San Diego Foundation

06/17/2026

Juneteenth is a time to honor freedom and community.

San Diego Foundation is supporting Paddle for Peace’s 6th Annual Juneteenth at the Beach, a community celebration with BBQ, beach games, music and connection by the coast.

The event takes place June 20, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at La Jolla Shores Beach.

Learn more and RSVP: https://www.paddleforpeace.org/juneteenthatthebeach

06/17/2026

Thinking about starting a private foundation?

For families or individuals planning long-term charitable giving, a private foundation can offer structure, control over grantmaking and a way to support causes over time.

It can also come with significant responsibilities, including administration, compliance, operating costs and annual distribution requirements.

For some donors, a donor-advised fund may offer a simpler, more cost-effective way to organize giving with less administrative burden.

San Diego Foundation helps you explore charitable structures that align with your goals, values and plans for the future.

https://www.sdfoundation.org/news-events/sdf-news/how-to-start-a-private-foundation/

06/15/2026

When Gloria Corral was growing up in a binational family in San Ysidro, her father often asked, “What did you do today and how did you help others?”

That question still guides her.

Gloria has spent nearly 25 years in leadership roles across organizations including First 5 San Francisco, First 5 San Diego and the Parent Institute for Quality Education. Today, she serves as secretary of San Diego Foundation’s Board of Governors and interim CEO at Reality Changers.

Her story reflects what community leadership can look like: listening deeply, recognizing structural challenges and bringing people together to support long-term solutions.

Read more about Gloria’s story and service: https://www.sdfoundation.org/news-events/sdf-news/guided-by-purpose-and-experience-gloria-corral-works-to-expand-opportunity-through-san-diego-foundation-leadership/

06/12/2026

Imagine being too embarrassed to smile.

This was the reality for Joseph Dudas. The cost of treatment kept dental care out of reach for years. But that changed thanks Cura Smiles and a grant from the San Diego Unity Fund. Joseph received cost-free care that helped restore his health, confidence and quality of life.

Cura Smiles is one of the 100+ nonprofits supported by the San Diego Unity Fund, SDF’s rapid-response fund created to help trusted local organizations continue essential services as funding shifts affect programs providing food, housing and healthcare.

Read Joseph’s story, just one example of how Cura Smiles expands access to free dental care for underinsured San Diegans: https://www.sdfoundation.org/news-events/sdf-news/bringing-back-smiles-when-dental-care-funding-falls-short/

06/08/2026

The ocean is part of daily life in San Diego.

It shapes our climate, supports our local economy, offers space for rest and connection, and reminds us why environmental protection matters close to home.

But access to clean, safe outdoor spaces is not experienced equally across our region. Protecting our coast and waterways also means thinking about the communities furthest from opportunity.

San Diego Foundation supports local solutions that protect natural resources, improve community health and help build a more sustainable future for the region we call home.

Today, we’re reflecting on what the ocean means to San Diego and our shared responsibility to care for it.

06/07/2026

Retirement can be a meaningful time to think about the causes, people and places you want to support.

Charitable giving in your golden years can take many forms, including direct gifts, naming a nonprofit as a beneficiary of a retirement account, opening a donor-advised fund or adding a planned gift to your will or trust.

Close to retirement or already there? Explore giving options that align with your charitable goals, financial plans and hopes for the future.

A clear guide to charitable giving in retirement, including QCDs, donor-advised funds, and tax-smart ways to give in San Diego County.

06/06/2026

Today is National Higher Education Day, and we’re celebrating the pathways that help San Diego students take their next steps.

For many students, higher education begins before they ever set foot on a college campus—through early exposure, college-level coursework, career exploration and support from trusted educators and partners.

At San Diego Foundation, education is one of our core impact areas because it shapes opportunity across a lifetime.

Through a recent $3 million initiative with Gates Foundation {tag}, students in Oceanside and Sweetwater will gain access to college-level credentials, career and technical education, and hands-on work experience while still in high school.

Learn more: https://www.sdfoundation.org/news-events/sdf-news/san-diego-high-school-students-to-earn-college-level-credentials-while-in-school-preparing-for-in-demand-jobs/

06/05/2026

“I give back because when I was a kid, the community raised me.”

For Tri Luu, giving is rooted in culture, community and paying it forward.

A Lotus Fund supporter, Tri helps advance work that celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander heritage and community success.

His advice: find something you love, find something that inspires you and go see the lives your generosity can touch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wA0CrnxIfY

06/05/2026

Housing stability means more than having a roof overhead.

For Tarlease, it means protecting the home her children have known for the last 10 years.

After becoming seriously ill and falling behind on rent, she turned to Urban League of San Diego County for support.

Now, through their new Housing Financial Assistance Program launched in partnership with San Diego Foundation and supported by San Diego Unity Fund, Urban League is helping families access emergency support before they lose their homes.

Watch Tarlease’s story and learn more: https://www.sdfoundation.org/news-events/sdf-news/helping-families-stay-housed-through-financial-hardship/



-

San Diego Unity. Fund is a rapid-response fund launched by SDF to help local nonprofits meet urgent needs as federal safety-net programs are reduced.

06/03/2026

Healthy aging is supported by more than one service. It takes nutritious meals, wellness programs, access to information and opportunities to stay connected.

At this year’s annual grant awards celebration, Chula Vista Community Foundation, a regional affiliate of San Diego Foundation, awarded $60,000 to three nonprofit organizations expanding wellness, nutrition and social support for older adults in Chula Vista. Mama's Kitchen, Parkinson’s Association of San Diego, San Diego Oasis

Together, these grants will help older adults access medically tailored meals, adaptive wellness programs, digital literacy training and spaces for connection.

This is community-led philanthropy at work: local members investing in local solutions that help Chula Vista residents stay healthy, connected and resilient.

Learn more:

May 27, 2026 – Chula Vista, CA – Many older adults in Chula Vista face growing challenges accessing nutritious food, wellness services, transportation and