To support your efforts, San Diego Foundation (SDF) is sharing valuable information every month about upcoming workshops, events, fundraising opportunities and resources with your organization.

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Call for Exhibitors: 2024 San Diego Fundraising Conference

Presenting Sponsor PNC Bank

This year, we are excited to introduce an Exhibit Hall to the sold-out San Diego Fundraising Conference experience. If your organization is interested in connecting with 700+ local nonprofit leaders and showcasing your company’s products and services, join us as in the Exhibit Hall on September 20, 2024 at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel!  Contact sdfconference@sdfoundation.org for details.

SDF Career Opportunities

The SDF team helps donors and partners transform lives across our region by delivering world-class philanthropy and offering best-in-class services. For four consecutive years, The San Diego Union-Tribune has rated SDF a top workplace.

San Diego Foundation is currently seeking applicants for the following:

  • Community Impact Partner (part time, 1 year)
  • Manager, National Rainbow College Fund
  • Program Specialist, Education Initiatives
  • Senior Director, Integrated Fundraising

Upcoming Events & Development Opportunities

  • Join The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of San Diego (YNPN) for its Tranquility Trek, an event series for wellness and networking. Tranquility Trek offers an opportunity for young nonprofit professionals to come together, share insights, and forge meaningful connections while enjoying the outdoors. Event Date: Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 8:00 a.m.
  • UC San Diego’s Center for Research on Educational Equity, Assessment and Teaching Excellence (CREATE) invites local nonprofits to participate in its 2024 Southeast San Diego Science & Art Expo to promote STEM and support the educational goals of community members, K-12 students and their families. Event Date: Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
  • The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce and North County Philanthropy Council (NCPC) are partnering for a Non-Profit Networking Mixer to connect with your fellow non-profit peers, learn what our two organizations can provide, and promote your cause in a casual and fun environment. Event Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.
  • North County Philanthropy Council invites local nonprofit leaders to join an engaging panel discussion, “Cross-Sector Collaborations: Attract Funding and Transform Communities: A Case Study,” from leading experts, as they share insights on securing funding and driving community transformation. Event Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.
  • National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) invites Carlsbad nonprofit leaders to participate in its NCRC Culture, Communication and Conflict Certificate Program that equips community leaders with the skills and tools to lead in today’s polarized and complex environment. Event Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
  • San Diego Gives invites organizations to register for its 2024 San Diego Gives Event transformative 6-week fundraising campaign (starts Sept. 5, 2024) that will provide opportunities for San Diegans of all ages and backgrounds to become philanthropists, showcasing the collective power of our community and to highlight the incredible work of local nonprofits in addressing the top concerns of San Diegans.
  • Association of Fundraising Professionals San Diego Chapter holds in-person meetings and events for nonprofit fundraising professionals in our region. The international association advances philanthropy in the San Diego region by enabling members, prospective members and representatives of other organizations to practice effective and ethical fundraising. Learn more about its upcoming meetings and events here.
  • The HIVE, a Leichtag Foundation Initiative, holds in person and virtual workshops for nonprofits. Workshop topics range from effective leadership to strategic approaches to media relations. Learn more about its professional development opportunities here.
  • Nonprofit Solutions holds several workshops that help nonprofit employees learn, connect and grow. In-person and virtual workshops are offered. Learn more about its upcoming events and workshops here.
  • CANDID Learning holds a series of free online workshops for nonprofit employees in all stages and experiences of their careers. Search through training opportunities here.
  • San Diego State University will be holding a 6-week course on starting a nonprofit. The course is supplemented with useful checklists, worksheets, reading lists and field trips to a wide variety of online resources. The course is $147 and has various start dates.
  • The San Diego Public Library offers a wide range of free highly interactive and instructor-led online courses. Courses run for six weeks and new sessions begin every month. You must be a library card holder in good standing to enroll.
  • Nonprofit Learning Lab is a national nonprofit that trains leaders in the nonprofit sector and offers daily online nonprofit training on various subjects.
  • Nonprofit Ready offers hundreds of free professional development resources including courses and certificates on fundraising, grant writing, starting a nonprofit, finance, engagement, marketing and human resources.

