San Diego Charitable Real Estate Foundation

About San Diego Charitable Real Estate Foundation

San Diego Charitable Real Estate Foundation stands out for converting donated property into cash support for nonprofits. Its real estate gift conversion program evaluates, accepts, and liquidates donated real estate on behalf of nonprofits, then transfers the proceeds to the nonprofit’s fund under a fund agreement. That structure makes real estate a funding source rather than an illiquid asset sitting on a balance sheet. The foundation’s recent record also shows a strong relationship with San Diego Foundation itself. Its two largest recent grants went to The San Diego Foundation for general support, including $7,291,183 in 2023 and $3,906,663 in 2025. Those awards point to a funder that moves substantial resources through established local institutions while keeping its work centered on the San Diego area. Beyond gift conversion, the foundation is tied to tax-smart philanthropy, planned giving, donor-advised funds, and nonprofit fundraising and capacity building. The overall pattern is less about issuing many small awards and more about using real estate transactions and fund agreements to channel larger philanthropic resources into local charitable work.

What San Diego Charitable Real Estate Foundation Funds

A central part of the foundation’s work is nonprofit development through real estate gift conversion. The Charitable Real Estate Foundation (CREF) program supports nonprofits by accepting donated property, liquidating it, and moving the cash proceeds into the nonprofit’s fund. That makes real estate a usable charitable resource. In education, the foundation supports scholarship access through the Community Scholarship Program and the Common Scholarship Application. One program connects students to 150+ scholarship opportunities administered by the foundation and partner funds, while the other provides awards that typically range from $1,000 to more than $5,000. The foundation also funds place-based community initiatives. Its 2026 Growing Green Spaces Grant Program supports community-led projects that promote community health and climate resilience by growing green spaces, and the 2026 Community Clean Energy Grants back local projects that expand access to clean energy and strengthen energy resilience across San Diego County.

How San Diego Charitable Real Estate Foundation Gives