Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline?

Applications will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. PST, Friday, February 10, 2023.

How do we apply?

Applications must be submitted online via MySDF, the San Diego Foundation grant application portal. You must first register at MySDF to set up your account or click on the “Register or Continue Application” button below. Here are video instructions and written instructions on how to set up your MySDF account.

Who should apply?

Each proposal must be led by a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) public charity status, operating in and serving San Diego County.

What is the age range for early childhood?

Early childhood is identified as 0-5 years of age, including prenatal care.

What if my application’s proposal addresses more than one strategy listed above?

While your proposal may address more than one funding strategy listed, please select one strategy as your lead strategy on your application. Applications will be considered in their entirety, so the selection of one strategy over another will not negatively impact your application. All the funding strategies are equally important in the ECI Review Committee’s consideration for funding. Please see “The Funding Opportunity” section on page 1 in the Grant Guidelines for additional details.

How do we define low-to-moderate income?

A low-income community means there is a median family income of less than 50 percent of the area median income. A moderate-income community means that the median family income is at least 50 percent and less than 80 percent of the area median income.

How much can we request?

San Diego Foundation will accept requests up to $75,000 per application, or up to $100,000 for a funded partnership. Please see “Partnerships” section on page 3 in the Grant Guidelines for additional details.

Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible for an ECI grant, organizations must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and provide services in San Diego County. An organization may serve as a fiscal sponsor for a charitable organization that does not have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status if a cooperative relationship between the two can be clearly demonstrated. The fiscal sponsor must be willing to administer the grant if awarded. Please see Eligibility & Recommendations above.

Can previous grant recipients apply?

Yes, organizations who previously received funding from either San Diego Foundation or the Dr. Seuss Foundation are eligible to apply for the 2023 ECI grant. Please see Eligibility & Recommendations above.

Can my organization submit, and possibly be awarded, more than one application for the 2023 ECI grant?

For this grant, organizations may be part of more than one proposal but may only serve as lead applicant for only one proposal. Please see “Partnerships” section on page 3 in the Grant Guidelines for additional details.

What is the grant period?

Projects must be implemented within 12 months of grant approval. The grant timeframe is tentatively June 2023 – May 2024.

Are indirect or overhead costs permitted?

For the purposes of this grant, San Diego Foundation does not allow for indirect costs. However, overhead costs are allowed for a funded project when it is incorporated into a line-item budget as part of the proposal. This could include specific uses of overhead in the proposed budget, for example, salaries or rent.

When will applicants be notified?

Applicants are expected to be notified in May 2022.

What other funding opportunities are available at San Diego Foundation?

Open grant programs are listed on the San Diego Foundation “Apply for Assistance” page.

Can I submit an application to more than one open grant program at San Diego Foundation?

Each open grant program at San Diego Foundation has its own grant guidelines. Please carefully read through each open funding opportunity’s grant guidelines for the unique eligibility requirements. For the purposes of this grant, organizations who have previously applied to either San Diego Foundation or the Dr. Seuss Foundation are eligible to apply for the 2023 ECI Equitable Opportunities Grant.

Who can I contact if I have a question about the application?

Due to high volume, we will only be able to answer questions about the application during our optional virtual Q&A webinar at 11:00 a.m. PDT, Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Please register here.

What if I have any additional questions or encounter any technical issues with my application?

Please contact communityimpact@sdfoundation.org.

Where can I learn more about the Dr. Seuss Foundation?

The mission of the Dr. Seuss Foundation is to be a catalyst for improved literacy, broadly conceived, through strategic partnerships and investments. The Dr. Seuss Foundation envisions a world in which all people, animals and the environment are valued and thriving. The Dr. Seuss Foundation supports evidence-based programs which increase the number of children who enter school ready to learn and thrive, and who are proficient readers by the time they enter fourth grade. To learn more, visit www.DrSeussFoundation.org.

Where can I learn more 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 Early Childhood Initiative supports families with young children, ages 0 – 5, throughout San Diego County by expanding equitable access to high-quality, affordable early education and care. For more than 47 years, San Diego Foundation and its donors have granted more than $1.4 billion to support nonprofit organizations strengthening our community. Learn more at www.SDFoundation.org.