In its final funding round of 2025, the San Diego Foundation announced over $3 million in Unity Fund grants to support local nonprofits strengthening the city’s food, housing, and healthcare safety net amid ongoing federal funding cuts. Since the launch of the San Diego Unity Fund, the Foundation has raised more than $32 million and granted or committed nearly $20 million to dozens of organizations addressing urgent community needs. These grants aim to maintain essential services, including emergency rent and utility assistance, food distribution through schools and neighborhood markets, and trauma-informed healthcare and mental health support for families and individuals in crisis.
The funding comes at a critical time, as San Diego County faces the loss of over $300 million annually in government support, putting more than 400,000 residents at risk of losing access to basic services, including nearly 100,000 who may lose food assistance. Mark Stuart, President and CEO of San Diego Foundation, emphasized that the grants not only stabilize services now but also position the community for stronger outcomes in the coming year.
Among the grantees, the Union of Pan Asian Communities received $175,000 to sustain its Community Violence Response Team while transitioning to a Medi-Cal billing model. Wendy Urushima-Conn, the organization’s CEO, highlighted that the funding ensures continued trauma intervention, case management, and housing navigation services at a time of significant federal funding reductions. Similarly, the City Heights Community Development Corporation received $175,000 to stabilize housing and community-based services in one of San Diego’s historically underserved neighborhoods, enabling culturally relevant food assistance and strengthening local economic partnerships.
Nearly $3 million in grants will support more than two dozen organizations across food security, housing stability, and healthcare access, helping prevent homelessness, maintain access to nutritious food through trusted community sites, and sustain healthcare and mental health services amid public funding gaps. Grantees include a broad range of local nonprofits such as Alabaster Jar Project, Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego, BrightSide, Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego, Crisis House, Foundation for Women Warriors, Promises 2Kids, San Diego Hunger Coalition, TrueCare, and Urban Street Angels, among others.
Created in response to federal funding reductions, the San Diego Unity Fund functions as a rapid response mechanism to support local nonprofits addressing pressing community needs. The San Diego Foundation, which has granted $1.8 billion since its founding in 1975, continues to partner with donors, nonprofits, and regional leaders to strengthen the region and promote just, equitable, and resilient communities.
