities, such as the systems, structures, laws, policies, norms, and practices that determine the distribution of resources and opportunities, which in turn influence individuals’ options and behaviors. Deadline: Rolling. 
  • The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation accepting applications for their Culture of Health Prize from communities that foster health and wellbeing for all. Those that are addressing systemic inequities by improving economic opportunity, housing justice, healthcare access, criminal legal reform, or many other topics are encouraged to apply. The Prize is awarded to either whole cities, towns, tribes, reservations, or counties.  March 29, 2023, by 3:00 p.m.
  • 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. 

Resources

  • CalNonprofits offers a wide array of resources for California-based nonprofits. 
  • Nonprofit Hub produces free guides on several helpful topics for nonprofits.
  • 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. 
  • Impact Cubed’s DEI Resource Library provides a growing list of DEI resources from community partners, including the Alliance for Regional Solutions, Fieldstone Leadership Network and North County Philanthropy Council.