The San Diego Foundation

Analysis

The San Diego Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in San Diego, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in August 1975, 51 years ago. Its declared purposes cover philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations, which this site groups under grant-making and general purposes. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending June 2023, The San Diego Foundation reported income of $268.7m and spending of $159.7m, leaving 41% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2019 to June 2023, income grew from $87.7m to $268.7m (+206%), an average of +32% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2020, when income rose by 68%. Over the whole period it spent 64% of the income it received.

Among 19,413 United States charities whose main cause is grant-making and general purposes and that reported income, The San Diego Foundation sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile, and in the 100th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Greater Cincinnati Foundation ($263.6m), Hawaii Community Foundation ($270.3m) and United Jewish Appeal Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Ny Inc ($262.2m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 76% and program service revenue 9.9% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $1.7m (1.1% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $9.0m. At year end it held assets of $1.45bn against liabilities of $154.9m, net assets of $1.29bn. It reported 104 employees.