To spark breakthrough community action that elevates every child and family toward a brighter future.
United Way of San Diego County’s recent grantmaking centers on education and economic mobility, with a visible pattern of funding that reaches from early literacy into STEAM-to-careers, financial coaching, and basic-needs support. Two of its largest recent grants went to Dreams for Change: $181,137 in 2024 for EITC and $177,151 in 2023 for EITC, showing sustained support for free tax preparation and related benefits access. The foundation also backed the International Rescue Committee with $116,016 in 2023 and $81,510 in 2024 for Building Resilience, pointing to a role in emergency or stabilizing support alongside its longer-term education work. Education remains a core thread across the portfolio. The YMCA of San Diego County received $73,829 in 2023 for Level Up San Diego and $44,959 in 2024 for STEAM-to-Careers, while Junior Achievement received $34,025 in 2024 for STEAM-to-Careers. That mix suggests a funder that supports both direct service and partner-delivered programming. Grants also reached organizations such as Creating Coding Careers, Traveling Stories, and Fleet Science Center, indicating interest in literacy, youth development, and hands-on learning opportunities for San Diego-area communities.
In tax assistance and benefits access, the foundation gave $181,137 in 2024 to Dreams for Change for EITC, and that same grantee received $177,151 in 2023 for the same purpose. That repeated support makes free tax preparation a clear part of the funding picture. For resilience-building and emergency or basic-needs support, it funded the International Rescue Committee with $116,016 in 2023 and $81,510 in 2024 under Building Resilience. Dreams for Change also received $97,415 in 2023 and $68,343 in 2024 for Building Resilience. The education portfolio includes STEAM and career readiness. YMCA of San Diego County received $44,959 in 2024 for STEAM-to-Careers, while Junior Achievement received $34,025 in 2024 for the same focus. Early learners and literacy also appear through grants such as $5,114 in 2024 to UCSD Create for Early Learners/LevelUp San Diego.
Typical awards sit in a middle range: p25 is $10,872, median is $24,948, and p75 is $73,829. The recent record shows both repeated support and multi-year relationships, with Dreams for Change, International Rescue Committee, 2-1-1 San Diego, YMCA of San Diego County, and Traveling Stories appearing across more than one year. United Way of San Diego County is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Several of its program and partnership pathways accept unsolicited requests, including Tocqueville Society, SparkPoint Financial Coaching, United Way Program Initiatives, Live United. Give United., Workplace Giving, and Community Partnerships.
$634K
$16.1M
$5.5M
$6.3M
Most grants fall between $11K and $74K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$11K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$74K
NANCY L SASAKI
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Grantmaking is locally concentrated and entirely in California, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. San Diego is the main recipient city, appearing on grants to Dreams for Change, the International Rescue Committee, 2-1-1 San Diego, YMCA of San Diego County, Junior Achievement, and Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego. The portfolio also reaches National City through Traveling Stories, Escondido through Girls Inc. and Escondido Education Compact, Camp Pendleton through Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton, and La Jolla through UCSD Create. The pattern is county-centered rather than statewide.
Its recent grants cluster around education and economic mobility, especially EITC/free tax preparation, building resilience, STEAM-to-careers, early literacy, and financial coaching. The named program areas also include Bank On, SparkPoint Financial Coaching, and United for Literacy, which reinforces that mix of education and financial stability work.
The recent grant distribution shows a p25 of $10,872, a median of $24,948, and a p75 of $73,829. That range suggests the foundation makes many mid-sized awards, with some larger grants reaching well above the median.
It supports several organizations across multiple years. Dreams for Change, International Rescue Committee, 2-1-1 San Diego, YMCA of San Diego County, and Traveling Stories all appear in more than one year in the recent grants list, including repeated support for the same program areas.
