Our History

In 1988, the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation (RBCF) was founded to make Rancho Bernardo an even better place to live and work. As the organization became more successful, an endowment fund was established to provide funds for nonprofit community activities in Rancho Bernardo for decades into the future.

In 1993, RBCF’s first organized fundraiser was established — the “Pathway of Pride”. Donors of $1,000 or more benefit from an engraved granite plaque commemorating their donation set in the walkway around the lake in our beautiful Webb Park.

Other fundraising programs, including an annual Community Cruise and an annual Thanksgiving Community Luncheon, have generated more than $150,000 for our community, with 50% going to the endowment and 50% distributed to nonprofits serving Rancho Bernardo every year.

In 1996, RBCF became a proud affiliate of The San Diego Foundation, which invests our endowment, assists with managing our grant application process, manages our funds, and supports our events so RBCF members can make a difference in our community, now and forever.

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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

Daniel Wilson, President
Debbie Kurth, Grants Chair
Vince Affinito, Secretary
Terry Norwood, Treasurer
David Brooks
Bonnie Ann Dowd
Don Glover
Mary Karscig
Alex Lawn
Michael Ortiz
Benita Page
Mike Stelman

*Founders

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News & Events

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Press Release from The San Diego Foundation

Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation Announces Grants to Enhance Quality of Life and Build a More Vibrant Community

Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation (RBCF), an affiliate of The San Diego Foundation, today announced the availability of gr...

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The Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation is committed to our community through the financial support of nonprofit organizations, projects and programs dedicated to improving the lives of those who live, work and play in Rancho Bernardo.

JANUARY 2021 LETTER FROM RBCF BOARD PRESIDENT DANIEL WILSON

Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation (RBCF) Board President Daniel Wilson shares shares an update with RBCF members, includin...

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Press Release from The San Diego Foundation

RANCHO BERNARDO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARDS $82,000 IN GRANTS TO 20 NONPROFIT INITIATIVES

The Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation (RBCF), an affiliate of The San Diego Foundation, awarded $82,000 to 20 nonprofit......

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Become a Member

You can be remembered as someone who made a difference in the Rancho Bernardo Community by making a gift today that will meet tomorrow’s needs. When you become a member of the Rancho Bernardo 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 Rancho Bernardo 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 Rancho Bernardo 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 get one vote each year for the local grant applications they deem most worthy and valuable to Rancho Bernardo.

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Contribute to an Existing Fund

You can make a contribution of any amount by writing a check to the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation. If intended for general charitable needs of the community, your donation will be placed in our endowment fund or non-endowment fund. Or, you may designate your gift for one of the following existing funds:

  • RB Emergency Reserve Fund: A reserve fund to be made available in the event of a fire, an earthquake or other community disaster affecting Rancho Bernardo for supplies, equipment and food.
  • RB Symphony on the Green Fund: Supports music and musical programs and projects in the Rancho Bernardo area.
  • RB Smith Scholarship Fund: Open to graduating high school seniors from Rancho Bernardo who will attend an accredited, public four-year university in the state of California. Special consideration will be given to applicants who have lost one or both parents while in high school.

2021-2022 Grant Cycle: Community Enhancement and Music

The Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation (RBCF) is in its 33rd year of grantmaking to enhance the quality of life for those who live, work and play in Rancho Bernardo. In the current cycle, RBCF will accept proposals that demonstrate the power to build a more vibrant and civically engaged community.

The goal of the grant cycle is to support programs that make Rancho Bernardo a great place in which to live, work and play. Desirable projects will inspire community pride, revitalization and increase the quality of life of the broader community.

Separately, RBCF will award up to $10,000 in increments of funding levels between $1,500 and $5,000 for programs involving music to be awarded from the RB Symphony on the Green Fund.

Grant Guidelines: Community Enhancement

Grant Guidelines: Music

Apply for a Grant

The deadline for application submission is Monday, May 24, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.

Grants

Grants Awarded

2020-2021

  • $7,500 to Alzheimer’s San Diego
  • $7,000 to Rancho Bernardo High School (SOLE)
  • $6,000 to Rancho Bernardo Senior Services
  • $5,000 to Rancho Bernardo High School Friends of the Library
  • $5,000 to Zoological Society of San Diego d/b/a San Diego Zoo Global
  • $3,500 to San Diego Police Foundation FOR the Rancho Bernardo Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol
  • $3,500 to Poway Symphony Orchestra Foundation
  • $3,000 to Autism Tree Project Foundation
  • $3,000 to Rancho Bernardo Historical Foundation
  • $2,500 to Continuing Education Center at Rancho Bernardo
  • $2,500 to FOR LOVE & ART
  • $2,000 to Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library
  • $2,000 to Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation (Poway OnStage) Music
  • $2,000 to Resounding Joy
  • $2,000 to Tremble Clefs San Diego, Inc.
  • $1,500 to RB Neighborhood Watch – Ed Brown Senior Center (fiscal Sponsor)
  • $1,000 to Burn Institute
  • $1,000 to San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy

2019-2020

  • $9,600 to Let’s Light The Cross Foundation for the Battle Mountain Cross
  • $8,500 to Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation for the Arts in Education program for Rancho Bernardo students
  • $7,500 to Voices for Children for the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program in Rancho Bernardo
  • $7,000 to Rancho Bernardo High School for the Rancho Bernardo High School SWITCH Leadership Expedition
  • $7,000 to Spirit of the Fourth, Inc. for the Spirit of the Fourth Celebration
  • $7,000 to Rancho Bernardo Historical Society for enhancements to the museum exhibits
  • $6,700 to Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial for maintenance and improvements to the Veterans Memorial
  • $5,000 to Rancho Bernardo Senior Services for the Collaborative Informational Services and Assistance to Seniors programs
  • $5,000 to Alzheimer’s San Diego for its Supporting Rancho Bernardo Families Impacted by Dementia program
  • $5,000 to Friends of Vista Hill for its Youth Community Service programs
  • $5,000 to Southern California Ballet for its Night of Music and Dance in the Park event
  • $4,842 to Rancho Bernardo Music Boosters to replace aging percussion equipment at Rancho Bernardo High School
  • $3,000 to Classics 4 Kids to bring music education workshops to Rancho Bernardo elementary schools
  • $3,000 to Golden Era Memories and Film for a series of musical concerts for seniors in Rancho Bernardo
  • $3,000 to YMCA of San Diego County for the Teens in Motion program at Rancho Bernardo High School
  • $2,500 to Poway Symphony Orchestra Foundation for the Poway Symphony Orchestra Concerts
  • $2,408 to Turtleback Education Foundation to upgrade its music program audio system
  • $1,500 to Burn Institute for its Fire Safe Kids program
  • $1,500 to Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library for the Rancho Bernardo Library Concerts
  • $1,000 to Rancho Bernardo Neighborhood Watch to grow the Neighborhood Watch Sign Program

