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San Diego Resilient Response Fund

Urgent Support for Federal Funding and Policy Impacts

Applications are now closed. If additional funds become available, we will announce it through the Catalyst newsletter.

 

In times of rapid change, nonprofits need support they can count on. The San Diego Resilient Response Fund was created to provide timely, flexible funding for organizations navigating the impacts of shifting federal policies and funding.
This fund is a collective effort by local funders to meet the moment with practical support by helping nonprofits stay responsive, resilient, and connected to the communities they serve.

 

ABOUT THE FUND

The San Diego Resilient Response Fund offers short-term, timely support to nonprofit and community organizations facing challenges caused by changes in federal policy or funding. The goal is to provide flexible resources that help organizations adapt, respond, and remain resilient in a shifting landscape.

ROUND I GRANTEES

ArtReach will assess their internal operations and program delivery, clarify leadership roles, and design a structure that better supports their organizational sustainability.

BIPOC Support Foundation will engage a nonprofit attorney to strengthen their infrastructure and activate a new earned income strategy.

Comité Organizador Latino de City Heights will strengthen their organizational sustainability and support healing for leaders by providing stipends for leadership, leading trauma-informed healing sessions, and developing a sustainability plan.

Experience Nature Unplugged will work with a consultant to reframe their current offerings into a suite of branded employee wellness programs designed for corporate clients.

GLM Housing will work with a consultant to develop legally sound employment classifications, volunteer agreements, and shared housing risk policies.

Health Center Partners of Southern California will use this funding for immediate oganizational needs.

Healthy Day Partners will work with a consultant to build a long-term resilience and self-sufficiency model, including a tested earned-income model, a more resilient internal structure, and increased leadership capacity.

Interfaith will work with legal consultation to develop policies that will help them navigate recent changes to federal grant requirements, ensuring they are able to meet housing, food, and safety needs for vulnerable community members.

License to Freedom will launch a strategic response plan and build long-term organizational resilience by assessing their current funding model, identifying sustainable funding sources, and creating a roadmap to reduce reliance on federal support.

MACSD will use this funding for strategic response.

Mohuman will launch a San Diego pilot of the Collective Reflection Engine—a civic AI project using guided reflection to amplify community voice into a people-centered tech policy.

Monarch School Project will advance their scenario planning to protect their core services and create standardized three-year financial projections.

Ocean Discovery Institute will build a model that no longer depends on AmeriCorps, begin hiring teaching fellows, and work with a consultant to grow their donor base.

Our Genetic Legacy will transition from a grant-funded internship to a California state-registered apprenticeship program.

Paddle for Peace will work with a coach on partnership development and fund diversification, with special attention to safeguarding access for low-income and BIPOC youth.

ProduceGood will conduct strategic planning and professional development to build the capacity required to reach deeper into underserved neighborhoods.

San Diego Civic Youth Ballet will work with consultants to enhance their fundraising strategies, perform staff and board trainings, and guide their initiatives to build a stronger culture of philanthropy.

San Diego Solidarity Network will deepen their coalition-building, storytelling, and advocacy around their Emergency Declaration to support creating shared leadership, attract sustained investment, and formalize their infrastructure.

San Diego Youth Services will work with a consultant to launch a strategic initiative to build long-term sustainability by leveraging existing properties and developing a plan to acquire additional housing assets.

San Diego Youth Symphony will use an external consultant to help them proactively rethink their operations, culminating in a newly streamlined operating plan.

Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) San Diego will use this funding for strategic response.

SCTCA will create a strategic plan and fundraising strategy that accounts for the termination of SCTCA’s Regional Innovation Engines award and a significant reduction in federal funding.

The New Children’s Museum will strengthen its internal infrastructure by partnering with external contractors to expand HR, finance, and operational capacity.

Townspeople will engage a financial strategist to help their executive and board leadership with scenario planning, long-term sustainability, and developing an investment framework.

Voices of Our City Choir will use this funding for immediate organizational needs.

Youth Empowerment will work with a consultant to assess the current funding landscape and build both a comprehensive development plan and long-term strategy for sustainable growth.

ROUND II GRANTEES

Aja Project will partner with a consultant to work on a strategic funding shift, including writing and submitting major grant proposals and setting up improved individual fundraising platforms.

A Reason To Survive (ARTS) will launch a focused three-month pivot plan with a consultant that will co-design long-term financial resilience by prioritizing high-impact philanthropic opportunities.