Other Funding Opportunities

  • Awarded by the Boundless Futures Foundation, Her Village Grants are open to qualifying nonprofit organizations support work that advances and strengthens entrepreneurial skills, resources, ecosystems, and educational opportunities for girls and women. Grant amounts typically range between $5,000 and $30,000. The application cycle will run from July to September 2024.
  • Walmart Foundation believes that strengthening local communities creates value for business as well as society. Each year, Walmart U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs and Distribution Centers launch the Spark Good Local Grants to award local cash grants ranging from $250 to $5000 to local organizations. These local grants are designed to address the unique needs of the communities where we operate. The next Quarterly Grant cycle launches on August 6, 2024.
  • The software company Zendesk provides free software and multiple nonprofit grants through its Tech for Good Impact Awards program. Nonprofit organizations whose mission or project helps foster community, promote resilience in a time of crisis or create career pathways into technology are encouraged to apply. Applications are being accepted until August 15, 2024.
  • The County of San Diego is piloting a new Equity Impact Grant (EIG) program in partnership with The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego (NPI) to address community feedback about the challenges that small, grassroots, and minority-led organizations experience when applying for government contracts and philanthropic funding. Applications due: Friday, August 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
  • The Kinship Fund is accepting applications for its Connection Grants to nonprofit organizations providing services that uplift women and girls through the focus areas of education, mentorship, the prevention of youth incarceration and development of whole-person wellbeing. Applications due: Monday, Sept. 9, 2024.
  • Coastal Community Foundation invites Nonprofit and school-based programs serving San Diego County to apply for the Betty Scalice Foundation Music Grants. To apply for a grant, applicants must create an account. Grant applications rolling through September 2024.
  • California Humanities is accepting applications for its Humanities for All grant program (between $1,000 and $5,000) to be awarded on a rolling basis. The quick grant supports locally initiated public humanities projects and responds to the needs and interests of Californians, encourages greater public participation in humanities programming, particularly by new and/or underserved audiences. Applications will be accepted from nonprofit organizations with federal tax-exempt status and nonfederal public agencies. Applicant organizations/fiscal sponsors must be California-based, and proposed Quick Grant programming should serve California-based audiences. Deadline: Ongoing
  • The Story of Stuff is accepting applications for their grassroots grants program to support underfunded organizations and communities addressing a myriad of environmental and social justice issues, with a focus on flights over water privatization and plastic pollution. Priority will be given to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led and serving groups with a budget of $50,000 or less. Deadline: None.
  • Borealis Philanthropy’s Fund for Trans Generation is accepting applications through their rapid response fund. Priority will be given to supporting organizations and fiscally sponsored projects based in trans communities that are facing high levels of harm and who have limited access to foundation support. Deadline: Rolling.
  • The Waitt Foundation is accepting applications for their Rapid Ocean Conservation (ROC) Grants Program. ROC grants provide small grants with a quick turnaround time for solutions to emerging conservation issues. Deadline: Rolling.
  • The Thomas C. Ackerman Foundation is accepting applications from nonprofits that support or operate a formal classroom K-12 grade program of which the primary purpose, curriculum, or object emphasizes the teaching of mathematics or the sciences and/or the application or development of skills related to art and/or the performing arts and music. Deadline: Rolling.
  • The Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation (CICF) is accepting formal grant applications. CICF makes grants to organizations that are located or operate in U.S. communities where the cruise industry maintains vessel operations, employs significant numbers of individuals, purchases products and services from strategic business partners; and that carry out programs and activities that confer significant local community benefits. Deadline: CICF grant applications are accepted throughout the calendar year. Grant submissions will be reviewed on a quarterly basis for final selection. The full review process may take up to six months.
  • Lyft is accepting applications for its transportation grant program. Lyft is committed to helping reduce transportation barriers for historically excluded communities across the nation. Lyft awards local community grants, in the form of in-app ride credits, on an ongoing basis, as funds become available. Deadline: Rolling.
  • The MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation is a joint initiative between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. The foundation is accepting Letters of Inquiry (LOI) from organizations that help increase participation in and expand access to youth baseball and softball. LOI Deadline: Rolling.
  • The California Wellness Foundation is accepting Letters of Interest for their Advancing Wellness Grant Program. The foundation supports nonprofit organizations that are addressing urgent needs people are facing in their communities. Specifically, the focus is on low-income communities, people of color, youth, immigrants and residents of rural areas. Deadline: Ongoing.
  • The Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation is accepting inquiries from educational institutions and nonprofit trade organizations that help economically disadvantaged high school students develop portfolios to qualify for admission to art school and provide college scholarships for them to study graphic design, advertising, photography and illustration. Deadline: Ongoing.
  • U.S. Bank Foundation is accepting Letters of Interest for their Community Possible Grant Program. U.S. Bank Foundation supports organizations and programs that advance the following funding priorities:
    • WORK – Workforce Education and Economic Prosperity
    • HOME – Neighborhood Stability and Revitalization
    • PLAY – Artistic and Cultural Enrichment, Learning Through Play and Preserving, Protecting and Enhancing Outdoor Places to Play
    • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is accepting applications for its Evidence for Action: Innovative Research to Advance Racial Equity grant from organizations to support studies about “upstream” causes of health inequities, such as the systems, structures, laws, policies, norms, and practices that determine the distribution of resources and opportunities, which in turn influence individuals’ options and behaviors. Deadline: Rolling.
  • The W.K. Kellogg Foundation accepts applications at any time from organizations whose projects or proposals align with their three areas of focused work: thriving children, working families, and equitable communities. Deadline: Rolling.
  • The Pollock-Krasner Foundation is accepting applications from artists for their Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant for individual artists. Pollock-Krasner grants have enabled artists to create new work, purchase needed materials, pay for studio rent and their personal expenses. Deadline: Rolling.
  • The Parker Foundation is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations that provide services that improve the lives of people throughout the San Diego region. Deadline: Rolling.
  • American Humane’s Second Chance grant offers public and private animal sheltering agencies and rescue groups financial assistance to help offset the costs of rescuing animals who are homeless or victims of human cruelty. Nonprofits that focus on animal rights and rescue are encouraged to submit proposals. Deadline: Ongoing.

