San Diego Gives is a six-month capacity building program for San Diego-based nonprofits that culminates in a 24-hour online fundraiser – Thursday, September 8, 2022. It educates the San Diego community about addressing the pressing needs of our region. Early Bird Registration for nonprofit organizations is now open and available through March 31 with regular registration April1 through May 31, 2022.

The San Diego Gives campaign raises much-needed funds directly for hundreds of nonprofits and shines a light on their tremendous impact throughout our community. Last year, 120 organizations participated (see the full list) in the program’s inaugural year.

Registration fees for nonprofits are based on a sliding scale according to the organization’s annual budget, $25-$100. A selection panel will confirm eligible 501(c)(3) organizations’ efforts support the San Diego community.

For 2022, San Diego Gives has some BIG goals:

  • Raise at least $2 million for participating nonprofits.
  • Engage a minimum of 4,000 donors, with at least 40% of these new givers.
  • Expand the campaign to include at least 250 organizations.
  • At least 75% of donors will report that the campaign positively affected their giving.
  • At least 75% of participating nonprofits will report increased learning in areas of fundraising and marketing by the end of the campaign.
  • Inform about local needs and nonprofit responses through bi-weekly stories of impact on the San Diego Gives website and/or on social media platforms. The campaign is committed to sharing at least 50 stories throughout the campaign.
  • Provide 20+ unique nonprofit and donor learning opportunities through San Diego Gives University.

“Our goals are to build the overall capacity of our nonprofit sector and to create a movement of local giving,” said Lauren Welch, Development Director of Urban Corps of San Diego County, and founder of San Diego Gives. “When you make a donation, you will know that every dollar of your investment will stay local.”

San Diego Gives thoroughly vets every nonprofit to make sure they meet the following criteria:

  • Demonstrate a commitment to serving the greater San Diego area, responding to the needs of the community with a local-first approach, and making a tangible impact.
  • Represent a variety of populations and causes served by your programs and services, including but not limited to age, race, zip code, and diverse communities.
  • Commit to keeping all funds raised in the greater San Diego area and have a proven track record of fiscal responsibility.

Donors can choose to give to one or more nonprofits through the San Diego Gives platform. It is straightforward to learn about new organizations and their work. There are a diverse range of causes, from the arts, animal welfare, environmentalism, education, health, human services, equity, and social justice.

To learn more about San Diego Gives, visit www.SanDiegoGives.org.