San Diego County Bar Foundation
The San Diego County Bar Foundation (SDCBF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity established in 1979 as the charitable arm of the San Diego County Bar Association. Based in Fresno, California, the Foundation serves as the vehicle through which the San Diego legal community engages in law-related philanthropy to advance access to justice in San Diego County.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.3M
-16.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$476K
+22.8% YoY
Grant Count
26
+23.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-0.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The San Diego County Bar Foundation strives to provide access to justice by investing in sustainable results and advocacy for people and communities impacted by poverty, abuse, and discrimination. The Foundation assists victims of poverty, abuse, and discrimination by granting funds to organizations that provide legal services and promote public understanding of the legal system.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Delivery of legal services to underserved populations
- Improving the administration of justice
- Promoting public understanding of the law
- Supporting non-profit organizations serving those affected by poverty, abuse, and discrimination
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation focuses exclusively on San Diego County, California. Grants support non-profit organizations providing services within San Diego County.
Community Context:
- Nearly 1 in 10 San Diegans live under the poverty line
- San Diego has the 9th highest immigrant population in the United States
- More than 16,000 San Diego County children are unhoused
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $1,560,473
- Total Revenues: $250,965
- Total Expenses: $548,730
- Number of Employees: 0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,300,269
- Total Giving: $486,680
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,300,269 | $1,560,473 | $1,718,574 |
| Revenue | $287,360 | $250,965 | $894,149 |
| Expenses | $645,944 | $548,730 | $596,465 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $40,708 | $58,721 | $33,922 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from San Diego County Bar Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Center for Employment Opp ($80,000), Natl Conflict Resolution Ctr ($50,000), Think Dignity ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABA Fund for Justice and Ed Chicago, IL | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $7,500 |
| Alliance for African Assist San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $12,500 |
| CA Rural Legal Assistance Modesto, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $12,500 |
| CA Western School of Law San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $15,000 |
| Casa Cornelia Law Ctr San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $12,500 |
| Catholic Charities SD San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $7,500 |
| Center for Comm Solutions San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $7,500 |
| Center for Employment Opp San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $80,000 |
| Elder Law & Advocacy San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $11,000 |
| Father Joes Village San Diego, CA | Provide legal svcs to underserved | $45,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Past Presidents:
- 2024: Shannon Stein
- 2023: Deborah Dixon
- 2022: Pat Swan
- 2021: Alreen Haeggquist
- 2020: Gayle Blatt
- 2019: Monica Sherman
- 2018: Neal Rockwood
- 2017: Micaela Banach
- 2016: Brent Douglas
- 2015: Brian Funk
- 2014: Matthew Luxton
- 2013: James Gilpin
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deborah Dixon | Director | 1 | — |
| Shannon Stein | President | 1 | — |
| Gail King | Director | 1 | — |
| Anne Beaumont | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Pat Swan | Director | 1 | — |
| Whitney Blackhurst | Director | 1 | — |
| Elidia Dostal | Director | 1 | — |
| Brian Funk | Director | 1 | — |
| Lana Manganiello | Director | 1 | — |
| Suzy Marinkovich | Director | 1 | — |
| Alana McMains | Director | 1 | — |
| Alejandro Moreno | Director | 1 | — |
| Kyle Over | Director | 1 | — |
| Stephanie Reynolds | Director | 1 | — |
| Andrew Schouten | Director | 1 | — |
| Scott Schindler | CFO | 1 | — |
| Ruth Spillane | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Joe Villasenor | Director | 1 | — |
| Cassandra Thorson | Director | 1 | — |
| Justin Witzmann | Director | 1 | — |
| Devra Davis | Director | 1 | — |
| Elida Dostal | Director | 1 | — |
| Sara Gediman | Director | 1 | — |
| Jessica Lees | Director | 1 | — |
| Christina Morgan | Director | 1 | — |
| Cassandra Thorson | Director | 1 | — |
| Joe Villasenor | Director | 1 | — |
| Justin Witzmann | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation maintains active grantmaking operations with annual grant distributions to local nonprofits. The organization continues to serve as a leader in bar foundation philanthropy and a model for bar foundations nationwide. The Foundation emphasizes its commitment to supporting justice and equity within the San Diego community and invites engagement through personal donations, law firm involvement, and sponsorship of flagship events such as "An Evening in La Jolla."
SAN DIEGO COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION 2021 GRANT AWARDSFrequently Asked Questions
What does San Diego County Bar Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The San Diego County Bar Foundation strives to provide access to justice by investing in sustainable results and advocacy for people and communities impacted by poverty, abuse, and discrimination. The Foundation assists victims of poverty, abuse, and discrimination by granting funds to organizations that provide legal services and promote public understanding of the legal system. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Delivery of legal services to underserved populations • Improving the admini…
How do I apply for a grant from San Diego County Bar Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Since 1979, the Foundation has awarded over 250 grants totaling over $6.4 million • Supported over 70 non-profit organizations • Typical grant awards range from $7,500 to $80,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Think Dignity: $50,000 (Provide Legal Services to Underserved) • Uprise Theatre: $26,500 (Provide Legal Services to Underserved) • Elder Law and Advocacy (ELA): $11,000 (Provide Legal Services to Underserved) **Recent Grant Announcements:** • 2023: Distributed grants to…
Where does San Diego County Bar Foundation make grants?
The Foundation focuses exclusively on San Diego County, California. Grants support non-profit organizations providing services within San Diego County. **Community Context:** • Nearly 1 in 10 San Diegans live under the poverty line • San Diego has the 9th highest immigrant population in the United States • More than 16,000 San Diego County children are unhoused
What size grants does San Diego County Bar Foundation award?
In 2024, San Diego County Bar Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $476K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
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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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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