A membership-based philanthropic organization that elevates women in philanthropy and makes strategic, member-driven grants to benefit underserved communities in the San Diego region.
The San Diego Women's Foundation is a membership-based grantmaker that uses member-driven cycles to support underserved communities across San Diego County. In the recent record, its largest individual grants were $75,000 unrestricted awards to Monarch School Project and Mending Matters in 2025, showing a strong use of flexible funding alongside targeted collaboration grants. The foundation’s recent portfolio also includes grants tied to early childhood education, youth mental health, environmental justice, food insecurity, senior services, civic engagement, Indigenous food sovereignty, and Afghan refugee support. A defining feature is how the foundation combines annual thematic grant cycles with separate collaborative pools. That structure lets members fund both broad, unrestricted operating support and narrower projects identified with partner funders. Recent examples include unrestricted support for Palomar Family Counseling Service, Logan Heights Community Development Corporation, and Say San Diego, along with collaborative funding for Indigenous food sovereignty and refugee support. The pattern suggests a local funder that balances member-selected priorities with issue-specific partnerships, all within San Diego County.
Early childhood work is a current theme: the 2026 cycle focuses on child care for infants and toddlers ages 0-4, and the foundation gave $54,000 to Campanile Foundation for the Healthy Early Years Clinic at the Center for Excellence in Early Development. That aligns with its interest in family support and early learning. Environmental and civic work appears through collaborative grants. In 2025, the foundation awarded $16,500 to California State Wildlife Foundation for the Climate Science Alliance - Tribal Working Group. The Collaboration Committee also funds environmental justice, community organizing, and civic engagement with partner funders. The foundation has also supported refugee and Indigenous-led efforts. Recent collaborative grants went to Muslim American Society of San Diego County, United Nations Association of San Diego, and San Diego Afghan Refugees Aid Group for Afghan refugee support. Indigenous food sovereignty was funded through grants to Lipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, Campo Band of Mission Indians (Kumeyaay Nation), Southern Indian Health Council, and Indigenous Regeneration.
$268K
$6.4M
$808K
$797K
Most grants fall between $15K and $43K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$43K
KRISHNA KABRA
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Typical grant sizes cluster in the mid-five figures: p25 is $15,000, the median is $30,000, and p75 is $42,500. Recent awards show a mix of unrestricted support and collaborative pool grants, with several multi-year unrestricted grants in San Diego County. The foundation is classified as a regular funder rather than a DAF and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Some of its annual cycle grants accept unsolicited applications, while collaborative committee grants do not.
Giving is local and fully concentrated in California, with 100% of recent grants going to recipients in the HQ state. San Diego appears most often, including awards to Monarch School Project, Mending Matters, Say San Diego, and United Nations Association of San Diego. Other California recipients include Escondido, Vista, National City, Encinitas, Berkeley, Santa Ysabel, Campo, Alpine, Valley Center, Glendale, and El Cajon. The grant geography points to a San Diego County focus with some countywide and regional partnerships.
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations serving underserved communities in San Diego County. Recent and current priorities include education, early childhood education, youth mental health, environmental justice, food insecurity and food sovereignty, immigrant and refugee support, senior services, and community organizing and civic engagement.
Yes. Multiple recent grants were listed as unrestricted or general unrestricted support, including $75,000 to Monarch School Project, $75,000 to Mending Matters, $60,000 to Palomar Family Counseling Service, and $45,000 to Logan Heights Community Development Corporation. The annual cycle also awards unrestricted, multi-year funding.
Typical grant size is centered in the mid-five figures, with p25 at $15,000, the median at $30,000, and p75 at $42,500. Recent awards also include larger unrestricted grants such as $75,000 and collaborative grants at $5,855, $10,000, $15,000, and $16,500.
Some annual cycle grants accept unsolicited applications, while collaboration committee grants do not. The annual cycle is member-driven and changes focus by year, including the current child care for infants and toddlers theme.
Its giving is local and entirely in California. The recipient distribution shows 100% of grants going to organizations in the HQ state, with most recipients in San Diego and San Diego County cities such as Escondido, Vista, National City, Encinitas, and El Cajon.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from San Diego Women's Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations supporting transition age youth in San Diego County.
