Escondido Community Foundation

Our Purpose

We’re a proud affiliate of The San Diego Foundation committed to meeting emerging needs in Escondido by encouraging and increasing effective and responsible philanthropy to benefit all who live, work and play in this special community.

Our purpose is to build an Escondido community endowment; provide funding annually to Escondido nonprofit organizations and causes; and give Escondido community members a vehicle for legacy planning and gifts that will benefit Escondido, now and forever.

Escondido Giving Arch

On April 11, the Escondido Community Foundation (ECF) and the City of Escondido lit the 40-foot by 108-foot welcome arch over Grand Avenue at Centre City Parkway in honor of first responders and as a beacon of hope. ECF decided that it is time to light the new Giving Arch. Jacquie Skay, Chair of the ECF Board, commented. “While the original plan was to host a huge public ceremony but the rules of the day changed that plan. We decided not to wait. Now is the time to give our community something to cheer about.”

The arch, named “The Giving Arch” is in recognition of the generosity and community spirit of Escondido residents. The design of The Giving Arch reflects the architectural lines of Escondido City Hall and the philanthropic spirit of the community and will welcome both residents and visitors to Escondido.

A lighting and dedication of the Arch was originally scheduled for March 12 but was cancelled last minute due to the COVID-19 outbreak. It remained unlit now.

A dedication Ceremony will be held when the time is appropriate. Plaques are still available. Please contact Trudy Armstrong at trudy@sdfoundation.org for more information.

Board of Directors

Ken Lounsbery, Chair
Jack Raymond, Immediate Past Chair
Donna Aeling, Grants Chair
Emily Lowe, Immediate Past Grants Chair
Rachel Currington, Membership Chair
Rita Bowcock, Events Co-Chair
Susan Greenstein, Events Co-Chair
Sally Costello*
Pat Flynn
Joe Giamanco
John Goodrich*
Luis Ibbara
Tom Knight*
Ceci Lusky
Ken Myers*
Cathy O’Malley
Vaughn North
Mike Peters*
Rebecca Raymond*
Lisa Ruder*
Jacquie Skay
Larry Trautner*
Nick Tsoulos*
Paul Van Elderen*
Jerry Van Leeuwen
Ed Varso
Cynthia Waasdorp*
George Weir
Lorraine Boyce , Emeritus
DeLisle Calac, Emeritus

*Founders

See All Members

News & Events

Download Our Brochure >

The Escondido Community Foundation, a regional affiliate of The San Diego Foundation, improves quality of life and meets local needs through philanthropy and civic engagement, including grantmaking to nonprofits strengthening the community, and endowment building through legacy planning and gifts.

October 2021 Letter from ECF Board Chair Ken Lounsbery

Escondido Community Foundation (ECF) Board Chair Ken Lounsbery shares an update with ECF members....

Escondido Community Foundation Awards $228,000 to 9 Local Organizations to Improve the Social and Emotional Well-Being in Escondido Amid COVID Recovery

Escondido Community Foundation (ECF), an affiliate of The San Diego Foundation, today awarded $228,000 to nine Escondido-base...

JULY 2021 LETTER FROM ECF BOARD CHAIR KEN LOUNSBERY

Escondido Community Foundation (ECF) Board Chair Ken Lounsbery shares an update with ECF members, including a board member...

Become a Member

When you become a member of the Escondido Community Foundation, you make a difference for the causes you care about in this special community. Half of all membership dues go immediately into grantmaking efforts, while the other half goes into a permanent endowment to sustain future efforts for the good of the Escondido community.

Matt McLaughlin established an endowment legacy fund at The San Diego Foundation that continues to make a profound impact on the North County region. The Matt McLaughlin Live Here, Give Here program supports membership dollars raised, growing Escondido Community Foundation grantmaking from member contributions for our community.

Other member benefits include participating in grantmaking, board and/or committee leadership, attending events, and recognition in promotional materials. All members receive one vote each year for the local nonprofit grant applications they deem most worthy and valuable to Escondido.

Join or Renew Your Membership

Grants

ESCONDIDO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 2022-2023 GRANT CYCLE: LETTER OF INTENT

The purpose of the Escondido Community Foundation is to improve and preserve the quality of life in Escondido by increasing responsible and effective philanthropy; providing funds annually to Escondido projects and programs; building a Escondido community endowment; and giving the Escondido community a vehicle for legacy planning and gifts that benefit Escondido now and forever.

The Letter of Intent (LOI) is the first step in a two-step application process, which will facilitate the allocation of funding for Escondido-centered projects. The funding range is $15,000 to $35,000. ECF will evaluate all LOI submissions and qualify those that meet the program and eligibility criteria.

Deadline for LOI submission: January 24, 2022, 5:00 p.m. PST

We will update this page and our website soon with information on how to apply for 2022-2023 funding.

Grants Awarded

2020-2021

Escondido Community Foundation awarded $302,825 in funding during its 14th year of grantmaking to 17 programs strengthening the environment in Escondido and addressing the impacts of COVID-19.

Environmental Education & Food System Awareness Through Classroom Aquaponics
EcoLife Conservation
$25,000

Opening Young Eyes to Nature in Escondido
Friends of Daley Ranch
$25,000

Interactive Science Garden
San Pasqual Union School
$25,000

Habitats: A Program for All Escondido Union District 3rd Graders
Escondido Creek Conservancy
$24,000

Water & Environmental Education Workshops for Children in Escondido
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
$20,825

Environmental STEM Education Programs
Coastal Roots Farm
$17,500

Food for Thought
I Love a Clean San Diego
$17,500

Exploring Conservation Science Program for 8th Grade EUSD Students
San Diego Zoo Global
$15,000

Additional grantmaking is supporting COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts. Grants include:

Escondido Union School District – $40,000
Feeding San Diego – $20,000
Interfaith Community Services – $20,000
COVID-19 Community Response Fund – $17,000
The Salvation Army Escondido – $15,000
Neighborhood Healthcare – $10,000
Palomar Health Foundation – $5,000
San Diego Futures Foundation – $5,000
Front Line Appreciation Group – $1,000

2019-2020

Escondido Community Foundation awarded $202,500 in funding at its 13th Annual Grants Celebration on September 26 to seven nonprofit programs that will enhance Escondido through connections that bring people together and build a stronger community.

