San Diego County Salute to Education
San Diego County Salute to Education is a private foundation based in San Diego, California. Its corporate-sponsored scholarship program, funded by San Diego County Ford dealers and Ford Motor Company, with additional contributions from Global Team Blue and Zubi Advertising, encourages local high school seniors to continue their education after graduation.
San Diego County Salute to Education at a glance
In short: San Diego County Salute to Education gave $239K across 138 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $238,664
- -8.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 138
- -8.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,729
- +0.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $57,902
- +39.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to San Diego County Salute to Education
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for charitable contributions. Separately, eligible students could apply through the Salute to Education scholarship program. The 2025–2026 application cycle is past.
- Review Cycle
- The listed application deadline was February 13, 2026.
- Deadline
- The listed application deadline was February 13, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 19366, San Diego, CA 92159-0366
Phone: (619) 521-2404
Website: https://salutetoeducation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who San Diego County Salute to Education funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Brooke Hannon Gallegos ($33K).
Organizations only. It also paid 137 individual scholarships ($205,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
741 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 741 grants of 741 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The scholarship program serves eligible high school seniors who reside in San Diego County and attend an accredited public or private school there. All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 138 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How San Diego County Salute to Education gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $181K (2022) to $260K (2023). In 2024 it made 138 grants totaling $239K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brooke Hannon Gallegos San Diego, CA | Vehicle Donee | $33,164 |
| 49 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $73,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $57,902 | $284,416 | $318,622 | $238,664 | 138 | $238,664 | $8 | $2,429 |
| 2023 | $41,419 | $312,283 | $339,172 | $260,309 | 151 | $260,309 | $7 | $1,922 |
| 2022 | $61,751 | $266,734 | $261,386 | $180,791 | 150 | $180,791 | $6 | $253 |
| 2021 | $56,403 | $255,991 | $277,486 | $208,052 | 148 | $208,052 | $15 | $143 |
| 2020 | $77,898 | $226,202 | $238,746 | $183,091 | 154 | — | $18 | $141 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The program’s stated purpose is to encourage students to continue their education after high school through scholarships. Its website describes eligible study as including vocational or technical school, junior college, college, or university.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 138 grants totaling $238,664. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $33,164, with a median of $1,500. The largest listed grant went to an individual recipient for a vehicle; the other listed grants were $1,500 educational scholarships to individual recipients. These filing grants are separate from the scholarship application program described on the website.
The scholarship program is for students, not outside organizations seeking grants. For the 2025–2026 cycle, applicants had to be San Diego County residents, high school seniors attending an accredited public or private school in the county, and scheduled to graduate in the spring while intending to continue their education. Students with a full four-year scholarship were not eligible. The application form requested personal and academic information, and the timeline said a transcript must accompany the application.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Paul Dyke as president and CEO, Jason Mossy as vice president, John McCallan as secretary, and Mark Wheeler as treasurer and CFO.
San Diego County Salute to Education is led by Paul Dyke, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Paul Dyke
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jason Mossy
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Mark Wheeler
Treasurer & CFO
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
John McCallan
Secretary
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Perry Falk (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Scott Crowley (2020) — Vice President
- Former: Sean McCartney (2020) — Treasurer & CFO
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 Salute to Education
How much does San Diego County Salute to Education give each year?
San Diego County Salute to Education gave $239K across 138 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $260K across 151 grants.
What is San Diego County Salute to Education's typical grant size?
San Diego County Salute to Education's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $1,729, across 138 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does San Diego County Salute to Education give grants?
San Diego County Salute to Education gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does San Diego County Salute to Education give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 138 grants with a stated purpose on San Diego County Salute to Education's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational Scholarship" (137 grants).
How large is San Diego County Salute to Education?
San Diego County Salute to Education reported $58K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $239K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does San Diego County Salute to Education fund?
The program’s stated purpose is to encourage students to continue their education after high school through scholarships. Its website describes eligible study as including vocational or technical school, junior college, college, or university. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from San Diego County Salute to Education?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for charitable contributions. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does San Diego County Salute to Education accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from San Diego County Salute to Education'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.
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