San Diego CA— The San Diego Foundation has announced the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund has received an $8 million gift from MacKenzie Scott, an author and Giving Pledge participant who was recently recognized as the wealthiest woman in the world.
This gift adds to more than 3,500 donations from individuals, businesses, foundations, government funding and donor-advised funds that have helped San Diegans in need since March. Combined with Scott’s gift, The San Diego Foundation has raised more than $64 million for the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund and local nonprofits to date.
MacKenzie Scott considered more than 6,400 nonprofits nationwide for funding. The 384 – or 6% — that received her support were selected through a rigorous, data-driven approach that valued strong leadership teams, results, and high potential for impact. Local affiliates for Goodwill, Meals on Wheels and YWCA were also recipients of Scott’s generosity.
“COVID-19 has put a spotlight not only on the underlying inequities in our communities, but also the organizations working to address the inequities of this crisis,” shared Mark Stuart, President & CEO of The San Diego Foundation. “We are so grateful for the gift from MacKenzie Scott and others who continue to provide hope and healing through contributions to the response fund that are so urgently needed.”
The Leadership Council for the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund meets regularly to identify and discuss community needs and make recommendations for rapid response grants to help those disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus. Since March, the fund has granted more than $54 million to hundreds of nonprofits through multiple rounds of grantmaking. With this latest influx of support, The San Diego Foundation plans to announce more grants for San Diego nonprofits this week.
Businesses, individuals and organizations can donate and find additional information about the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund at SDFoundation.org/COVID19.
The San Diego Foundation is part of a national movement of more than 600 community foundations that have mobilized more than $1 billion to aid in the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis through response funds. Individual donations are bolstered by San Diego corporations and numerous donor-advised funds at The San Diego Foundation.