Fern Street Community Arts will engage consultants to support their two-phase advancement initiative, including urgent strategy/planning work and targeted implementation.

Harvey Family Foundation will build a scalable framework for future crises, convene community-based organizations to conduct an After Action Review (AAR), lead listening sessions, and facilitate a “Resilience Ethics Roundtable.”

TuYo Theatre will engage consultants to provide strategic fundraising guidance, technical tools, and leadership coaching, integrating donor development, grant readiness, board engagement, and long-term planning into a cohesive advancement strategy.

World Relief Southern California will develop a solid new strategic plan that identifies gaps and new opportunities in both their funding and programs.

FUNDING AREAS

Organizations may apply for funding in one of the following four categories:

  1. Event & Meeting Support:
    Up to $1,000 per group to support gatherings focused on collective action or community response to federal impacts.
  2. Immediate Organizational Needs:
    Up to $10,000 per organization for time-sensitive needs requiring outside expertise, such as legal, financial, HR, or cybersecurity support related to federal changes.
  3. Strategic Response:
    Up to $20,000 per organization to plan for mid or long-term strategy shifts made necessary by the impact of federal funding and policy shifts. This can include management training, leadership training, mentoring, coaching, planning, legal, or HR support, and other identified technical assistance and organizational capacity-building that supports a strategy shift and/or planning for future stability.
  4. Collaborative Response:
    Up to $30,000 per collaborative for efforts like shared services, mergers, long-term partnerships, or coalition building in response to federal shifts.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is eligible to apply?

Nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, tribal organizations, fiscally sponsored projects, and/or mutual aid groups located within and serving San Diego County that are experiencing impacts related to changes in federal funding or policy are eligible to apply. Collaboratives and coalitions may also apply for funding under the Collaborative Response category.

Eligibility Questions

  • Has your organization been impacted by federal funding or policy changes in the past six months?
  • Is your primary work in San Diego County? 
  • Does your mission and demonstrated work align with inclusive and equitable values and contribute to an effective social change ecosystem?
  • Are you able to clearly identify the need for capacity-building support and request funding within the eligible purpose of this grant?
  • Will funds be spent in six months or less?

What types of federal impacts qualify?

Eligible impacts may include—but are not limited to—loss of federal funding, increased demand due to policy changes, or organizational challenges created by shifting federal regulations. If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies, we encourage you to reach out before applying by doing one of the following:

  • Email your questions to Michele Silverthorn, Director of Collaboration & Strategic Initiatives 
  • Attend Zoom office hours on Tuesday, June 10 at 11:30 a.m.
  • Schedule a 15-minute conversation with Michele to get your questions answered

Can I apply for more than one funding category?

Yes. There is no limit to how many categories you can apply for, and if you are involved in more than one collaborative effort, you may consider applying separately for each distinct effort. 

What is the application process like?

The application is designed to be brief and straightforward. You’ll provide basic organizational details, a description of the federal impact, and a short explanation of how the funding will be used.

What are the evaluation criteria?

Applications will be reviewed and scored per the evaluation criteria by grant category by a 4-person peer review panel. Reviewers include:

An initial review will be conducted by Catalyst staff to ensure the eligibility criteria is met and that there are no conflicts of interest.

Applications scoring the maximum points for the grant category will be awarded a grant.

We will be evaluating:

  • Grant amount
  • Description of issue
  • Description of project and anticipated outcomes/goals
  • Anticipated expenses
  • Timeline

Applications will be scored as:

  • Inadequate: Information not provided
  • Developing: Lacks sufficient information
  • Good: Complete but lacks a thorough description
  • Excellent: Well-conceived and throughly developed

How quickly are funding decisions made?

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with decisions typically made within 2–3 weeks of submission. We aim to move quickly so organizations can respond effectively to urgent needs. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, elevating priority review for 501c3’s with organizational budgets under $500K budget, tribal groups, fiscally sponsored projects under a $500K budget, and mutual aid/community groups.

When are applications due?

Submit your application at any time – grant review and awards will continue on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.

How many awards will be given?

Grant review and awards will continue until funds are exhausted. As of 6/4/25, the total available is $275,000.

Can fiscally sponsored organizations apply?

Yes. Fiscally sponsored organizations are welcome to apply, provided they meet the other eligibility criteria.

Where can I apply or learn more?

Applications are currently closed. If additional funds become available, we will announce it through the Catalyst newsletter.

CONTACT US

For any questions related to qualifications and applying to the San Diego Resilient Response Fund, or to support the fund, please email: