Make A Grant

The San Diego Foundation strives to provide you with grantmaking opportunities for the issues you care about most. We make it easy for you to recommend a grant to a specific organization. Grants are made from your fund directly to the organization(s) you indicate. Following is an overview of our grantmaking process:

• Contact your philanthropic advisor to receive a grant making form
• Complete the form and fax, mail, or e-mail to our grants administrator

Grant recommendations are compiled promptly upon receipt (minimum of $250). All recommendations go through our due diligence process to ensure compliance with IRS regulations and eligibility of recipient organizations. The San Diego Foundation awards grants for charitable purposes within the guidelines of section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

The following criteria are used to determine an organization's eligibility for receiving grant dollars:

• Recipient is organized and operated as defined in IRS Reg. Sec. 501(c)(3)-1(d)(2) or is organized for charitable purposes.
• IRS regulations further provide that grants from donor-advised funds will not be made:
1. To pay dues for membership of an individual in an organization
2. To discharge or satisfy legally enforceable obligations or personal pledges that have been made by the donor/fund advisor
3. For any other purpose from which the individual will receive some benefit(s)
• Examples of ineligible purposes include, but are not limited to, ticket purchases for a fundraising dinner or entry fees for a charity golf tournament.

The Foundation's Board of Governors or Executive Committee is solicited weekly for their approval of all recommendations. Checks are mailed to recipient organizations within five working days of approval. Statements showing grant activities within your fund are mailed monthly.

Grant recommendation forms — Extra forms are available at any time by contacting your philanthropic advisor or checking the appropriate box on the form with your next grant recommendation.

Scholarship awards — The Foundation employs a professional staff person to manage scholarship grants; ask your philanthropic advisor for guidance in this process.

Check Distribution — Checks are mailed directly to recipient organizations; at your request, arrangements can be made for you to personally deliver your check to a recipient.

Anonymous grants — You may remain anonymous on one or all of your grants by letting your wishes be known to your philanthropic advisor.

Grant awards are not intended to represent the payment of any pledge or financial obligation and cannot provide personal benefit to any donor, fund advisor, staff member, or volunteer of The San Diego Foundation. The authority to award grants resides with the Board of Governors of The San Diego Foundation.