Nonprofit Resources

  • Social Venture Partners provides free, hands-on, customized consulting to nonprofits looking to strengthen its organization and grow its impact.
  • The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) San Diego Chapter is a professional development group for fundraisers. It is a great organization to learn about capacity building, networking and education.
  • The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of San Diego (YNPN San Diego/YNPNsd) activates emerging leaders by connecting them with the resources, people and ideas they need to advance the nonprofit sector.
  • Grants.gov is the gateway to the federal grants world. Learn more about the federal grants process and how to register to their system.
  • The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent federal agency that offers arts grants for nonprofits. There are a variety of NEA grant options, designed for both small and larger organizations. You can review details about these arts grants on the NEA website and apply on Grants.gov.
  • CalNonprofits offers a wide array of resources for California-based nonprofits.
  • CA Attorney General’s Guide for Charities provides information about best practices for nonprofits that operate or fundraise in California.
  • The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – Applying for Section 501(c)(3) status. Read a PDF or view a video about how to file for nonprofit status.
  • Mission Driven Finance provides services in nonprofit investment opportunities and financial services.
  • The Nonprofit Board Exchange is a free service offered by Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego in collaboration with their community partners to expand the pool of nonprofit board members in San Diego by sharing training, resources and listings of open board positions.
  • Nonprofit Hub produces free guides on several helpful topics for nonprofits.
  • BoardSource provides resources and tools on a wide range of board leadership topics that help educate nonprofits and their boards, including downloadable resources, articles and publications.
  • Learn how to claim and update your organization’s Candid profile. Nonprofit profiles serve as a fundraising tool in telling an organization’s story and are viewed by numerous funders and foundations.
  • The Nonprofit Institute’s Digital Library houses public reports and evaluations, including our State of California and State of Nonprofits & Philanthropy Annual Reports.
  • Wallace Foundation offers general nonprofit resources, including articles and studies by leading thinkers in nonprofit finances.
  • The National Council on Nonprofits helps nonprofits achieve greater collective impact by identifying emerging trends, sharing proven practices, and promoting solutions that benefit charitable nonprofits and their communities.
  • Volunteer Management Guide provides tools and best practices for effectively managing volunteers.
  • Tech Soup offers free and discounted software and hardware for nonprofits.
  • Impact Cubed’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Resource Library provides a growing list of DEI resources from community partners, including the Alliance for Regional Solutions, Fieldstone Leadership Network, and North County Philanthropy Council.