The Billingsley FoundationCharle & Ruth concentrates on local human services in Southern California (especially San Diego / North County), making general operating grants to nonprofits serving seniors, children and families, people with disabilities, and basic needs (food, housing). Grants are typically unrestricted and modest-to-midsize, and the foundation shows a preference for community-based organizations, repeat grantees, and a mix of social services, education and animal/wildlife causes. Its giving pattern suggests place-based charitable support rather than national, issue-specific initiatives.
The Billingsley Foundationcharle & Ruth’s recent giving is anchored by general operating support for San Diego County nonprofits, with grants commonly landing in the $10,000 to $20,000 range. The pattern points to flexible support for organizations working on seniors, child welfare, food access, housing stability, and disability-related services, rather than restricted project funding. In 2024, the foundation gave $20,000 to Feeding San Diego and $15,000 to Promises2kids Foundation, both on an unrestricted basis. Those grants fit a broader portfolio of community-based charities serving local families and vulnerable residents. The foundation also supports organizations tied to elder services and basic needs. Recent awards include general operating support for Elderhelp of San Diego and San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, along with funding for Home Start Incorporated, Interfaith Community Services Inc, and San Diego Second Chance Program. A smaller but visible share of the portfolio reaches education and youth-serving nonprofits such as North County Education Foundation Inc, Carlsbad Educational Foundation, Girl Scouts San Diegoimperial Council In, and San Marcos Promise. Animal and conservation-related groups also appear, including Zoological Society of San Diego and Living Coast Discovery Center.
Human services are central to the Billingsley Foundationcharle & Ruth’s grantmaking. In food security, they gave $20,000 to Feeding San Diego in 2024 and $20,000 again in 2023, both for general operating support. In child and family services, Promises2kids Foundation received $15,000 in 2024, while Home Start Incorporated received $10,000 in both 2024 and 2023. Those awards point to sustained support for organizations that work with children, foster youth, and family stability. The foundation also funds aging services and housing-related work. Elderhelp of San Diego received $10,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024, and San Diego Seniors Community Foundation received $15,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2023. In housing and homelessness prevention, recent grants went to Habitat for Humanity, Solutions for Change Inc, and Interfaith Community Services Inc, each as general operating support. Disability and rehabilitative services also appear through Noah Homes Inc and Challenged Athletes Inc.
$243K
$3.9M
$785K
$336K
Most grants fall between $5K and $10K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Distributed across many local nonprofits with mostly modest (10k–40k) general operating grants; several organizations receive repeat awards, indicating sustained relationships. Funding is place-based and diverse across human services, education, animal care and veteran support rather than concentrated single-issue endowments.
Notable grantees: Feeding San Diego, Elderhelp of San Diego, Promises2Kids Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Coastal Roots Farm
The typical grant size is modest to midsize: p25 is $5,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $10,000. Recent awards cluster around $10,000, with a smaller set at $15,000 and $20,000. The pattern is repeat-oriented: several recipients appear in multiple years, including Feeding San Diego, Home Start Incorporated, Elderhelp of San Diego, San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, and Noah Homes Inc. The foundation uses general operating support frequently, which suggests flexible core funding rather than tightly scoped project grants. The active grant program is administered by Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services and accepts unsolicited applications.
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, with all 49 recent grants shown going to U.S.-based organizations. California is the top state by grant count, and the giving is concentrated in San Diego County and nearby communities. Recipients include San Diego, Escondido, San Marcos, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Spring Valley, and Vista. Outside California, a recent grant went to Habitat for Humanity in Atlanta, Georgia, and another to United Service Organizations Inc in Arlington, Virginia.
Recent grants show a strong tilt toward human services in San Diego County: food access, senior services, child welfare, housing and homelessness prevention, and disability-related support. The foundation also funds some education, youth, and animal or conservation organizations.
Yes. The recent grants list repeatedly labels awards as general operating support, including grants to Feeding San Diego, Promises2kids Foundation, Elderhelp of San Diego, and Home Start Incorporated.
The distribution centers on $10,000 grants. The p25 is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is also $10,000, with recent awards also appearing at $15,000 and $20,000.
Yes. The active Charles and Ruth Billingsley Foundation Grant Program accepts unsolicited applications and is administered by Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services.
California is the top state by grant count, with recent recipients concentrated in San Diego County and nearby cities such as San Diego, Escondido, San Marcos, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Spring Valley, and Vista.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEEDING SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NOAH HOMES INC | SPRING VALLEY, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HOME START INCORPORATED | SAN DIEGO, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CARLSBAD EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | CARLSBAD, CA | $10,267 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| OUTSIDE THE LENS | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CA LABRADORS RETRIEVERS AND MORE RESCUE | VALLEY CENTER, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LIVING COAST DISCOVERY CENTER | CHULA VISTA, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| COASTAL ROOTS FARM | ENCINITAS, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| A STEP BEYOND | ESCONDIDO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN MARCOS PROMISE | SAN MARCOS, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF LA JOLLA | LA JOLLA, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION INC | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN DIEGO SENIORS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| JUST IN TIME FOR FOSTER YOUTH | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN DIEGO ART INSTITUTE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THEATRE ARTS FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO COU | LA JOLLA, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CUREBOUND INC | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| COMMUNITY HOUSINGWORKS | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ACCESS YOUTH ACADEMY | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN DIEGO MASTER CHORALE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART | SAN DIEGO, CA | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| RANCHO BERNARDO HIGH SCHOOL FOUND-ROBOTI | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| STAR PAL | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PRO KIDS GOLF ACADEMY INC | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN DIEGO CIVIC YOUTH BALLET INC | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| RADY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL-SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PROMISES2KIDS FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN DIEGO SENIORS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FEEDING SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE ELIZABETH HOSPICE INC | ESCONDIDO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SHELTER TO SOLDIER INC | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO INC | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HOME START INCORPORATED | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| EMILIO NARES FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN DIEGO SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| A STEP BEYOND | ESCONDIDO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION INC | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| OASIS INSTITUTE | LA MESA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE NEW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ELDERHELP OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| OCEANSIDE MUSEUM OF ART | OCEANSIDE, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| OUTSIDE THE LENS | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN DIEGO SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY BALBOA PARK | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN DIEGO BLOOD BANK | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| STAR PAL | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SPAY-NEUTER ACTION PROJECT | ENCINITAS, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| COASTAL ROOTS FARM | ENCINITAS, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SCRIPPS HEALTH | LA JOLLA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THEATRE & ARTS FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY | LA JOLLA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
HOME START INCORPORATED
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING
CARLSBAD EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$10,267GENERAL OPERATING
CA LABRADORS RETRIEVERS AND MORE RESCUE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF LA JOLLA
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
SAN DIEGO ART INSTITUTE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
THEATRE ARTS FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO COU
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
SAN DIEGO MASTER CHORALE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING
RANCHO BERNARDO HIGH SCHOOL FOUND-ROBOTI
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
STAR PAL
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
PRO KIDS GOLF ACADEMY INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
SAN DIEGO CIVIC YOUTH BALLET INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
HOME START INCORPORATED
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
SAN DIEGO SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY BALBOA PARK
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
SAN DIEGO BLOOD BANK
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
STAR PAL
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
SPAY-NEUTER ACTION PROJECT
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
SCRIPPS HEALTH
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING