San Diego Foundation Awards $495K to Support Basic Needs of Local College Students

July 13, 2022 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Foundation announced today that it has awarded $495,000 to 10 local nonprofit organizations to support approximately 34,000 local college students’ basic needs, such as food and housing assistance, technology resources and internet access, and mental and behavioral health care.

“Due to the lingering impact of the pandemic, local college students need our help more than ever,” said Mark Stuart, President and CEO of San Diego Foundation. “When we invest in college students, we’re investing in their personal and professional growth, while supporting a strong regional workforce where we all have the opportunity to succeed.”

In the most comprehensive study of basic needs and college student success by California State University, research shows that college students cannot adequately focus on learning if they’re struggling with meeting their basic needs, which results in lower GPAs, continuation rates and graduation rates. California’s high cost of living, the COVID-19 pandemic and recent inflation have left college students increasingly experiencing food and housing insecurity, and depression and anxiety.

Organizations receiving inaugural Basic Needs & College Success Grants include:

About San Diego Foundation

San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region. Our strategic priorities include advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity, building resilient communities, and delivering world-class philanthropy to realize our vision of just, equitable and resilient communities. The Education Initiative supports K-12 and higher education programs to extend opportunity to San Diego students as they prepare for success in life and work. For more than 46 years, SDF and its donors have granted more than $1.3 billion to support nonprofit organizations strengthening our community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.

Contact

Lorena Nava Ruggero, San Diego Foundation, lruggero@sdfoundation.org, 619-814-1365

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