Chula Vista Charitable Foundation

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OVERVIEW: The Chula Vista Charitable Foundation supports a broad range of community needs and interests in Chula Vista.

IP TAKE: The Chula Vista Charitable Foundation is a regional affiliate of the San Diego Foundation. Each year, its members choose a grantmaking theme, invite proposals and vote on grantees. This funder mainly supports small- and medium-sized organizations that have a strong impact on the Chula Vista community. Keep up with new grant cycles and themes by signing up for news at the bottom of the foundation’s webpage or by following its Facebook page.

PROFILE: Established in 2008, the Chula Vista Charitable Foundation (CVCF) is a community foundation based in Chula Vista, California. CVCF is a regional affiliate of the San Diego Foundation. This funder’s purpose is “to increase charitable giving by and for the benefit of all Chula Vistans, build a community endowment to annually fund local organizations and causes, and give community members a vehicle for legacy planning that will benefit Chula Vista, now and forever.” Members of this foundation chose an annual grantmaking focus area, and “[n]onprofit organizations that are addressing the needs of Chula Vista’s citizens are invited to apply for a grant.” Members then meet to chose which organizations receive funding. Recent areas of focus have included “projects and programs that make the biggest impact in the lives of people who live, work and play within the geographic boundaries of Chula Vista”and “projects that address the needs of children and families in Chula Vista.” While the specific focus of its giving may change from year to year, grants generally support community needs and interests including community development, education, youth, housing, the environment and more.

Grants for Community Development, Work and Opportunity

CVCF’s grants support a wide variety of organizations involved in community and economic development of Chula Vista. Past grants have supported organizations including the South County Economic Development Council, the South Bay YMCA, the Chula Vista Public Library and Accessity, which aims to “open doors of financial opportunity, primarily to entrepreneurs of color, women, and immigrant entrepreneurs so they can build prosperous businesses and livelihoods for themselves and their families, while also strengthening our communities.”

Grants for K-12 Education and Youth Development

Over the years, many of CVCF’s grants have gone to local initiatives for K-12 education and youth development, often focusing on underserved or vulnerable children and teens. Grantees include Just In Time for Foster Youth, Outdoor Outreach, Voices for Children and the San Diego Youth Symphony, among others.

Grants for Housing, Homelessness and Food Systems

Homelessness and hunger appear to priorities for this funder. Past grants have gone to local organizations including Feeding San Diego, Mama’s Kitchen, Meals on Wheels and Gate Way Solutions, which runs homelessness prevention programs for vulnerable individuals and families.

Grants for Public Health and Mental Health

CVCF’s annual giving usually includes grantees working in the areas of health and/or mental health, although the specific focus of this giving may change from year to year. Recipients include the Burn Institute of San Diego, the George Glenner Alzheimer’s Center and We Support U, which runs free cancer screening programs as well as support services for cancer patients and their families.

Grants for the Environment, Animals and Wildlife

This funder’s giving has supported some local efforts for environmental conservation and the welfare of animals and wildlife. Grantees include the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Audubon Society and the Living Coast Discovery Center.

Important Grant Details:

CVCF’s grants range from $5,000 to $40,000.

  • Grantmaking focuses on the city of Chula Vista but frequently extends to organizations based in nearby San Diego.

  • Grantees tend to be small- and medium-sized organizations that have a large impact on the Chula Vista community.

  • The members of this foundation name a grantmaking theme each year and vote on awards.

  • Keep up with the latest opportunities at the organization’s webpage, Facebook page or by signing up for news at the bottom of the foundation’s webpage.

  • Information about past grantees is available here.

Contact the Chula Vista Charitable Foundation via the San Diego Foundation’s regional affiliates manager, Michael Oliveri, at moliveri@sdfoundation.org or by telephone at (619) 791-1773.

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