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San Diego Womens Foundation

EIN 33-0907092 · San Diego, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong92 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O. THE SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S FOUNDATION CONNECTS, EDUCATES AND INSPIRES WOMEN TO COME TOGETHER IN COLLECTIVE PHILANTHROPY.THE SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION AND IS NOT ORGANIZED FOR THE PRIVATE GAIN OF ANY PERSON. IT IS ORGANIZED FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES. THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO SUPPORT SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION BY EDUCATING AND INSPIRING WOMEN TO ENGAGE IN SIGNIFICANT AND SUSTAINABLE PHILANTHROPY TO STRENGTHEN THE SAN DIEGO REGION. THE ORGANIZATION WILL MAKE GRANTS TO OTHER NEEDY AND/OR DESERVING IRS SECTION 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS WHICH SERVE SAN DIEGO COUNTY, THUS FURTHERING THE MISSION OF SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION.

Income
$807,744
Spending
$797,201
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
16.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
0
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$168,921, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $551,441 spent. SEE SCHEDULE O. THE SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S FOUNDATION, WHILE BEING A SEPARATE 501(C)(3), HAS CHOSEN TO HAVE ITS ASSETS MANAGED BY SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION, ITS SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION. THE SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S FOUNDATION IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT IS FOCUSED ON PHILANTHROPIC EDUCATION, DEVELOPING GRANT CRITERIA, AND MONITORING THE DISBURSEMENT OF ANNUAL GRANTS OF APPROXIMATELY $250,000. THE SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S FOUNDATION HAS A STANDALONE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BOARD APPOINTED COMMITTEES. THERE ARE THREE STAFF MEMBERS OF SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION WHO SUPPORT THE 200 PLUS VOLUNTEERS OF THE SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S FOUNDATION.THE ORGANIZATION WILL ACCOMPLISH ITS GOALS BY BUILDING A CLASS OF MEMBERSHIP KNOWN AS "CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS". A WOMAN MAY BECOME A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER BY PLEDGING TO CONTRIBUTE EITHER $2,500 OR $1,250 PER YEAR TO THE ORGANIZATION. ALTHOUGH CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS WILL HAVE NO VOTING RIGHTS, THEY MAY PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ORGANIZATION AS TO (I) AREAS OF NEED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND ITS NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND (II) APPROPRIATE CHARITABLE RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS AND GIFTS FROM THE ORGANIZATION. IN THIS WAY, THE ORGANIZATION WILL INTRODUCE WOMEN IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY TO PHILANTHROPY AND CULTIVATE THEIR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL PARTS OF THE CHARITABLE GIVING PROCESS. THE ASSETS OF THE SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S FOUNDATION ARE HELD AT SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION, THE SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION. AS OF JUNE 30, 2025, THE VALUE OF THESE ASSETS WAS $6,355,000. THE PRIMARY GRANTING PRIORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 WAS SENIOR SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS. A TOTAL OF $240,000 WAS GRANTED TO 4 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP GRANTEES (NON-PROFITS). SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2000, THE SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S FOUNDATION HAS GRANTED OVER $5.6 MILLION TO 155 COMMUNITY PARTNER PROGRAMS AND BUILT AN ENDOWMENT OF $5.2 MILLION. AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S FOUNDATION MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED 206 WOMEN FROM ACROSS THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: U C San Diego Foundation (La Jolla, CA), EIN 95-2872494. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.