What We Do

San Diego Grantmakers (SDG) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership association of individuals and organizations that carry out $25,000 or more annually of charitable giving.  SDG enhances the good work of its grantmaking members by providing the following key services:

  • Connect grantmakers to each other
  • Connect grantmakers to knowledge and best practices
  • Facilitate collaboration among funders and across sectors
  • Ensure that organized philanthropy and members’ work are appropriately visible with key leaders
  • Leverage local philanthropy to help bring more resources to our region

To date, SDG's membership includes nearly 100 private foundations, corporate giving programs, public charities, giving circles and government funders.  Read on for a better description of these services or read more about specific member benefits here.

Networking & Collaboration

Networking Opportunities:

SDG's events, educational programs, and listservs provide unique opportunities for members to interact and share knowledge with other grantmakers.

Collaborations:

SDG facilitates collaborative efforts among its members based on similar funding interests.  Together, members can collectively learn about issues and leverage their resources to fund effective and innovative projects.  These collaborations may also extend across sectors to include non-grantmaker stakeholders.  Current SDG member collaborations and working groups include:

Information & Communications

SDG keeps members informed of developing local and national issues in the nonprofit sector as well as emerging trends in grantmaking through:

Programs and Events 

SDG offers a wide spectrum of programs and events to help members build grantmaking skills, connect with colleagues, and learn about important issues. Programs are tailored to:
  • Best Practices and Skill Development
  • What to Fund (Issue-Specific)
  • Type of Grantmaker
    • Corporate Giving
    • Private/Independent Foundation
    • Family Foundation
    • Community Foundation
  • Distinguished Speakers

SDG Annual Conference

Each year, grantmakers from foundations, corporate giving programs, giving circles, donor-advised funds, public charities, and government funders throughout San Diego County and beyond convene at the SDG Annual Conference to learn about the latest philanthropic trends, topics and best practices, share information about their own grantmaking, and network with other grantmakers who share similar funding interests.

Other Services

San Diego Grantmakers provides these additional valuable services to its members:

Support for Philanthropy

SDG is a leading convener and resource for organized philanthropy in the San Diego region.  SDG serves as a local advocate for philanthropy, and through its affiliation with the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers as well as its own collaborations with other grantmaker organizations, SDG helps present a unified voice for philanthropy at the state and federal levels.