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.

Jump to:

Nonprofit Funds: Are your nonprofit’s asset investments doing the best for your organization? Join hundreds of forward-thinking nonprofit leaders and open a nonprofit fund at San Diego Foundation to sustain your good work into the future!

SDF Funding Opportunities

  • Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation 2023-2024 Grant Cycle: Community Engagement: In the current cycle, RBCF will accept proposals that demonstrate the power to build a more vibrant and civically engaged community. The goal of the grant cycle is to support programs that make Rancho Bernardo a great place to live, work, and play. Desirable projects will inspire community pride, revitalization and increase the quality of life of the broader community. Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 2023.
  • Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation 2023-2024 Grant Cycle: Music: Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation invites nonprofit organizations to submit proposals for projects that build a more vibrant and civically engaged community and programs involving music. Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 2023.
  • Ramona Community Foundation 2023-2024 Grant Cycle: Ramona Community Foundation invites nonprofit organizations to submit project proposals specifically for Ramona that demonstrate the power to build a more vibrant community and recover from the pandemic. Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 2023.

SDF Career Opportunities

The SDF team is committed to advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity, and building resilient communities. We help our donors transform lives across our region by delivering world-class philanthropy and offering best-in-class services. SDF is rated a Top Workplace by The San Diego Union-Tribune.

San Diego Foundation is currently seeking applicants for the following:

  • Finance Senior Manager
  • Lead Fellow, Community Impact Fellows Initiative

Upcoming Events & Development Opportunities

  • AAPI Business Roundtable: Join the Asian Business Association San Diego for a discussion on the current business climate, challenges, needs, and the role of the DOJ with Attorney General Rob Bonta, addressing Chamber members and guests. Event Day: Tues., May 16, 2023, from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. at G&A Marquee Pavilion, 540 National City Blvd, National City, CA 91950.
  • One-Day Nonprofit Board Training Bootcamp: Join other San Diego non-profit board members for this unique in-person one-day board certification bootcamp hosted by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). Get your tickets through the Eventbrite link above. Event Day: Sat., May 20, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Nonprofit Board Certification & Matching: Learn what it takes to serve on a nonprofit board. United Way of San Diego is offering training to help professionals prepare for effective nonprofit board service. Upon completion, you will be awarded a Nonprofit Board Service Certificate from the University of San Diego and connected to nonprofits needing board members. Training: Tues., June 6, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the University of San Diego.
  • Equinox Quality of Life Dashboard Release: The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego invites you to join them for the Equinox Quality of Life Dashboard Release. This event will be held in Warren Auditorium, in Mother Rosalie Hill Hall, at the University of San Diego. Event Day: Tuesday, June 20, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • 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, & 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 Conrad Prebys Foundation is accepting applications for its Strengthening Health Access, Resources and Excellence (SHARE) Initiative that will provide two years of funding to highly performing culturally competent community health clinics, particularly those serving indigenous, immigrant and border communities. This initiative is part of a long-term vision for healthcare in San Diego – that all San Diegans are mentally and physically healthy. Deadline: May 15, 2023.
  • The 2023 Local Housing Trust Fund Program is accepting applications. The principal goal of this program is to provide grants to Local Housing Trust Funds established by cities and counties, Native American Tribes, and incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to increase the supply of housing to households with incomes of 80 percent or less of area median income. Deadline: May 17, 2023.
  • The In-N-Out Burger Foundation is accepting applications from organizations that provide residential treatment, emergency shelter, foster care, and early intervention for children in need. Deadline: June 1, 2023.
  • The California Arts Council has announced the opening of its 2023 grant season, with online applications now being accepted for six grant programs. Awards range from $25,000 – $1,000,000. The California Arts Council 2023 grant program offerings have been carefully designed to benefit the whole of California’s arts and culture ecosystem, with focused considerations for first-time applicants, small and mid-size arts and organizations, folk and traditional art forms, county local arts agencies and arts service organizations, and balanced opportunities with deep investment for both general operating and project-based support. Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on June 6, 2023.
  • The Sundt Foundation is accepting applications and considers a broad range of social issues but gives special focus to under-served children and teens, domestic violence victims and military veterans and families. Deadline: June 15, 2023.
  • The Charles and Ruth Billingsley Foundation is accepting applications and supports a variety of charitable causes, primarily in San Diego County. Deadline: June 30, 2023.
  • The Children and Youth Resilience Challenge, launched by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, will award prizes to innovative community-led solutions to promote resilience in children and adolescents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other man-made or natural disasters. An informational webinar will be held on Thursday, May 18, at 3:00 p.m. EDT. This webinar will be available in Spanish and English. Deadline: 11:59 pm EDT on July 7, 2023.
  • Dr. Seuss Foundation will open its 2023 grant cycle on June 1, 2023. They will hold an optional grantseeker Q&A session on June 14, with more details to come via their website. Please check this link for more info and updated guidelines.
  • 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 MIT Club of San Diego is accepting applications to assist local educators, schools and nonprofits improve 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 and personal expenses. Deadline: Rolling.
  • Based on the belief that it is essential 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 people’s lives 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.
  • BoardSource provides resources and tools on various 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 are a fundraising tool for 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 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.
  • Nonprofit Ready provides a 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.