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.

Our Accomplishments

  • Raised more than $2 million in contributions for the benefit of Escondido charitable causes
  • Created a long-term Community Endowment of more than $1.2 million
  • Secured matching funds totaling $100,000 from the City of Escondido, the Escondido Rotary Foundation and County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price
  • Recruited more than 216 members, including 100 Founders who committed a minimum of $1,000 per year, for five years
  • Created the Escondido After-the-Fires Fund to serve as a catalyst and convener for after-the-fires recovery efforts following the Witch Creek Fire of 2007
  • Instrumental in distributing more than $106,000 in After-the-Fires Grants

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Board of Directors

Nick Tsoulos*, Chair 
Jackie Skay*, Chair Elect 
Lisa Ruder*, Immediate Past President 
Frank Foster*, Membership Chair 
Randolph Ortlieb, Grants Chair 
Colleen MacKinnon, Grants Vice Chair 
Donna Aeling*, Events Co-Chair 
Susan Greenstein*, Events Co-Chair 
Joe Giamanco, Under 40 Chair 
Linda Bailey*
Rita Bowcock*
Lorraine Boyce*
DeLisle Calac*
Craig Carter
Sally Costello*
Pat Flynn
Marv Gilbert*
John Goodrich*
Tina Inscoe
Tom Knight*
Ken Lounsbery*
Ceci Lusky*
Ken Myers*
Vaughn North
Mike Peters*
Jack Raymond*
Rebecca Raymond*
Larry Trautner*
Ruth Tsoulos*
Paul Van Elderen*
Cynthia Waasdorp*

*Founders

See All Members

News & Events

Download Our Brochure >

Press Release from The San Diego Foundation

Escondido Charitable Foundation Celebrates $231,016 in Grants and $1 Million Anonymous Gift

ECF awarded $231,016 in funding at its 11th Annual Grants Celebration to eight nonprofit or...

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(Left to right) Escondido Charitable Foundation members Frank Foster, Kathy Van Leeuwen, Jerry Van Leeuwen, Cindy Peters and Mike Peters pose at the ECF Grants Celebration.

Escondido Charitable Foundation Celebrates $3.2 Million in Impact

More than 200 ECF members, community leaders and residents came together last month at Orfi...

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Lisa Ruder - Escondido Philanthropist

Lisa Ruder Personifies Community Giving

Lisa Ruder shares the personal and philanthropic benefits of being a Regional Affiliate member and describes how the Escondid...

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Become a Member

When you become a member of the Escondido Charitable 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.

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

Grants Awarded

2017 – 2018

Escondido Charitable 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

Escondido Education COMPACT

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

Palomar Family Counseling Service

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 Charitable 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

Community HousingWorks

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

Neighborhood Healthcare

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

The California Chaparral Institute

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

El Caballo Park Conservancy

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

I Love a Clean San Diego

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

The Friends of Daley Ranch

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

Outdoor Outreach

Escondido Outdoors
Outdoor Outreach
$10,000 Grant

San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy

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

Girls on the Run San Diego

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

Zoological Society of San Diego

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

Learn More About Grantees

2014 – 2015

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

Del Dios Middle School

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

Encuentros Leadership

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

North Broadway School

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

San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy

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

The Kid's College

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

Zoological Society of San Diego

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

Learn More About Grantees

Contact Us

For more information or to join today, contact Trudy Armstrong, Escondido Charitable Foundation Director, at trudy@sdfoundation.org or 619-764-8602.

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Contact Our Escondido Affiliate Team

  • Or call us at (619) 235-2300 to speak to a team member right away.

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