San Diego Foundation's grants rose 34% to $137.4 million last fiscal year, with 80% kept in San Diego County
The community foundation made 8,167 grants to 2,578 nonprofits in the year that ended June 30, its annual report says. Grants from donor-advised funds were 65% of the total, down from 76% a year earlier.
San Diego Foundation grants by priority, fiscal year 2025-26
San Diego. San Diego Foundation awarded $137.4 million in grants in its 2025-26 fiscal year, 34% more than the year before, the community foundation said on Oct. 28 in releasing its annual report. The money went out in 8,167 grants to 2,578 nonprofits.
Of the total, $110 million, or 80%, stayed in San Diego County, the foundation said. Another $10 million went elsewhere in California and $17 million to the rest of the United States and abroad. The foundation reported $1.8 billion in assets under management at the end of the fiscal year, which ran from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
Where the money went
By the foundation's four grantmaking priorities, family well-being, which covers healthcare, food security, youth development, employment and human services, drew $51.9 million. Civic vitality, which includes arts and culture, faith communities, civic and human rights and animal welfare, drew $40.7 million. Education received $35.8 million and the environment $9.1 million. The report gives the figures as unaudited.
Donor-advised funds accounted for 65% of the money and the foundation's own discretionary grantmaking for 35%. The report puts the payout rate of its donor-advised funds at 23.8%, against a national average for community foundations of 25.2% in fiscal 2024, a figure it attributes to the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative.
The foundation's report for the previous year listed $102.4 million in 9,081 grants to 2,552 nonprofits, with 69% of the money in San Diego County and 76% of giving through donor-advised funds.
Crisis grants and a finished campaign
The foundation said more than $30 million had been granted or committed through its San Diego Unity Fund to more than 100 nonprofits since the fund opened in September 2025. The annual report says the fund was set up to respond to federal funding cuts and supports access to food, healthcare and housing.
The report also closes Fifty & Forward, a campaign that began in 2021 and was announced publicly in 2024. It raised $1.3 billion and awarded $500 million in grants, against goals of $1 billion and $500 million. A new five-year strategic plan focuses the foundation's work on family well-being, education, the environment and housing.
“These numbers represent more than dollars raised and grants awarded. They represent students pursuing their dreams, families building stronger futures and communities benefiting from the generosity of San Diegans.”
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