Learn More About Grantees

2018-2019

  • $10,000 to Alzheimer’s San Diego for the Supporting Rancho Bernardo Families Impacted by Dementia Program
  • $8,000 to Black Mountain Dance Foundation to support the Adaptive Dance for Adults with Special Needs Program
  • $8,000 to Interfaith Community Services to support the Improve Whole Person Care and Access Program and the Improve Self-Sufficiency & Supportive Services Program
  • $8,000 to Rancho Bernardo High School to support Rancho Bernardo High School SWITCH Leadership Expedition
  • $5,000 to Chaparral Elementary PTA to support the Chaparral Elementary IMPACT Reading Program
  • $5,000 to Rancho Bernardo High School Friends of the Library to support the 21st Century Well-Being: Empowering our RBHS Students Program
  • $5,000 to YMCA of San Diego County to support the Teens in Motion Program at Rancho Bernardo High School
  • $4,000 to ElderHelp of San Diego to support the Care Coordination Program
  • $4,000 to Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation to support the Arts in Education Initiative: Intro to Instruments and Children
  • $4,000 to Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation to support the Arts in Education Initiative: Arts Education in Schools/Classes
  • $4,000 to Voices for Children, Inc. to support Healthy and Happy Childhoods for Rancho Bernardo Foster Children
  • $3,000 to Include Autism to support the Community Coaching Program
  • $3,000 to Poway Symphony Orchestra Foundation to support the Poway Symphony Orchestra
  • $3,000 to Rancho Bernardo High School PTSA to support the annual Grad Nite event
  • $3,000 to Spirit of the Fourth, Inc. to support the Spirit of the Fourth theme of Honoring Korean War Veterans
  • $2,000 to support the RB Veterans Memorial Association for the maintenance of the Veterans Memorial
  • $1,000 to support RB Neighborhood Watch in expanding the Neighborhood Watch Sign Program
  • $1,000 to Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library to help fund Rancho Bernardo Library Concerts
  • $1,000 to Meals on Wheels Greater San Diego, Inc. to support the Senior Care in the Home Project for local seniors
  • $1,000 to Rancho Bernardo Senior Services Center to support the Collaborative Informational Services and Assistance to Seniors programs

Learn More About Grantees

2017-2018

The Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation granted $71,821 to Rancho Bernardo nonprofits and schools at the 28th Annual Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation Thanksgiving Luncheon.

  • $8,000 to Rancho Bernardo Historical Society for technology upgrades and the preservation of historical documents
  • $6,500 to Bernardo Heights Middle School for the installation of an athletic track and fitness stations
  • $6,500 to RB Veterans Memorial Association for the maintenance and permanent storage of RB Veterans Memorial
  • $5,000 to Bernardo Heights Education Foundation for the purchase of Chromebooks for the Bernardo Heights Middle School Science Department
  • $5,000 to Bernardo Heights Middle School Choir Boosters for upgrades to the RBHS Performing Arts Center audio system
  • $5,000 to Poway OnStage for the Arts in Education Initiative
  • $5,000 to Spirit of the Fourth for the annual Fourth of July celebration
  • $5,000 to Voices for Children for the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program
  • $4,000 to San Diego Zoo Global for the Safari Express Program for Rancho Bernardo Seniors
  • $2,500 to Rancho Bernardo High School Friends of the Library to enhance the Success via Media and 21st Century Technology Learning Center
  • $2,000 to Black Mountain Dance – Southern California Ballet for the Community Outreach Initiative to Rancho Bernardo youth
  • $2,000 to Let’s Light the Cross for enhancement of the Battle Mountain Cross
  • $2,000 to Poway Symphony Orchestra Foundation for the production of Poway Symphony Orchestra concerts in 2017-2018
  • $2,000 to Rancho Bernardo High School Music Boosters for the purchase of instruments for students
  • $2,000 to Rancho Bernardo High School PTSA to support the annual Grad Nite
  • $2,000 to Write Out Loud for the Rancho Bernardo Literary Initiative supporting local youth
  • $2,000 to YMCA of San Diego County, Childcare Resource Service for the Teens in Motion Program
  • $1,721 to Westwood Elementary School for the production of student-created television, titled “Roadrunner TV”
  • $1,500 to Burn Institute for the Fire Safe Kids Program
  • $1,500 to Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library for the production of RB Library Concerts
  • $600 to Seniors Helping Our Kids to support the one-on-one reading and tutoring between Rancho Bernardo youth and seniors

Learn More About Grantees

2016-2017

The Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation granted $70,200 to Rancho Bernardo nonprofits and schools at the 27th Annual Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation Thanksgiving Luncheon.

