About Peggy and Robert Matthews Foundation
A $40,000 general-purpose grant to Vista Hill Foundation stands out in the Peggy and Robert Matthews Foundation’s recent giving and points to how the funder operates: through flexible support for San Diego organizations working across health, human services, parks, and the arts. The foundation’s grants are largely directed to established local nonprofits, with awards often clustered in the $15,000 to $25,000 range and used for broad organizational purposes rather than narrow projects. Recent recipients include San Diego Parks Foundation, YWCA of San Diego County, Feeding San Diego, The San Diego River Park Foundation, and Access Youth Academy, showing a mix of conservation, basic-needs, and youth-serving work. The grant list also includes arts and cultural institutions such as San Diego Opera Association, Old Globe Theatre, Moonlight Cultural Foundation, and La Jolla Symphony & Chorus Association, alongside service providers like Elderhelp of San Diego, Urban Street Angels Inc, and Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego. Across the recent record, the foundation’s support reads as local, multi-issue, and centered on organizations that serve the San Diego community.
What Peggy and Robert Matthews Foundation Funds
In health and human services, the foundation gave $40,000 to Vista Hill Foundation for general purpose support and $25,000 to YWCA of San Diego County for general purpose support. Hunger relief is another visible priority: Feeding San Diego received $25,000 for general purpose support, and Mama's Kitchen received $20,000 for general purpose support. The grant list also shows attention to youth and family-facing services. Access Youth Academy received $20,000, Just in Time for Foster Youth received $20,000, and Urban Street Angels Inc received $15,000, all as general-purpose awards. Arts and culture appear alongside those service areas, with Theater & Arts Foundation of San Diego County, San Diego Opera Association, and Old Globe Theatre all appearing in the recent grants record.
How Peggy and Robert Matthews Foundation Gives
Typical awards fall between $10,000 and $20,000, with a median grant size of $15,000, a 25th percentile of $10,000, and a 75th percentile of $20,000. The recent record shows both repeated recipients and one-time awards: Old Globe Theatre appears in two different years, and several organizations received support across 2024 and 2025. Grants are generally described as general-purpose or general operating support, including a general fund award to Monarch School Project. The foundation also accepts unsolicited interest through a Letter of Interest in at least one general grant program, while another listed general grant program says prospective grantees submit an online Letter of Interest.
