San Diego County Bar Foundation
The San Diego County Bar Foundation (SDCBF) is the charitable arm of the San Diego County Bar Association. Established in 1979, it funds nonprofit organizations providing legal services and promoting access to justice for people and communities affected by poverty, abuse, and discrimination. Its stated geographic scope is San Diego County; its 2024 grants went to recipients in California and Illinois.
San Diego County Bar Foundation at a glance
In short: San Diego County Bar Foundation gave $476K across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), mostly in California. 19% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $476,000
- +22.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- +23.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $18,308
- -0.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $12,500
- Total assets
- $1,300,269
- -16.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (5 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to San Diego County Bar Foundation
- Review Cycle
- General Grant Fund applications are due August 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
- Deadline
- General Grant Fund applications are due August 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4747 N First St 140, Fresno, CA 93726
Phone: (559) 228-6140
Website: https://sdcbf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who San Diego County Bar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Center for Employment Opp ($80K). Together the top 10 received $323K.
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 106 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
SDCBF states that its grantmaking serves San Diego County. The 2024 grant dollars went primarily to California recipients (98%), with 2% going to Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is San Diego County Bar Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 26 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $13K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $366K (2021) to $476K (2024). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $476K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Employment Opp San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $80,000 |
| Natl Conflict Resolution Ctr San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $50,000 |
| Think Dignity San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $50,000 |
| Father Joes Village San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $45,000 |
| Uprise Theatre San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $25,000 |
| CA Western School of Law San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $15,000 |
| License to Freedom El Cajon, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $15,000 |
| Radys Childrens Hospital San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $15,000 |
| Survivors of Torture Intl San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $15,000 |
| Alliance for African Assist San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $12,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,300,269 | $287,360 | $645,944 | $476,000 | 26 | $40,708 |
| 2023 | $1,560,473 | $250,965 | $548,730 | $387,500 | 21 | $58,721 |
| 2022 | $1,718,574 | $894,149 | $596,465 | $426,000 | 21 | $33,922 |
| 2021 | $1,641,251 | $790,620 | $501,968 | $366,150 | 19 | $42,363 |
| 2020 | $1,209,579 | $377,981 | $525,112 | $366,700 | 19 | $110,911 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
SDCBF’s mission is to provide access to justice by investing in sustainable results and advocacy for people and communities in its region affected by poverty, abuse, and discrimination. Its grants support legal services, improvements to the administration of justice and the San Diego court system, and public understanding of the law. It also funds education about legal processes, rights, and responsibilities for children and adults.
The Foundation supports legal aid and public interest organizations. For example, Think Dignity describes its mission as advancing basic dignity for people living on the streets. License to Freedom says it promotes nonviolence through education, self-sufficiency, and advocacy for refugee and immigrant survivors of domestic and relationship abuse. Other 2024 recipients include Pathways to Citizenship, which says it provides legal immigration help and services; Elder Law & Advocacy, which says it protects seniors through legal advice and advocacy; and Voices for Children, which says it provides court-appointed special advocates for abused children.
Grantmaking
In 2024, SDCBF awarded 26 grants totaling $476,000. Grants ranged from $7,500 to $80,000, with a median award of $12,500. The largest awards included $80,000 to Center for Employment Opportunities, $50,000 each to National Conflict Resolution Center and Think Dignity, and $45,000 to Father Joe’s Village. The filing lists the purpose of these grants as providing legal services to underserved people.
The General Grant Fund supports startup projects and ongoing program support, including work to expand legal services, improve the administration of justice, and promote public understanding of the law. SDCBF also describes an Indigent Criminal Defense Fund supporting programs and projects that provide defense for people who cannot afford an attorney.
First-time applicants, including organizations that have applied but never received funding, are required to discuss the application with the Foundation before submitting it. Applications are submitted through the grant portal; applicants can save drafts and return to them. The Foundation says it reviews each application and organization before awarding a grant.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Shannon Stein as president and Anne Beaumont as vice president. Directors listed are Deborah Dixon, Gail King, Pat Swan, Whitney Blackhurst, Elidia Dostal, Brian Funk, Lana Manganiello, and Suzy Marinkovich.
San Diego County Bar Foundation is led by Shannon Stein, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 25 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Shannon Stein
President
Director → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alana McMains
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alejandro Moreno
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Schouten
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Funk
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Dixon
Director
Vice President → President, 2023
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gail King
Director
CFO → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kyle Over
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pat Swan Jr.
Director
Vice President → President, 2022
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzy Marinkovich
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Villasenor
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lana Manganiello
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cassandra Thorson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Devra Davis
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elidia Dostal
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Witzmann
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Reynolds
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Whitney Blackhurst
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Morgan
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elida Dostal
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Lees
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Gediman
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne Beaumont
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ruth Spillane
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Schindler
CFO
Director → CFO, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: James Crosby (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Yvonne Ricardo (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Genevieve Sauter (2023) — Director
- Former: Arleen Haeggquist (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Diana Khoury (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Genevieve Ruch (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Holly Amaya (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Oleg Cross (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lutfi Kharuf (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Allen Synder (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Emily Crowley (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Gayle Blatt (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kathryn Fox (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Neal Rockwood (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lutfi Cheesebro (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about San Diego County Bar Foundation
How much does San Diego County Bar Foundation give each year?
San Diego County Bar Foundation gave $476K across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $388K across 21 grants.
What is San Diego County Bar Foundation's typical grant size?
San Diego County Bar Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $12,500, and its average grant was $18,308, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from San Diego County Bar Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does San Diego County Bar Foundation give grants?
San Diego County Bar Foundation gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (21 grants).
Does San Diego County Bar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on San Diego County Bar Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Provide legal svcs to underserved" (26 grants).
Who are San Diego County Bar Foundation's largest grantees?
San Diego County Bar Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Center for Employment Opp ($80,000), Natl Conflict Resolution Ctr ($50,000) and Think Dignity ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is San Diego County Bar Foundation?
San Diego County Bar Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $287K.
What does San Diego County Bar Foundation fund?
SDCBF’s mission is to provide access to justice by investing in sustainable results and advocacy for people and communities in its region affected by poverty, abuse, and discrimination. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from San Diego County Bar Foundation?
San Diego County Bar Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check sdcbf.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is San Diego County Bar Foundation's EIN?
San Diego County Bar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3366651. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in San Diego County Bar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). San Diego County Bar Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/san-diego-county-bar-foundation-morg_91c2ee8f25144f36b62a2a79aac14e94
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_953366651_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{San Diego County Bar Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/san-diego-county-bar-foundation-morg_91c2ee8f25144f36b62a2a79aac14e94},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from San Diego County Bar Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
San Diego County Bar Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?