The Birdwell Family Foundation concentrates philanthropic support in San Diego-area human services and health causes, favoring a small set of local nonprofits that serve children, veterans, families in need, and reproductive health. Their grants skew toward mission-driven direct-service organizations (Make‑A‑Wish, food bank, veteran housing) and include faith‑community support (Jewish Family Services) alongside reproductive health funding. Giving signals an interest in immediate impact and community wellbeing rather than national advocacy or research.
A recurring pattern in Billy J Birdwell and Esme J Birdwell Family Foundation Inc’s recent giving is its repeated support for San Diego nonprofits through general operating grants, with several organizations appearing year after year. The largest recent awards went to Make A Wish Foundaiton San Diego, which received $25,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for general support, and Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, which received $20,000 in 2025 after earlier awards of $15,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2023. That repeat-giving pattern points to a funder that backs established local charities over time rather than making one-off awards. The foundation’s recent grants also show interest in direct-service work tied to children, veterans, families, and health access, with support landing on organizations serving immediate community needs. Alongside these larger gifts, the foundation maintains a broad base of smaller general-support grants, suggesting a flexible approach centered on organizational stability. Overall, its grantmaking is compact in number of recipients but consistent in support, with most awards staying within the San Diego area and a clear preference for unrestricted funding.
In pediatric and child-centered giving, the foundation awarded $25,000 to Make A Wish Foundaiton San Diego in 2025 for general support, and it also gave $10,000 to Shriner Hospital for Children in Sacramento in 2025. For veterans’ services, Warrior Foundation Freedom Station received $20,000 in 2025 for general support after prior grants of $15,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2023. Food security appears as another recurring theme: San Diego Food Bank received $15,000 in both 2024 and 2025. The foundation also supports health access, including $15,000 to Planned Parenthood of the Pacific S in 2025 and $10,000 in 2024 for general support, showing a mix of child health, veteran transition, hunger relief, and reproductive health funding.
Typical grants fall in a relatively tight band: p25 is $5,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $15,000. The recent record also includes several larger general-support gifts at $20,000 and $25,000, alongside smaller awards of $1,000 to $2,500. Recipients often reappear across multiple years, especially San Diego-based organizations, which suggests repeat grantmaking rather than isolated one-time awards. The foundation gives general support and core organizational funding, with no indication that it funds individuals or makes program-related investments.
$90K
$885K
$70K
$108K
Most grants fall between $5K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Modest overall budget concentrated in a few local grantees: repeat, mid-sized grants to mission-driven direct-service organizations. Funding is geographically focused (San Diego region) and program-oriented rather than broad institutional endowments or national grantmaking.
Notable grantees: Make‑A‑Wish Foundation San Diego, Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, San Diego Food Bank, Jewish Family Services, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest
Giving is highly local. 83% of grants go to recipients in California, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. San Diego is the clearest center of activity, with multiple grants to organizations there, including general support to local human services, food relief, and health nonprofits. Outside California, the foundation made a smaller set of grants to recipients in Sacramento, Charlotte, Kingston Springs, and Baraboo, but those are exceptions within an otherwise California-focused pattern.
Recent grants cluster around San Diego-area human services and health organizations. The pattern includes child health and wish-granting, veterans’ housing and transition support, food security, Jewish family services, reproductive and sexual health, and children’s advocacy. Most awards are listed as general support, indicating flexible operating funding rather than project-specific grants.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years. San Diego Food Bank received grants in 2024 and 2025, Warrior Foundation Freedom Station in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Jewish Family Services and Voices for Children also recur across years. That repeat pattern suggests ongoing relationships with a small set of nonprofits.
The foundation’s typical gift size is modest and fairly concentrated: p25 is $5,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $15,000. The recent list also shows larger grants of $20,000 and $25,000, but most awards stay within that $5,000 to $15,000 range.
The foundation gives mostly in California: 83% of grants are to recipients in its home state, and the recent-grants record is 100% U.S.-based. San Diego is the most common recipient city, with additional grants going to Sacramento, Charlotte, Kingston Springs, and Baraboo.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make a Wish Foundaiton San Diego | San Diego, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| Warrior Foundation Freedom Station | San Diego, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| San Diego Food Bank | San diego, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| Planned Parenthood of the Pacific S | San Diego, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| Shriner Hospital for Children | Sacramento, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| Meals on Wheels | San Diego, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| Jewish Family Services | San Diego, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| Internation Clown Hall of Fame | Baraboo, WI | $2,500 | 2026 | General Support |
| Your Heart on Art | Kingston Springs, TN | $2,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| Make a Wish Foundaiton San Diego | San Diego, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Warrior Foundation Freedom Station | San Diego, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| San Diego Food Bank | San diego, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Planned Parenthood of the Pacific S | San Diego, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Your Heart on Art | Kingston Springs, TN | $12,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| Shriner Hospital for Children | Sacramento, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Meals on Wheels | San Diego, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Jewish Family Services | San Diego, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Voices for Children | San Diego, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | General support |
| Toys for Tots | San Diego, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Internation Clown Hall of Fame | Baraboo, WI | $2,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Make a Wish Foundaiton San Diego | San Diego, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| San Diego Food Bank | San diego, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Warrior Foundation Freedom Station | San Diego, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Planned Parenthood of the Pacific S | San Diego, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Meals on Wheels | San Diego, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Shriner Hospital for Children | Sacramento, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Jewish Family Services | San Diego, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Voices for Children | San Diego, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | General support |
| Toys for Tots | San Diego, CA | $2,500 | 2024 | General Support |
| Internation Clown Hall of Fame | Baraboo, WI | $1,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Jewish Family Services | San Diego, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Warrior Foundation Freedom Station | San Diego, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Planned Parenthood of the Pacific S | San Diego, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Shriner Hospital for Children | Sacramento, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Voices for Children | San Diego, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | General support |
| Girls on the Run Intl | Charlotte, NC | $5,000 | 2023 | General support |
| Toys for Tots | San Diego, CA | $2,500 | 2023 | General Support |
| Internation Clown Hall of Fame | Baraboo, WI | $1,000 | 2023 | General Support |
San Diego Food Bank
$15,000General Support
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific S
$10,000General Support
Shriner Hospital for Children
$10,000General Support
Meals on Wheels
$5,000General Support
Jewish Family Services
$5,000General Support
Internation Clown Hall of Fame
$2,500General Support
Your Heart on Art
$2,000General Support
San Diego Food Bank
$15,000General Support
Your Heart on Art
$12,500General Support
Shriner Hospital for Children
$10,000General Support
Meals on Wheels
$5,000General Support
Toys for Tots
$2,000General Support
Internation Clown Hall of Fame
$2,000General Support
Make a Wish Foundaiton San Diego
$25,000General Support
San Diego Food Bank
$15,000General Support
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific S
$10,000General Support
Meals on Wheels
$10,000General Support
Shriner Hospital for Children
$10,000General Support
Toys for Tots
$2,500General Support
Internation Clown Hall of Fame
$1,000General Support
Shriner Hospital for Children
$10,000General Support
Toys for Tots
$2,500General Support
Internation Clown Hall of Fame
$1,000General Support