Escondido Charitable 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.

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

Join Us

Board of Directors

Jackie Skay*, Chair
Nick Tsoulos*, Immediate Past President
Ceci Lusky*, Grants Chair
Colleen MacKinnon, Membership 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
Frank Foster*
Marv Gilbert*
John Goodrich*
Tina Inscoe
Tom Knight*
Ken Lounsbery*
Ken Myers*
Vaughn North
Randolph Ortlieb
Mike Peters*
Jack Raymond*
Rebecca Raymond*
Lisa Ruder*
Larry Trautner*
Ruth Tsoulos*
Paul Van Elderen*
Cynthia Waasdorp*

*Founders

See All Members

News & Events

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Escondido Charitable Foundation Invests in Arts & Cultural Experiences

At its 12th Annual Grants Celebration, ECF awarded $183,910 to six nonprofit programs that will enhance Escondido through int...

Press Release from The San Diego Foundation

Escondido Charitable Foundation Celebrates $183,910 in Grants to Enhance Escondido Throughs Arts & Culture

ECF awarded $183,910 in funding at its 12th Annual Grants Celebration on September 27 to six nonprofit programs....

May 2018 Letter from ECF Board Chair Nick Tsoulos

Escondido Charitable Foundation Board Chair Nick Tsoulos shares exciting events and opportunities happening with ECF....

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.

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 Charitable 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

Grants Awarded

2018 – 2019

Escondido Charitable 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 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

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 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

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 Charitable 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 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.

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