The San Diego Foundation Achieves $1 Billion in Charitable Giving

November 1, 2016 – San Diego, CA – The San Diego Foundation today announced it has achieved $1 billion in grantmaking over its 40 year history of serving the San Diego region. The Foundation maximizes the impact of charitable giving to enact positive social change in our region by mobilizing resources to advance quality of life, increase social impact and champion civic engagement.

The $1 billion in giving milestone is achieved thanks to thousands of local philanthropists who are committed to our community, national and regional partners who support Foundation programs, and the prudent stewardship of $680 million in assets, including $428 million in endowment funds that will benefit the San Diego region forever.

“One billion dollars in grantmaking is a significant milestone for The San Diego Foundation, our donors and the entire region,” shared Kathlyn Mead, President & CEO of The San Diego Foundation. “Since 1975, The Foundation has served as a catalyst for positive social change within San Diego. Today we celebrate the impact of each and every one of our donors and the nonprofit organizations and programs they support.”

The Foundation represents one of the largest networks of donors in the San Diego region. Donors leverage Foundation relationships, charitable giving expertise and resources, and deep San Diego roots to maximize the impact of their charitable giving.

The Foundation partners with philanthropy, nonprofits, academia, business, government and others committed to building a more vibrant region today, and for future generations. In fiscal year 2016, The Foundation managed more than 2,000 funds and granted $58.5 million to San Diego and the nonprofit community.

Behind every fund and every dollar granted is a story of an individual, family or business who believes in the impact of philanthropy.

“For as long as I can remember, I have believed that we as individuals have a responsibility to give back to our community,” recalled Don Ambrose, philanthropist and President of Del Mar Healthcare, Inc. “It’s about being a full participant – not just taking, but giving. I decided to open a fund with The San Diego Foundation to maximize the impact of my giving and support a specific cause – creating a more age friendly San Diego.”

The San Diego Foundation offers a variety of philanthropic opportunities. Many donors elect to establish donor advised funds, while others give together to specific impact areas through Foundation programs and funds. One example is the Community Scholarship Program, which helped more than 820 local students pursue higher education in 2016.

“I grew up in Barrio Logan, a neighborhood where less than three in 10 residents have a high school diploma and the median household income is $30,000,” explained Francisco “Panchito” Martinez, scholarship recipient. “Despite these obstacles, and thanks to The San Diego Foundation Community Scholarship Program and the support from Barrio Logan College Institute, I have beaten the odds and am currently pursuing my higher education at San Diego State University. My life is one example of the many that are touched by the support of San Diego’s philanthropists and nonprofit community.”

“As the region’s leading community foundation, The San Diego Foundation maximizes the impact of giving through effective, responsible and innovative philanthropy,” Mead added. “We help philanthropists give back to the community in a variety of ways, including our Regional Affiliate Program or by opening an endowment fund. As we celebrate this $1 billion milestone, we encourage all San Diegans to join us on the journey toward the next billion dollars of social impact investment in our region.”

Learn more about The San Diego Foundation and charitable giving by visiting www.sdfoundation.org/give.

About The San Diego Foundation

The San Diego Foundation maximizes the impact of charitable giving to enact positive social change in our region. We mobilize resources to advance quality of life, increase social impact and champion civic engagement though effective, responsible and innovative philanthropy. We are your community foundation committed to arts & culture, civil society, education, environment, health and human services, and youth development to build equity and opportunity for all San Diegans. For more than 40 years, The Foundation and our donors have granted more than $1 billion to grow a vibrant San Diego region. For more information, visit our website and consider a donation to the Fund for the Future Endowment which supports San Diego now and forever.

Contacts

Vince Heald, Beck Ellman Heald, 858-453-9600, vheald@behmedia.com
Justin Nunez, The San Diego Foundation, 619-235-2300, justin@sdfoundation.org