Nonprofit COVID-19 Resources

This page provides San Diego nonprofit organizations with information about the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund, as well as helpful resources to support your organization while navigating this public health and economic crisis. To view this content in Spanish or other languages, please use the translation tool located at the bottom of this page.

A Fund for Nonprofits & Our Community

The San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund is deploying resources on a rolling basis to nonprofit organizations that are supporting low-income workers, families and vulnerable communities most affected by the coronavirus crisis.

Thanks to your generosity, we’ve raised $66 million to support San Diegans in need and and granted $58 million, including 244 grants to 200 nonprofit partners providing our region’s most vulnerable communities with computers; internet access; childcare; food security; financial assistance; medical support; workforce training and other emergent needs.

Funds will be released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the coronavirus outbreak and its recovery phases.

View Community Response Fund One-Year Impact Report >

Ongoing Grant Agreements

Community foundations are established to take care of our community in times of crisis, and we recognize the importance of nonprofit partnerships in helping to fulfill that purpose. In addition to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund, The San Diego Foundation has signed the Council on Foundations Pledge to give nonprofits more flexibility to use funding where it’s needed most. If you have questions about what this means for your organization, (particularly if you are a current grant recipient of The San Diego Foundation or have a fund at The San Diego Foundation) please contact communityimpact@sdfoundation.org.

California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program: New Funding Rounds

Four new funding rounds for the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program will provide $2.075 billion for grants up to $25,000 for small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by the pandemic. The new package also includes a $50 million allocation for nonprofit cultural institutions.

Four competitive funding rounds will be conducted by California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate selected intermediary, Lendistry. Additional information can be found at CAReliefGrant.com and below:

Round 3 (waitlisted applicants from Rounds 1 and 2): Friday, March 5th through Thursday, March 11th, 2021

• Eligible applicants: This is a closed round and only available to eligible applicants who were waitlisted in Rounds 1 and 2 – only existing applicants will be selected. If you were waitlisted, you do not need to reapply. New applications will not be accepted in this round.
• Eligible grant award: $5,000 to $25,000
• Details: This is a closed funding round; no new applications will be accepted

Round 4 (non-profit cultural institutions only): Tuesday, March 16th through Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021

• Eligible applicants: Only non-profit cultural institutions with any revenue size that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com
• Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000
• Details: Eligible non-profit cultural institutions must complete a new application even if they already applied in Rounds 1 and 2; grants will only be available to non-profits cultural institutions that did not receive funding in Rounds 1, 2 or 3; grants will be prioritized based on the documented percentage revenue declines based on a reporting period comparing Q2 and Q3 of 2020 versus Q2 and Q3 of 2019

Round 5: Thursday, March 25th through Wednesday, March 31st

• Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and non-profits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, or 3 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com
• Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000
• Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, & 3 do not need to reapply as they will be automatically moved into Round 5. New applicants will need to apply at CAReliefGrant.com

Round 6: Date to be announced soon

• Eligible applicants: current waitlisted small businesses and/or non-profits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com
• Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000
• Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, 3 & 5 do not need to re-apply and will be automatically moved into Round 6. New applicants will need to apply at CAReliefGrant.com

Application Support

The San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center (SBDC), San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher and The San Diego Foundation have partnered to help business owners and nonprofit leaders access state and federal funding.

SBDC is committed to assisting applicants with this grant opportunity. It will help nonprofits and businesses prepare for the application and ensure you have all the needed documentation to be successful in the process.

Connect with SBDC

The American Rescue Plan Act

President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act into law on March 11, 2021, enacting one of the largest economic relief programs in U.S. history. It is now up to charitable nonprofits to utilize provisions of this new law that are designed to help their organizations and the people they serve survive and recover.

Learn more

Additional Resources