Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties

Catalyst facilitates grantmaking through pooled funds and issue-driven collaboratives, and manages grantmaking for member collaboratives and organizations seeking customized support. Its 2024 filing lists 38 grants totaling $1,087,314. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $190,000, with a median of $10,000. Grant updates are monitored through written and verbal reports from grantees to Catalyst staff, and are also provided to pooled-fund contributors.

Among the largest 2024 grants were $190,000 each to Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest and Refugee Assistance Center, both for unrestricted support; $100,000 each to ElderHelp of San Diego and Jewish Family Service of San Diego, also unrestricted; and $55,000 to Women of Color Roar Media, unrestricted. Other listed awards included $50,000 to Collective Freedom through the Nancy Jamison Fund for Social Justice, $35,000 to Global Policy Leadership Academy and $25,000 to Lived Experience Advisors to support advocacy related to homelessness, and $20,000 each to Harvey Family Foundation and Jackie Robinson Family YMCA for community response to the January 2024 storms and floods.

The San Diego Resilient Response Fund is currently open and offers short-term support for nonprofit and community organizations facing challenges caused by changes in federal policy or funding. Its stated funding categories include event and meeting support of up to $1,000 per group and immediate organizational needs of up to $10,000 per organization. Applications may be submitted at any time, with review and awards continuing on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.

The Sustained Support Fund provides short-term, zero-interest recoverable grants to eligible nonprofits, fiscally sponsored organizations, tribal organizations, and tribal governments awaiting committed funding. Grants are flexible in size, up to $100,000, and are repayable upon receipt of the committed funds or within 90 days.