Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The San Diego Foundation

EIN 95-2942582 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION INSPIRES ENDURING PHILANTHROPY AND ENABLES COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR REGION.

Income
$196.9 million
Spending
$150.8 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
45.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 42%
Employees
131
Volunteers
105
Highest pay
$774,120, chief innovation officer

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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 45.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $124.7 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O.SINCE 1975, SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED A PERMANENT AND GROWING SOURCE OF FUNDING TO NONPROFITS SERVING THE SAN DIEGO REGION. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS, THE FOUNDATION GRANTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES AND NEEDS IN THE SAN DIEGO REGION BY USING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PHILANTHROPIC AND INVESTMENT EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM IMPACT.SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION MAXIMIZES THE IMPACT OF CHARITABLE GIVING TO ENACT POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR REGION. WE PARTNER WITH DONORS, NONPROFITS AND REGIONAL LEADERS TO CO-CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS AND STRENGTHEN SAN DIEGO.WE MANAGE CHARITABLE FUNDS FOR HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND CORPORATIONS. A GIFT TO SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION PROVIDES MAXIMUM TAX DEDUCTIONS, OUTSTANDING INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND LOW ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. WITH MORE THAN 50 YEARS SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND HUNDREDS OF ACTIVE PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS, WE ARE ABLE TO ASSESS CHANGING REGIONAL NEEDS AND TAKE ACTION ON SAN DIEGO'S MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES. WE GATHER THIS INFORMATION AND CREATE AN ONGOING UNDERSTANDING OF OUR REGION'S NEEDS AND PAIR IT WITH OUR DONORS' PASSIONS, VALUES AND INTEREST AREAS AND CONNECT THEM WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER SOLUTIONS.SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO ESTABLISH CUSTOMIZED CHARITABLE FUNDS WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF TAX LIABILITIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS ASSOCIATED WITH SETTING UP A PRIVATE FOUNDATION. OUR BOARD OF GOVERNORS, COMPRISED OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND OUR KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF PROVIDE KEEN OVERSIGHT AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO HONORING THE WISHES OF EACH DONOR.SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION'S PROGRAM AREAS ARE GUIDED BY OUR ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES. WE VALUE ALL PEOPLE, ALL PARTNERS, AND OUR REGION. WE ACT WITH INTEGRITY AND RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, WE ENGAGE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES TO FOSTER COLLABORATION AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, AND WE STRIVE FOR AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE HAS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY.WE ADHERE TO A DEEPLY ETHICAL APPROACH TO PHILANTHROPY, ONE THAT HOLDS OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO BEING A TRUSTWORTHY PARTNER AND TO APPROACHING OUR WORK WITH HUMILITY AND RESPECT FOR THE EXPERTISE OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AND OF THE GOVERNMENT, NONPROFIT, BUSINESS SECTORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH WHOM WE COLLABORATE. WE WILL BE OPEN-MINDED, LEARN CONSTANTLY, LISTEN CAREFULLY TO DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, BUILD STRONG AND DIVERSE COALITIONS, SUPPORT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ENGAGE IN SHARED DECISION-MAKING. GRANT OPPORTUNITIES ARE OFFERED BY SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION, SAN DIEGO WOMEN'S FOUNDATION, POLICY & INNOVATION CENTER AND OUR SEVEN REGIONAL AFFILIATE FOUNDATIONS (4SRANCH-DEL SUR, CARLSBAD, CHULA VISTA, ESCONDIDO, OCEANSIDE, RAMONA, AND RANCHO BERNARDO).

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 October 13, 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 August 1975.

    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 October 21, 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.