By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–San Diego Foundation announced $1.9 million in Unity Fund grants to help local nonprofits support families’ basic needs as changes in federal funding continue to put pressure on the San Diego region’s safety net.
Since launching the San Diego Unity Fund in September, the San Diego Foundation has raised more than $32 million and granted or committed more than $25 million to more than 100 local nonprofits, playing a critical role in helping organizations sustain essential services for San Diego residents as federal funding shifts and pressures on the safety net persist.
“When the federal government pulls back, nonprofits help keep communities stable and strong, and this support helps them continue that work,” said Mark Stuart, President and CEO of San Diego Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to our local donors whose generosity to the Unity Fund ensures critical services remain available for San Diegans who need them most. Their charitable giving is a powerful investment in the resilience and well-being of our region.”
One of those nonprofits is Monarch School Project, which will receive $200,000 to help keep year-round education, health and basic-needs services in place for unhoused students and their families, including housing support and trauma-informed mental health care through January 2027.
“This investment ensures Monarch can address the immediate needs of our unhoused students and families while sustaining their long-term stability and healing at a moment when our community needs it most,” said Debra Molyneux, Interim President & CEO, Monarch School Project.
Another grantee is Interfaith Community Services, which will use a $100,000 grant to respond quickly to urgent housing and food needs through its community response fund, providing more than 200,000 meals and helping prevent homelessness for over 3,000 community members in the coming year.
“Interfaith Community Services’ People for People Fund was established to strengthen critical safety net services for our neighbors in need, especially during these uncertain times,” said Greg Angela, Chief Executive Officer of Interfaith Community Services.
This round of grantees include the following San Diego organizations: California Hands & Voices; Casa Familiar; CSA San Diego County; Horn of Africa Community in North America; Hope Through Housing Foundation; Interfaith Community Services; International Rescue Committee in San Diego; Kind Hearts San Diego; La Maestra Family Clinic; MANA de San Diego; Meals on Wheels San Diego County; Monarch School Project; Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center; San Diego Habitat for Humanity; Think Dignity; UC San Diego Foundation – Student-Run Free Clinic Project; Vista Community Clinic; and Voices of Our City Choir.
Created in response to federal funding reductions impacting food, housing and healthcare programs, the San Diego Unity Fund is San Diego Foundation’s rapid response fund for local nonprofits.
