News of Strengthening Philanthropy

The Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) was established in 1967 and believe that every individual has the power to make a difference and together we can change the world. By partnering with individuals, families, and community organizations, JCF engages, educates, and inspires generations of givers to achieve their philanthropic goals and secures current and future support for a vibrant Jewish and general community in San Diego, Israel, and around the world.

JCF San Diego has been nationally recognized for several initiatives, most notably their Endowment Leadership Institute (ELI) teaching local Jewish organizations how to build their endowments, plus the Trusted Charitable Advisor (TCA) program, a network of San Diego professional advisors who are dedicated to building relationships and integrating charitable planning as a strategy for achieving clients’ overall goals.

With its launch of the Impact Investment Pool in 2017, JCF became the first Jewish community foundation to offer donors impact investing options, with several investments being made right here in San Diego. JCF has also been locally recognized for its work supporting other nonprofits in the region, facilitating grant programs and offering educational workshops for organizational staff.

JCF is honored to hold Donor Advised Funds on behalf of more than 850 individuals and family fund holders, and we hold custodial and endowment funds for more than 80 local organizations. During fiscal year 2019-20, the Foundation awarded and facilitated $78 million in 7,300 grants to more than 1,800 organizations. Please visit www.jcfsandiego.org for more information.

At Mission Fed, the health, well-being and safety of our members, employees and community is always our top priority. We have been proudly serving San Diegans for nearly 60 years and our stability coupled with our commitment to building deep relationships with our community partners is what makes us the premier credit union in San Diego.

On behalf of our members, employees and volunteer board of directors, Mission Fed’s support of local non-profit organizations addressing the needs of our community due to COVID-19 impact continues. One of those organizations is the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, a critical lifeline for thousands of San Diegans that helps feed vulnerable families and seniors. As we shine the light on the San Diego Food Bank, we are proud to share that our recent campaign for the organization raised over $418,000, funds that allow for 2 MILLION meals to San Diegans in need.

We are extremely grateful for what all our local nonprofits and value-based organizations do to help our community thrive as they invest in neighborhoods through a variety of programs aimed at building resiliency and health. These past few months, we have learned a lot together, including the power of lifting each other up. Thank you, San Diego, for choosing to partner with Mission Fed as we continue to work together to make our region not just “America’s Finest City” but also “America’s Kindest Region.” Visit MissionFed.com to learn more.

The Foundation for Developmental Disabilities  is the only organization in San Diego and Imperial Counties whose sole focus is to provide funding for innovative and start up programs to enhance the lives of people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since 1986, the Foundation has provided over $7,000,000 to fund programs for organizations including Options for All, Autism Society SD, Partnership with Industry, Home of Guiding Hands, Noah Homes and Special Olympics as well as over $2,000,000 to directly assist clients of the San Diego Regional Center in emergency situations to avoid homelessness and provide basic necessities such as water and electricity.

The priority funding areas for the Foundation are housing, employment, family support and transportation. In order to address the extreme housing crisis especially for low income housing for people with developmental disabilities, last year the Foundation Board of Directors provided a grant for $700,000 to the Southern California Housing Collaborative to complete the funding package for a twelve-unit affordable housing project for the developmentally disabled. Pacifica at Playa del Sol in Otay Mesa will include 42 affordable apartments for qualifying tenants with 12-units specifically for residents with developmental disabilities.

During these unprecedented times the Foundation has quickly pivoted our focus to assist clients at the San Diego Regional Center through our emergency help fund. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unimaginable hardships for these families and in many cases the families have had to chose whether to pay their rent or put food on the table. In the past three months alone the Foundation has provided over $65,000 in emergency assistance grants ranging from $500-$1000 per client to help pay their rent, cover medical costs and help improve the quality of life of people with developmental disabilities in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

The Foundation for Developmental Disabilities is run by a passionate volunteer Board, a part time COO and two recently hired full time staff members. The Foundation staff are passionate about reaching out to smaller organizations that would otherwise be unaware of funding options and assisting them in the grant writing process. The philosophy of the Foundation is to help programs that are innovative as well as making a difference in the community and give them the extra push that could propel their work to reach a larger audience. That is why the Foundation is proud to fund smaller programs with grants ranging in size for $1500 to $100,000. The Foundation for Developmental Disabilities is proud to fund programs for low income individuals who otherwise would not have the opportunity to be a part of the communities in which they live.