Deadline: Guidelines available in October; Grantseekers Forum in mid-October; awards made in June 2027.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELDERHELP OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $60,000 | 2026 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| SERVING SENIORS | SAN DIEGO, CA | $60,000 | 2026 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| SAY SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $37,500 | 2026 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| CASA FAMILIAR | SAN YSIDRO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| BAYSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER | SAN DIEGO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| URBAN COLLABORATIVE PROJECT | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | A SDWF & SDF COLLABORATION: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| OLIVEWOOD GARDENS & LEARNING CENTER | NATIONAL CITY, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | A SDWF & SDF COLLABORATION: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COALITION | NATIONAL CITY, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | A SDWF & SDF COLLABORATION: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| SANDIEGO350 | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | A SDWF & SDF COLLABORATION: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| HARVEY FAMILY FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | A SDWF & SDF COLLABORATION: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| MENDING MATTERS | SAN DIEGO, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| MONARCH SCHOOL PROJECT | SAN DIEGO, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| SAY SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $37,500 | 2025 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| CALIFORNIA STATE WILDLIFE FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $16,500 | 2025 | FOR CLIMATE SCIENCE ALLIANCE - TRIBAL WORKING GROUP |
| CAMPO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS (KUMEYAAY NATION) | CAMPO, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | A SDWF, AVILA FUND & SDF COLLABORATION SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY |
| SOUTHERN INDIAN HEALTH COUNCIL | ALPINE, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | A SDWF, AVILA FUND & SDF COLLABORATION SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY |
| INDIGENOUS REGENERATION | VALLEY CENTER, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | A SDWF, AVILA FUND & SDF COLLABORATION SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY |
| LIPAY NATION OF SANTA YSABEL | SANTA YSABEL, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | A SDWF, AVILA FUND & SDF COLLABORATION SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY |
| PALOMAR FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICE | ESCONDIDO, CA | $60,000 | 2024 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| CAMPANILE FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $54,000 | 2024 | FOR THE HEALTHY EARLY YEARS CLINIC AT THE CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN EARLY DEVELOPMENT |
| LOGAN HEIGHTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $45,000 | 2024 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| SOLUTIONS FOR CHANGE INC | VISTA, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| GUITARS IN THE CLASSROOM | SAN DIEGO, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| EPISCOPAL COMMUNITY SERVICES | NATIONAL CITY, CA | $29,080 | 2024 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| MONARCH SCHOOL PROJECT | SAN DIEGO, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING |
| UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,855 | 2024 | FOR AMNA SANCTUARY TO SUPPORT AFGHAN REFUGEES, THIS IS A SDWF, ROTARY D5340, AND CARROLL C. LONG FUND COLLABORATION |
| LICENSE TO FREEDOM | EL CAJON, CA | $5,855 | 2024 | A SDWF, ROTARY D5340 & CARROLL C. LONG FUND COLLABORATION SUPPORTING AFGHAN REFUGEES |
| SAN DIEGO AFGHAN REFUGEES AID GROUP | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,855 | 2024 | A SDWF, ROTARY D5340 & CARROLL C. LONG FUND COLLABORATION SUPPORTING AFGHAN REFUGEES |
| KITCHENS FOR GOOD | SAN DIEGO, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | FOR GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| COASTAL ROOTS FARM | ENCINITAS, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | FOR GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| BAYSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER | SAN DIEGO, CA | $40,000 | 2023 | FOR GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| CITY HEIGHTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $35,000 | 2023 | FOR GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| ELDERHELP OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | FOR GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| URBAN GROWTH | SAN DIEGO, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | FOR GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| SECOND FAMILIES | GLENDALE, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | A SDWF, ROTARY D5340 & CARROLL C. LONG FUND COLLABORATION FOR HELPING EL CAJON REFUGEES TO SUPPORT AFGHAN REFUGEES |
| MUSLIM AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | A SDWF, ROTARY D5340 & CARROLL C. LONG FUND COLLABORATION FOR THE SD AFGHAN REFUGEE AID GROUP TO SUPPORT AFGHAN REFUGEES |
| UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | A SDWF, ROTARY D5340 & CARROLL C. LONG FUND COLLABORATION FOR AMNA SANCTUARY TO SUPPORT AFGHAN REFUGEES |
URBAN COLLABORATIVE PROJECT
$10,000A SDWF & SDF COLLABORATION: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
A SDWF & SDF COLLABORATION: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
A SDWF & SDF COLLABORATION: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
A SDWF & SDF COLLABORATION: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
HARVEY FAMILY FOUNDATION
$10,000A SDWF & SDF COLLABORATION: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
MENDING MATTERS
$75,000FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING
FOR CLIMATE SCIENCE ALLIANCE - TRIBAL WORKING GROUP
CAMPO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS (KUMEYAAY NATION)
$15,000A SDWF, AVILA FUND & SDF COLLABORATION SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY
SOUTHERN INDIAN HEALTH COUNCIL
$15,000A SDWF, AVILA FUND & SDF COLLABORATION SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY
INDIGENOUS REGENERATION
$15,000A SDWF, AVILA FUND & SDF COLLABORATION SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY
LIPAY NATION OF SANTA YSABEL
$15,000A SDWF, AVILA FUND & SDF COLLABORATION SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY
PALOMAR FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICE
$60,000FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING
FOR THE HEALTHY EARLY YEARS CLINIC AT THE CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN EARLY DEVELOPMENT
GUITARS IN THE CLASSROOM
$30,000FOR UNRESTRICTED FUNDING
UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF SAN DIEGO
$5,855FOR AMNA SANCTUARY TO SUPPORT AFGHAN REFUGEES, THIS IS A SDWF, ROTARY D5340, AND CARROLL C. LONG FUND COLLABORATION
A SDWF, ROTARY D5340 & CARROLL C. LONG FUND COLLABORATION SUPPORTING AFGHAN REFUGEES
SAN DIEGO AFGHAN REFUGEES AID GROUP
$5,855A SDWF, ROTARY D5340 & CARROLL C. LONG FUND COLLABORATION SUPPORTING AFGHAN REFUGEES
FOR GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
URBAN GROWTH
$30,000FOR GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
SECOND FAMILIES
$10,000A SDWF, ROTARY D5340 & CARROLL C. LONG FUND COLLABORATION FOR HELPING EL CAJON REFUGEES TO SUPPORT AFGHAN REFUGEES
MUSLIM AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
$10,000A SDWF, ROTARY D5340 & CARROLL C. LONG FUND COLLABORATION FOR THE SD AFGHAN REFUGEE AID GROUP TO SUPPORT AFGHAN REFUGEES
UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF SAN DIEGO
$10,000A SDWF, ROTARY D5340 & CARROLL C. LONG FUND COLLABORATION FOR AMNA SANCTUARY TO SUPPORT AFGHAN REFUGEES