Several listed pathways accept unsolicited requests, including Tocqueville Society, SparkPoint Financial Coaching, United Way Program Initiatives, Live United. Give United., Workplace Giving, and Community Partnerships. Some program lines, such as STEAM-to-Careers and United for Literacy, are marked as not accepting unsolicited requests.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from United Way of San Diego County that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Employers and corporate partners interested in running workplace giving campaigns. No grant recipient eligibility described.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DREAMS FOR CHANGE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $181,137 | 2024 | EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $81,510 | 2024 | BUILDING RESILIENCE |
| HARDER CO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $80,739 | 2024 | BUILDING RESILIENCE |
| DREAMS FOR CHANGE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $68,343 | 2024 | BUILDING RESILIENCE |
| YMCA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY | SAN DIEGO, CA | $44,959 | 2024 | STEAM-TO-CAREERS |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT | SAN DIEGO, CA | $34,025 | 2024 | STEAM-TO-CAREERS |
| ARMED SERVICES YMCA CAMP PENDLETON | CAMP PENDLETON, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | WOMEN UNITED SUPPORT |
| VOICES FOR CHILDREN | SAN DIEGO, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | WOMEN UNITED SUPPORT |
| CREATING CODE CAREERS | SAN DIEGO, CA | $16,398 | 2024 | STEAM-TO-CAREERS |
| PAVING GREAT FUTURES | SAN DIEGO, CA | $13,520 | 2024 | STEAM-TO-CAREERS |
| FLEET SCIENCE CENTER | SAN DIEGO, CA | $12,126 | 2024 | STEAM-TO-CAREERS |
| CLOUDCAST | SAN DIEGO, CA | $12,000 | 2024 | STEAM-TO-CAREERS |
| TRAVELING STORIES | NATIONAL CITY, CA | $10,872 | 2024 | STEAM-TO-CAREERS |
| GIRLS INC | ESCONDIDO, CA | $8,481 | 2024 | STEAM-TO-CAREERS |
| SD REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP | SAN DIEGO, CA | $8,346 | 2024 | STEAM-TO-CAREERS |
| 2-1-1 SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $6,069 | 2024 | BUILDING RESILIENCE |
| UCSD CREATE | LA JOLLA, CA | $5,114 | 2024 | EARLY LEARNERS/LEVELUP SAN DIEGO |
| DREAMS FOR CHANGE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $177,151 | 2023 | EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $116,016 | 2023 | BUILDING RESILIENCE |
| HARDERCOMPANY COMMUNITY RESEARCH INC | SAN FRANSICO, CA | $98,321 | 2023 | BUILDING RESILIENCE |
| DREAMS FOR CHANGE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $97,415 | 2023 | BUILDING RESILIENCE |
| YMCA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY | SAN DIEGO, CA | $73,829 | 2023 | LEVEL UP SAN DIEGO |
| 2-1-1 SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $35,310 | 2023 | BUILDING RESILIENCE |
| CLOUDCAST MEDIA | SAN DIEGO, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | LEVEL UP SAN DIEGO |
| CREATING CODING CAREERS | SAN DIEGO, CA | $24,948 | 2023 | LEVEL UP SAN DIEGO |
| TRAVELING STORIES | NATIONAL CITY, CA | $18,097 | 2023 | LEVEL UP SAN DIEGO |
| WORDS ALIVE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $14,794 | 2023 | LEVEL UP SAN DIEGO |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $7,600 | 2023 | FOOD PANTRY |
| ESCONDIDO EDUCATION COMPACT | ESCONDIDO, CA | $6,000 | 2023 | DIGITAL DIVIDE |
| YMCA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,834 | 2023 | BUILDING RESILIENCE |
HARDER CO
$80,739BUILDING RESILIENCE
STEAM-TO-CAREERS
ARMED SERVICES YMCA CAMP PENDLETON
$25,000WOMEN UNITED SUPPORT
CREATING CODE CAREERS
$16,398STEAM-TO-CAREERS
PAVING GREAT FUTURES
$13,520STEAM-TO-CAREERS
CLOUDCAST
$12,000STEAM-TO-CAREERS
TRAVELING STORIES
$10,872STEAM-TO-CAREERS
GIRLS INC
$8,481STEAM-TO-CAREERS
SD REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP
$8,346STEAM-TO-CAREERS
UCSD CREATE
$5,114EARLY LEARNERS/LEVELUP SAN DIEGO
HARDERCOMPANY COMMUNITY RESEARCH INC
$98,321BUILDING RESILIENCE
CLOUDCAST MEDIA
$30,000LEVEL UP SAN DIEGO
CREATING CODING CAREERS
$24,948LEVEL UP SAN DIEGO
TRAVELING STORIES
$18,097LEVEL UP SAN DIEGO
ESCONDIDO EDUCATION COMPACT
$6,000DIGITAL DIVIDE
