2021-2022: Community Recovery
The Escondido Community Foundation (ECF) is in its 15th grant cycle of grantmaking to enhance the quality of life for those who live, work and play in Escondido. In the current cycle, ECF invites nonprofit organizations to submit project proposals specifically for programs that improve the social and emotional well-being in the community.
Grant Guidelines
Letter of Intent Application
The deadline for submitting completed applications is 5:00 p.m. (PST) on Monday, January 25, 2021.
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

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.

The Allegro Project
Civic Youth Orchestra
$50,000 Grant

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Project Teatro Mision
Mission Middle School
$27,000 Grant

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

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

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

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
$20,000 Grant

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

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

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

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

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
Learn More About Grantees