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.

San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund

As a community foundation experienced in disaster response, The San Diego Foundation is positioned to meet the ongoing needs of our local communities and take on unexpected challenges, including response to the alarming spread of COVID-19.

The San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund at The San Diego Foundation has raised $53 million in private donations and government funding and granted more than $51 million to rapidly respond to the many needs of the San Diegans impacted by the pandemic crisis.

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Board of Directors

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

*Founders

See All Members

News & Events

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The Escondido Community Foundation builds an Escondido community endowment and gives Escondido community members a vehicle for legacy planning and gifts that will benefit Escondido, now and forever.

OCTOBER 2020 LETTER FROM ECF BOARD CHAIR JACK RAYMOND

Escondido Community Foundation (ECF) Board Chair Jack Raymond shares shares an update with ECF members, including a member sp...

Escondido Community Foundation Celebrates a Record $302,825 to Support COVID-19 Relief and Strengthen the Environment

Escondido Community Foundation (ECF), an affiliate of The San Diego Foundation, awarded $302,825 in funding during its 14th y...

ESCONDIDO GIVING ARCH DEDICATION POSTPONED

The Escondido Giving Arch dedication has been postponed....

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

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

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