The San Diego Foundation Celebrates $1.5 Billion Regional Impact During 40th Anniversary Event at Balboa Park

The Foundation will host more than 700 donors, partners and community leaders at the event, which includes tours of Balboa Park cultural attractions and culminates with a celebration for invited guests at the San Diego Natural History Museum.

“Since 1975, The Foundation has generated a $1.5 billion impact for the San Diego region from $939 million granted to nonprofits, $422 million in current endowment funds, and $164 million in current non-endowment funds available for grantmaking,” shared Kathlyn Mead, CEO and President of The Foundation.

In fiscal year 2015, The Foundation granted more than $48 million to nonprofit organizations serving community needs and delivering social impact and change in the San Diego region in areas such as education, arts & culture, youth development, health and human services, and environment.

“We are humbled and honored to represent one of the largest donor networks in San Diego comprised of individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits who trust our knowledge of community need and nonprofits that are making an impact,” added Mead. “We are equally appreciative of our strong partnerships with philanthropy, government and community leaders who work with us to provide opportunities for all San Diegans.”

In addition, The Foundation is looking forward to the next 40 years of impact with new initiatives:

• Today, The Foundation was honored by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors as the newest member of the County of San Diego Live Well San Diego initiative. The program is a collective effort by public agencies, businesses and nonprofit organizations to promote safe, healthy and thriving communities. The three tenets of Live Well San Diego are to support healthier communities and residents, to prioritize safety within the region’s neighborhoods, and to ensure a thriving San Diego by cultivating opportunities for all people and areas to grow, connect and enjoy the highest quality of life.
• This year, The Foundation established the Fund for the Future, an endowment fund that enables donors to respond to unforeseen challenges and seize opportunities to address the most pressing needs of our region, now and forever.
• The Foundation has donated 100 new drought-resistant trees to Balboa Park in its centennial year in line with The Foundation’s longstanding support of local parks and gathering spaces. Volunteers who are passionate about Balboa Park and San Diego’s rich natural and cultural resources will plant the first of these trees on November 3 at 11am. Community members interested in volunteering for the tree-planting event on can contact volunteer@balboapark.org for more information.

About The San Diego Foundation
Celebrating 40 years of philanthropic leadership in the community (1975-2015), The San Diego Foundation’s purpose is to promote and increase effective and responsible charitable giving to grow a vibrant region. The Foundation manages more than $656 million in assets, more than half of which reside in permanent endowment funds that extend the impact of today’s gifts to future generations. Since its inception, The Foundation has granted more than $939 million to the San Diego region’s nonprofit community. For more information, visit The San Diego Foundation’s website, SDF News blog, Facebook and Twitter pages, or make a donation to the Fund for the Future Endowment and support San Diego for now, forever.

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