San Diego Gives is a fundraising program for San Diego-based nonprofits. This year activities kick off Saturday, July 16, with countywide birthday party celebrations taking place at supporting businesses throughout the county.
The San Diego Gives campaign chose to launch the campaign in honor of San Diego’s birthday, July 16, the day San Diego was established as a city (July 16, 1769). Money raised at the birthday parties will go into the “Love Them All” fund, evenly split among all participating San Diego nonprofits. The following day, San Diegans can make donations through the end of September 8 for their favorite charities. The campaign culminates with its day-of-giving on Thursday, September 8, 2022.
This year, 327 organizations have signed on to participate in the fundraising campaign, 30 percent above organizer’s goal of 250 nonprofits. Only in its second year, the campaign more than doubled nonprofit participants; 120 organizations participated in the program’s inaugural year.
On Saturday, July 16, fundraising parties will be taking place throughout the county, including:
Ale Smith Brewing Company
Miramar: 9990 AleSmith Court
All day – proceeds of the sale of the San Diego Gives beer, called "Drink Local, Give Local," will go to the campaign
2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Birthday party celebration
Cute Cakes
Escondido: 345 W Grand Avenue
All day – 15% of proceeds will go to the campaign (patrons need to bring in a fundraising flier)
Kendra Scott Stores
Westfield UTC: 4309 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 2330 and Westfield Fashion Valley: 7007 Friars Road, Suite 542
All day – 20% of proceeds will go to the campaign
Local Roots Kombucha
Vista: 1430 Vantage Court, Suite 101
All day – proceeds of the sale of one of their featured hard kombucha flavors will go to the campaign
2:00 to 4:00 p.m. –Birthday party celebration
Sammy’s
- Del Mar: 12925 El Camino Real
- La Jolla: 702 Pearl Street
- La Mesa: 8555 Fletcher Parkway
- Mission Valley: 1620 Camino de la Reina
- San Marcos: 121 S. Las Posas Road
- Scripps Ranch: 10785 Scripps Poway Parkway
All day – 20% of proceeds will go to the campaign (patrons need to bring in a campaign flier)
1:00 to 3:00 p.m. – Birthday party celebration (La Mesa and Mission Valley)
San Diego Padres (downtown), PETCO Park
5:40 p.m. – kiosk at the game on the concourse
“What better day than San Diego’s birthday to celebrate San Diego’s best nonprofits,” said Lauren Welch, Development Director of Urban Corps of San Diego County, and founder of San Diego Gives. “We’re thrilled with the response – both interest from San Diego charities, but also support from local businesses. Our goal is to educate the San Diego community about addressing the pressing needs of our region and help local nonprofits raise money from new donors.”
San Diego Gives thoroughly vetted 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.