Middle & High School Leadership Initiative
A Step Beyond
$35,000 Grant

Northern Lights
California Center for the Arts, Escondido
$35,000 Grant

Two Field Renovations
Escondido American Little League
$35,000 Grant

Grand Avenue Music Festival
Escondido Downtown Business Association
$35,000 Grant

Dixon Lake Playground
Hidden Valley Kiwanis
$20,000 Grant

Explore and Restore Felicita County Park
Nature Collective (formerly known as San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy)
$27,500 Grant

One-on-One Intergenerational Literacy Tutoring Program
San Diego Oasis
$15,000 Grant

2018-2019

Escondido Community Foundation awarded $183,910 in funding at its 12th Annual Grants Celebration on September 27 to six nonprofit programs that will enhance Escondido through interactive, publicly-accessible arts and cultural experiences.

Civic Youth Orchestra

The Allegro Project
Civic Youth Orchestra
$50,000 Grant

Escondido Arts Partnership

Local Color Mural and Flag Project
Escondido Arts Partnership
$21,700 Grant

The Wall Speaks
Escondido Community Child Development Center
$30,000 Grant

Escondido History Center

Restoration of Historic Victorian
Escondido History Center
$16,778 Grant

La Jolla Playhouse

Excavating Escondido II
La Jolla Playhouse
$50,000 Grant

Ticitozaa Folklorico Dance Festival
Tierra Caliente Academy of Arts
$15,432 Grant

2017-2018

Escondido Community Foundation awarded $231,016 in funding to eight nonprofits at its 11th Anniversary Celebration. ECF awarded funding to nonprofits that will have a long-term impact on youth.

Conway Elementary School

Robots, Coding & Digital Interactivity: STEM in the Classroom
Conway Elementary School
$21,418 Grant

Encuentros Leadership

Young Emerging Latino Leaders Father/Son Project
Encuentros Leadership
$35,000 Grant

Youth Leaders for Change Academy
Escondido Education COMPACT
$31,574 Grant

Mission Middle School

Project Teatro Mision
Mission Middle School
$27,000 Grant

Fred Finch Youth Center

Escondido Community Wraparound
Fred Finch Youth Center
$35,000 Grant

Life Skills for Teens
Palomar Family Counseling Service
$17,024 Grant

San Diego Futures Foundation

Girls Who Code (Club Escondido)
San Diego Futures Foundation
$29,000 Grant

Voices for Children

Transitional Age Youth Program
Voices for Children
$35,000 Grant

2016-2017

Escondido Community Foundation awarded $210,000 in funding to seven nonprofits at its 10th Anniversary Celebration. ECF focused on programs that prevent homelessness and promote housing stability in the Escondido community.

A Step Beyond

A Step Beyond
A Step Beyond
$20,000 Grant

Escondido Community Child Development Center

Escondido Community Child Development Center
Mental Health Services Specialist for At-Risk Preschoolers and Families
$20,000 Grant

Financial Literacy in Escondido Communities
Community HousingWorks
$30,000 Grant

Center for Community Solutions

Next Step North Family Self-Sufficiency Program
Center for Community Solutions
$35,000 Grant

Interfaith Community Services

Family Housing and Social Services Program
Interfaith Community Services
$35,000 Grant

Mental Health Services for the Homeless
Neighborhood Healthcare
$35,000 Grant

Center for Community Solutions

A Permanent Solution to Family Homelessness in Escondido
Solutions for Change
$35,000 Grant

2015-2016

The Escondido Community Foundation granted $168,860 to eight nonprofit organizations that promote the rich natural resources and open spaces of Escondido.

Chaparral Passport and Naturalist Program
The California Chaparral Institute
$21,560 Grant

Children’s Natural Play Area
El Caballo Park Conservancy
$24,500 Grant

Clean Canyons for a Clean Coast
I Love a Clean San Diego County
$17,000 Grant

Daley Ranch 7th Grade Field Trip
The Friends of Daley Ranch
$25,000 Grant

Escondido Outdoors
Outdoor Outreach
$10,000 Grant

Exploring and Conserving the Escondido Creek Watershed
San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy
$30,000 Grant

Girls on the Run Escondido
Girls on the Run San Diego
$10,800 Grant

Save Our Aquatic Resources Program
Zoological Society of San Diego
$30,000 Grant

Learn More About Grantees

2014-2015

The Escondido Community Foundation celebrated its seventh year of grantmaking and awarded $187,175 to six community groups. For the 2014-2015 grant cycle, the Escondido Community Foundation+ chose to focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) projects.

Implementing STEM Classroom Communities: Collaborative
Del Dios Middle School
$35,000 Grant

STEM Education & Career Exploration
Encuentros Leadership
$35,000 Grant

Igniting A Love of Science
North Broadway School
$35,000 Grant

Our Living Watershed
San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy
$22,00 Grant

STEM Enrichment Program for underserved children
The Kid’s College
$30,715 Grant

Hands-on Experiences in Conservation Science for Escondido
Zoological Society of San Diego
$30,000 Grant