San Diego Foundations and Grantmakers
We are proud to provide this list of funders that support San Diego nonprofits, school districts, higher education and local government. The following list is not comprehensive, but includes funders that grant at least $100,000 or more in total grants. All of the funders below accept grant requests. Note that you should NEVER apply for grant funding without having a copy of a funder's grant guidelines. If guidelines are not available online, we encourage you to contact the funder by phone or mail to request the guidelines.
You can use GuideStar or the Foundation Center's Funder Finder to obtain the 990 tax returns for most grantmaking foundations. The 990 includes a list of grants made by the funder, and, in most cases, their grant guidelines. When a funder does not have a website, we have linked to their GuideStar profile. Create a profile for free to access their 990 tax returns.
(619) 741-0113
Begin with letter of intent. Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details.
Quarterly deadlines: January, April, August and October
(858) 874-3788
Begin with letter of intent. Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details.
(800) 591-9663
See website for criteria. Contact funder to determine eligibility.
See website for guidelines and details. Currently has deadlines in January (individuals and families) and June (economic development/social progress).
See website.
No deadline. See website for guidelines and details.
(951) 506-2553
Begin with letter of intent. See website for details.
No deadline or formal application process. Contact funder for guidelines.
(415) 229-6080
info@boysandgirlsfoundation.org
(619) 683-2192
Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details. Deadlines for LOIs are the 1st of February, May, August and November.
See tax return for details. Submit letter with purpose and request amount, and 501c3 tax-exemption letter.
619-889-1244
Preselects grantees, but does allow applicants to submit letter of inquiry. See website for details.
P.O. Box 59
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
No deadline or formal application process. See tax returns or contact funder for guidelines.
(916) 322-6555
(800) 201-6201
Various deadlines for different program areas. Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details.
(619) 232-4020
Deadlines vary with program area. Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details.
(818) 702-1900
Begin with letter of intent. Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details.
Main office: (800) 449-4149
San Diego office: (619) 230-0555
Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details.
No unsolicited requests
See website for details
(760) 942-9245
Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details. No deadlines.
619-269-8220
See website. Deadlines are January 15th or July 15th. Submit preliminary grant application with adequate time ahead of these deadlines to be invited.
August 31 deadline for nonprofit grants. Also distributes funds through Cox Communications
Contact funder for guidelines and details. No deadlines.
See website for details
See website for details
(713) 622-1442
See tax return for application process, and detailed list of grantees.
(866) 726-8831
(619) 230-6460
Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details.
Contact funder for guidelines and details.
5348 Carroll Canyon Rd., Ste. 200
San Diego, CA 92121-1733
Contacts: Michael Berlin or Stephen Cohen
(858) 750-4200
No deadline. See tax return for guidelines and details.
(858) 551-0881
Contact the funder or see website for guidelines and details. Letter of inquiry process.
562-799-544
See tax return to access grant guidelines. Deadlines are 5/31, 10/31.
(415) 777-2244
(213) 236-0552
Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details.
(858) 571-2121
No unsolicited grant requests.
(858) 279-2740
Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details.
Funds public education. See website for letter of inquiry guidelines and deadlines.
Deadline typically in mid-March. See website for guidelines and details.
See website; funds different categories. Deadline is typically in October.
(858) 527-1686
(858) 454-2666
Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details. Deadlines typically in January and August
Currently has no direct grant program. Monitor website for future opportunities.
(760) 930-7246
Contact: Sara Vaz, Community Relations Manager
Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details. Deadlines are February 15, August 15 and November 15.
Written proposal. See tax return for application information.
(858) 558-9200
(858) 677-1431
Deadlines vary. Usually fall in January, February, May, July, September, November.
Contact funder or see website for guidelines.
(619) 795-2000 (City Heights) or (858) 551-2321 (La Jolla)
Submit letter of inquiry online
See website. No unsolicited grant requests.
(858) 756-6557
Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details.
858-361-0755
(858) 444-3080
Apply online via a letter of intent.
(510) 658-0702
Letter of inquiry processs. Various different grant funds and programs. See website for deadlines and funding opportunities.
858-454-1211
Applications available in November. One deadline annually, typically in January or February.
See website for guidelines and details.
(619) 231-7015
Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details. Deadlines are 4/1 and 10/1
Contact funder for details and guidelines.
Contact funder for details and guidelines.
(619) 235-2300
Rotating grant priorities. Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details.
Phone: (619) 291-3383
Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details.
(619) 235-2300
Contact funder or see website for guidelines and details. Changes priorities annually.
See website for details and open requests for proposals.
See website for guidelines and details.
Online LOI for core support grants is typically due in October. See website for exact dates, as this may change.
See website for application process
(619) 696-2012
See website
See website for guidelines and details.
Sony Pictures: SPE_CSR@spe.sony.com
Managed by Wells Fargo. See website for application guidelines.
Online proposal due July 31
(480) 293-3000
Grant guidelines available online.
March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15
Letter proposal. Contact funder or see tax return for guidelines and details. No deadlines.
Online grant application.
See website.
(858) 492-2000
Issues "collective impact" requests for proposals for its priority areas.
(213) 615-6405
Begins with an LOI. Deadlines for "play" (January 31), "work" (April 30), and "home" (July 31). See website for guidelines and deadlines, or contact foundation.
Online grant application, with rolling monthly deadline. See website for details.
P.O. Box 915
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
(858) 756-3711
Submit a letter proposal. See tax return for guidelines.
(858) 551-2386
Submit a letter proposal. See tax return or contact funder for guidelines and details.
No longer accepts applications.
Guidelines available online.
Letter of inquiry typically opens in November, with a January deadline
858-564-9500
Deadlines are February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1.