SoCalGas

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OVERVIEW:  This corporate funder supports education, workforce development, the environment, active military, veterans, emergency preparedness, safety, economic and business development efforts in Southern California.

IP TAKE: SoCalGas’s corporate giving program broadly supports communities in its SoCal service areas but only accepts applications for its scholarship program and its Climate Champions grant initiative. If you are seeking support in another area, you will likely need to network with local management. Unfortunately, this is not the most approachable funder; it does not provide a direct avenue for getting in touch with its community engagement programs.

PROFILE: SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy company based in San Diego. Its corporate grantmaking mission is “to provide triple-win grants focused on advancing SoCalGas’ mission, meeting community needs and closing inequities.” Grantmaking areas of interest include Encouraging Emergency Preparedness & Safety; Protecting and Preserving the Environment; Promoting Stem & Energy Education; Supporting Active Military & Veterans, and Homelessess; and Fostering Economic Prosperity. SoCalGas also awards scholarships to students from its service area pursuing full-time undergraduate study at two- and four-year college and universities.

Grants for Community Development and Disaster Relief

SoCalGas’s grantmaking and engagement for Emergency Preparedness & Safety aims to “educate and inform our communities about emergency preparedness and natural gas safety.” The program page features multiple links to informational resources about natural gas safety. Grantmaking appears to focus on large organizations and public agencies that respond to disasters and emergencies. Recipients include the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Los Angeles Police Foundation and the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles. SoCalGas has also supported Southern Rehabilitation Services, which utilized funding to create a “disaster preparedness mobile app for the underserved disability community.”

Grants for the Environment, Climate Change and Clean Energy

The Protecting and Preserving the Environment focus area works to “promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean natural gas and innovation.” The program also prioritizes the environment and articulates commitment to “important causes, such as urban greening, beach cleanups and clean air initiatives.” The grantmaking arm of this focus area, the SoCal Climate Champions Grant Initiative, supports “climate solution projects” for reducing and capturing greenhouse gasses, reducing air pollution and managing organic waste in the communities served by SoCalGas. Grants have been awarded in amounts of up to $50,000.

Past grantees include LA Compost, a tree-planting initiative by Amigos de los Rios and San Diego State University’s Farms of the Future project.

Grants for STEM Education

Promoting Stem & Energy Education is another major area of engagement for this corporate funder. Giving for STEM education aims to “improve and support educational opportunities in our communities.” Specific areas of interest include “motivating students to be prepared for higher education, promoting technology-based learning and encouraging success in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).” Grantees include the Girls Scouts of San Gorgonio and the Southeast Community Development Corporation, which received a grant to help establish a makerspace at the Bell Technology Center.

SoCalGas also awards scholarships program for students from its service areas who are pursuing full-time studies in “eligible majors” relating to science, technology, engineering, math, finance or accounting. Scholarships do not, however support study in “medical-related fields.” Applicants should have an average of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate financial need. Guidelines and application links are provided on the scholarship program page.

Grants for Veterans, Military, Housing and Homelessness

Grantmaking and engagement for Active Military, Veterans and Homelessness focuses on “career guidance” for veterans and “housing and supportive services solutions” for homeless veterans and others. SoCalGas also articulates a strong commitment to “hiring and retaining military veterans, veterans with disabilities and active military personnel.”

Grantee partners of this program include Goodwill Orange County, Los Angeles Family Housing, Covenant House California and the Foundation for Women Warriors, which received a grant for its Warrior and Housing Assistance Program.

Grants for Work and Opportunity

The Fostering Economic Prosperity focus area consists mainly of SoCalGas’s “efforts to train the workforce for sustainable employment and assist small business thrive.” The program does not name specific goals for its engagements in this area, but its grantee partners include the Los Angeles Urban League’s Construction Career Academy, the Youth Action Project’s vocational training programs and the Restaurant Resilience Fund.

Important Grant Details:

SoCalGas’s corporate philanthropy is not conducted through a registered charitable entity. It is, therefore, difficult to discern grant amounts for this funder.

  • SoCalGas tends to support large and well-known organizations in its Southern California service areas.

  • Information about grantee partners can be found on each focus area page.

  • This funder accepts applications only for its SoCal Climate Champions Grant program and its scholarships. Check program pages for updated information about eligibility and due dates.

SoCalGas does not provide a direct way of getting in touch with its community engagement programs. However, general contact information is provided on the company’s contact page.

PEOPLE:

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