The San Diego Foundation today announced the COVID-19 Community Response Fund has reached $10.8 million in donations. To date, the Fund has granted $7 million to more than 50 San Diego nonprofit organizations working on the frontline of the coronavirus outbreak.  

The most recent round of rapid response grants, totaling $1.8 million, is helping organizations that provide vital services and support to vulnerable communities, including foster youth, refugees and homeless San Diegans.  

“While we continue to see the needs grow, we’re inspired by the generosity of our region to help one another during this challenging time” shared Mark Stuart, President & CEO of The San Diego Foundation. “Maya Angelou said, ‘hope and fear cannot occupy the same space, invite one to stay.’ The support for the COVID-19 Community Response Fund and its impact shows than San Diegans are choosing hope.” 

In addition to the $10.8 million raised, the Hervey Family has announced a new $1.5 million matching campaign through the Hervey Family Fund at The San Diego Foundation. New donations to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund will be matched one-to-one by the family.  

Grantmaking is made possible thanks to more than 2,600 individuals, businesses, foundations and donor-advised funds that have contributed to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund, including a new $200,000 gift from the Lundbeck U.S. Charitable Fund. 

The latest round of rapid response grants include: 

Promises2Kids – $150,000  

To provide critical resources and support to current and former foster youth. 

Operation Hope – $100,000  

To provide shelter and other essential services for children and single women in need in North County. 

Center for Community Solutions – $100,000 

To provide shelter and other essential services to survivors of relationship and sexual violence.  

Monarch School – $100,000  

To provide food, shelter, educational support and other services to homeless students and families. 

Alpha Project for the Homeless – $100,000  

To provide emergency assistance, rapid rehousing and supportive housing for homeless San Diegans. 

San Diego LGBT Community Center – $100,000  

To provide virtual crisis counseling, support and other essential services such as food, housing and healthcare to the LGBTQ community.  

Second Chance – $100,000  

To provide critical resources and support for formerly incarcerated San Diegans and justice system-involved youth. 

Solutions for Change – $100,000  

To provide emergency support, services and relief for low-wage families. 

Community HousingWorks – $100,000  

To provide essential services and support for San Diegans living in affordable housing.  

Ocean Discovery Institute – $100,000 

To provide food assistance and educational support for hundreds of students in need.  

Reality Changers – $75,000 

To provide online tutoring and a new virtual college readiness curriculum for low-income students. 

North County LGBTQ Resource Center – $75,000  

To provide critical support and services to low-income, LGBTQ youth and adults. 

Casa de Amparo – $60,000 

To provide basic needs, including food, healthcare and shelter for local foster youth. 

Southwestern College Foundation – $60,000  

To provide resources that meet the essential needs of students living in South Bay. 

Armed Services YMCA – $50,000  

To provide social services and food assistance to junior enlisted military members and families.  

Alliance San Diego – $50,000  

To provide critical resources and services to immigrants in San Diego who are ineligible for government relief programs.  

Cesar Chavez Service Clubs – $50,000 

To provide food assistance and emergency relief to hundreds of families, many of whom have language and technology barriers. 

Just in Time for Foster Youth – $50,000  

To provide food assistance, housing support and other essential services to transition-age foster youth.  

Somali Family Service – $50,000  

To provide rental assistance and other essential services for refugees and immigrants from East Africa and the Middle East. 

PATH (People Assisting The Homeless) – $50,000  

To provide food assistance for people with chronic medical conditions living in interim housing. 

San Diego Organizing Project – $50,000 

To mobilize dozens of San Diego congregations for emergency response and support for its members.  

Voices of Our City – $30,000  

To provide food assistance, case management and emergency support for unsheltered San Diegans.  

STEP (Support the Enlisted Project) – $25,000  

To provide emergency assistance and relief for enlisted San Diegans.  

Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce – $25,000  

To provide emergency assistance and support to local small businesses.  

Asian Business Association of San Diego – $25,000  

To provide emergency assistance and support to local small businesses.  

Barrio Logan College Institute – $24,000 

To provide computers and internet access to students and staff to continue their classwork and educational development. 

Casa Familiar – $20,000  

To provide bilingual assistance with unemployment applications, referrals and relief programs for San Diegans in need. 

Heaven’s Windows – $10,000  

To provide food assistance to children living in East County.  

Businesses, individuals and organizations can donate and find additional information about the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund at SDFoundation.org/COVID19 where nonprofit organizations can also find information about how to request grant funding or more information about the interest-free loan program.  

Grantmaking from the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund focuses on food security; other essential living expenses; emergent needs; and rent and utility payment support. The fund will also provide interest-free loans for nonprofit organizations to provide business and community service continuity.  

The San Diego Foundation is part of a national movement of more than 350 community foundations that have mobilized over $715 million to aid in the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis through response funds. Individual donations are bolstered by San Diego corporations and numerous donor-advised funds at The San Diego Foundation that have contributed to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund. 

One hundred percent of donations to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund will be provided to nonprofits helping San Diegans impacted by the coronavirus. Funds are released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the coronavirus outbreak and its recovery phases. 

The San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund at The San Diego Foundation was created in partnership with San Diego County Supervisor and Co-Chair of the COVID-19 Subcommittee Nathan Fletcher, San Diego Gas & Electric, United Way of San Diego County, San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, NEWS 8 and Alliance Healthcare Foundation.  

Learn more at SDFoundation.org/COVID19.