  • $7,500 to Highland Ranch Educational Foundation to replace old classroom technology used by students
  • $6,000 to Youth Philharmonic Orchestra to support operational expenses and programming in Rancho Bernardo
  • $5,000 to Chaparral Elementary School to support the school’s outdoor education initiatives and Native and Edible Garden project
  • $5,000 to Include Autism to support the expansion of the community-based Social Behavior Therapy Program for Youth with Autism to Rancho Bernardo and Poway
  • $5,000 to Southern California Youth Ballet to expand programs and community outreach initiatives to Rancho Bernardo residents
  • $4,200 to Write Out Loud to support 30 youth and senior programs in Rancho Bernardo
  • $4,000 to ElderHelp of San Diego to support the HomeShare and Seniors A Go Go projects
  • $4,000 to Rancho Bernardo Senior Services Center to support operational expenses
  • $3,500 to Rancho Bernardo High School to support the Silver Spur student newspaper
  • $3,500 to Rancho Bernardo High School Parent Teacher Student Association to support Grad Nite and resurfacing of campus tennis courts
  • $3,000 to Rancho Bernardo Historical Society to support a website upgrade
  • $3,000 to The Continuing Education Center at Rancho Bernardo to support advertising to targeted communities
  • $2,500 to Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation to support the Arts in Education Initiative that serves K-12 students in Rancho Bernardo
  • $2,500 to Turtleback Education Foundation to support the installation of a digital marquee to increase community engagement
  • $1,500 to Burn Institute to support fire safety programming and the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in senior homes in Rancho Bernardo
  • $1,500 to Rancho Bernardo High School Friends of the Library to support operational expenses
  • $1,500 to Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial Association Fund to support maintenance and upkeep of the veterans memorial at Webb Park
  • $1,000 to 4Community Solutions to support the Rancho Bernardo Neighborhood Watch technology upgrade initiative
  • $1,000 to 4Community Solutions to support 10 home safety workshops hosted by the RB Fire Safe Council
  • $1,000 to 4Community Solutions to provide scholarship opportunities for Rancho Bernardo girls who want to take part in Girls Golf programming
  • $1,000 to Ed Brown Senior Center at Rancho Bernardo to support a handicap fitness program for older adults
  • $1,000 to Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library to support 10 chamber music concerts hosted by the library
  • $1,000 to Spirit of the Fourth, Inc. to support the Community Fair Entertainment Program
  • $500 to 4Community Solutions to support RB United’s Community Preparedness & Recovery Project
  • $500 to 4Community Solutions to support the Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame annual recognition event

Learn More About Grantees

2015-2016

The Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation granted $70,578 to Rancho Bernardo nonprofits and schools at the 26th Annual Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation Thanksgiving Luncheon.

  • $8,978 to Continuing Education Center for equipment and marketing
  • $7,500 to Turtleback Education Foundation for equipment for new learning programs
  • $7,500 to Highland Ranch Educational Foundation for laptops for learning system
  • $5,200 to Rancho Bernardo High School Healthy Connections for programs office expansion
  • $5,000 to Burn Institute for educational materials and fire safety
  • $5,000 to Youth Philharmonic Orchestra for free music lessons
  • $4,500 to ElderHelp of San Diego for service expansion
  • $4,400 to Rancho Bernardo High School Speech & Debate for professional coaching assistance
  • $4,000 to Write Out Loud for program delivery of story-box theater
  • $3,500 to Rancho Bernardo High School PTSA for support of annual event Grad Nite
  • $3,000 to Rancho Bernardo High School Silver Spur for updated equipment for student newspaper
  • $3,000 to Rancho Bernardo United for archery development program
  • $2,500 to Friends of Rancho Bernardo Library to support Chamber Concerts and Success via Media program
  • $1,500 to Rancho Bernardo Senior Services for operations support
  • $1,000 to Silver Age Yoga for free senior yoga sessions
  • $1,000 to Rancho Bernardo Fire Safe Council for preparedness efforts
  • $1,000 to Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial Association for maintenance and improvements
  • $1,000 to Ed Brown Senior Center for a weekly arthritis class program
  • $1,000 to Spirit of the Fourth to support Patriotic Community Concert

Learn More About Grantees

Contact Us

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

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