San Diego County Salute to Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Diego, California, designated as tax-exempt since May 1998. The organization administers a corporate-sponsored scholarship program dedicated to supporting high school seniors in San Diego County who plan to pursue higher education at vocational/technical schools, junior colleges, or universities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$58K
+39.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$239K
-8.3% YoY
Grant Count
138
-8.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+0.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, San Diego County Salute to Education reported a distributable amount of $2K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization's primary purpose is to encourage students to continue their education beyond high school. The program focuses on providing financial assistance to high school seniors based on academic accomplishments, personal achievements, contributions to community and school, personal challenges, financial need, and overall character.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The program serves San Diego County, California exclusively. San Diego County is the only area in California participating in this scholarship program.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Reporting Year (2023):
- Total Assets: $41,419
- Total Revenue: $312,283
- Total Expenses: $339,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $260,309
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $57,902 | $41,419 | $61,751 |
| Revenue | $284,416 | $312,283 | $266,734 |
| Expenses | $318,622 | $339,172 | $261,386 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $238,664 | $260,309 | $180,791 |
| Net Investment Income | $8 | $7 | $6 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,429 | $1,922 | $253 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Brooke Hannon Gallegos ($33,164), Avein Abbo ($1,500), Carolyn Ackerman ($1,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AVEIN ABBO SAN DIEGO, CA | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $1,500 |
| CAROLYN ACKERMAN SAN DIEGO, CA | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $1,500 |
| ALEXUS AGUIRRE ARIAS SAN DIEGO, CA | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $1,500 |
| PETER EMMANUEL AKINPELU SAN DIEGO, CA | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $1,500 |
| ISABELLA BAEZA ALDRETE SAN DIEGO, CA | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $1,500 |
| EVAN ALDRICH SAN DIEGO, CA | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $1,500 |
| SADAF AMIRI SAN DIEGO, CA | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $1,500 |
| BROOKE AMOS SAN DIEGO, CA | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $1,500 |
| SUMEYA AWEYS SAN DIEGO, CA | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $1,500 |
| DAVID BADESCU SAN DIEGO, CA | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $1,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL DYKE | PRESIDENT/CEO | — | — |
| JASON MOSSY | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| JOHN MCCALLAN | SECRETARY | — | — |
| MARK WHEELER | TREASURER AND CFO | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does San Diego County Salute to Education fund?
The organization's primary purpose is to encourage students to continue their education beyond high school. The program focuses on providing financial assistance to high school seniors based on academic accomplishments, personal achievements, contributions to community and school, personal challenges, financial need, and overall character.
How do I apply for a grant from San Diego County Salute to Education?
**Scholarship Awards:** • Individual scholarships range from $1,000 to $1,500 • Over the past 28 years, the program has awarded $5.3 million in total scholarships to approximately 4,900 San Diego County high school seniors • In addition to scholarships, 34 scholarship recipients have also received new Ford vehicles **Selection Process:** • Recipients are selected in March by an advisory council comprising San Diego County Salute to Education Advisory Council participants, educators, and communi…
Where does San Diego County Salute to Education make grants?
The program serves San Diego County, California exclusively. San Diego County is the only area in California participating in this scholarship program.
What size grants does San Diego County Salute to Education award?
In 2024, San Diego County Salute to Education awarded 138 grants totaling $239K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is San Diego County Salute to Education required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, San Diego County Salute to Education reported a distributable amount of $2K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is San Diego County Salute to Education's EIN?
San Diego County Salute to Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0773691. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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