2026 Binational Resilience Initiative Coastal/Marine and Water Grants is sponsored by San Diego Foundation. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Binational Resilience Initiative | San Diego Foundation Read in English Leer en Español Binational Resilience Initiative Helping our binational region adapt to the impacts of climate change by leveraging existing cross-border connectivity and resources Support our Environment & Climate The Binational Resilience Initiative has resulted in: Community-based organizations supported Coastal resilience grants with a youth focus Collaborative coastal resilience projects supported Grant Opportunity: Coastal/Marine & Water Resilience in the Cali-Baja Region The 2026 Binational Resilience Initiative (BRI) Coastal/Marine and Water Grants support binational projects that strengthen climate resilience across the Cali-Baja region, with a focus on coastal and marine ecosystems shared by San Diego County and northern Baja California and water resilience.

Each project must include at least one U.S. nonprofit and one Mexico-based nonprofit (or equivalent tax-exempt entity). The lead applicant must be a qualified nonprofit in either country. Communities in the Cali-Baja region share ecosystems, watersheds and coastlines.

The BRI Coastal/Marine Grants supports binational partnerships that advance research, collaboration and community-driven solutions to address climate impacts affecting our shared region. In San Diego and Tijuana, water treatment facilities have not been expanded at a pace that matches urban expansion.

The BRI Water Grants further advances a water resilience strategy that supports the health of our communities and helps sustain water resources for the future.

Eligible applicants: 501(c)(3) public charities or Mexican nonprofits ( donataria autorizada ) in good standing Up to $50,000 per year per organization Up to $100,000 per year per binational project (combined across partners) Grant term : Up to 12 months Application deadline: April 3, 2026 at 5:00 p. m. PDT Detailed information, including full eligibility requirements and application instructions, is available in the Grant Guidelines.

Grant Guidelines: English Grant Guidelines: Spanish Apply Now For questions, contact Yamilett Carrillo or Nancy Torres at environment@sdfoundation. org .

Building Cross-Border Resilience A partnership of San Diego Foundation and the International Community Foundation, the Binational Resilience Initiative places geographic focus on the Cali-Baja coastline region that spans from Oceanside in North San Diego County in the U.S. to Ensenada in Northern Baja California, Mexico.

This is the largest economic zone along the U.S.-Mexico border and generates a regional GDP of $250 billion, an estimated $70 billion in cross-border trade flows and more than 90 million people crossing the border each year. This initiative addresses our cross-border region’s climate vulnerabilities by empowering binational collaborations between civil organizations, scientists, community leaders and other stakeholders.

The Binational Resilience Initiative helps to: Improve Coastal Resilience Fund pilot green infrastructure projects like wetlands restoration to help the region weather the impacts of climate change such as coastal flooding and shoreline erosion Work with partners to innovate and reduce the presence of pollution in the binational lower Tijuana River watershed to create healthier oceans and waterways on both sides of the border Champion Local Leadership Strengthen binational, regional leadership by collaborating and making decisions with members of communities that are inequitably affected by climate change Conduct new research to expand the understanding of our binational coastal resilience needs, helping to inform and support better decision-making for community leaders and policymakers The Binational Resilience Initiative is a partnership of San Diego Foundation and International Community Foundation.

Funders for the initiative include The Builders Initiative and Alumbra Innovations Foundation, which together seeded the initiative with $1,975,000 in combined funding. Other project partners include Resilient Cities Catalyst and the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative housed at the Nonprofit Institute of the University of San Diego.

$650,000 Available for U.S. & Mexico Nonprofits to Tackle Tijuana River Pollution & Protect Coastal Communities How Philanthropy Is Powering the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders in Cali-Baja San Diego Foundation Awards $650K to Combat Pollution and Build Resilience in Tijuana River Watershed and Cali-Baja Coast Binational Resilience Initiative: Preserving Our Coastlines Through Environmental Justice and Collaboration Support our Climate & Environment With over 20 years’ experience as a nonprofit event producer and engagement strategist, A.

J. Steinberg, CFRE has worked on over 100 successful events and raised millions of dollars for organizations with her Los Angeles-based production company. A.

J. ’s team has produced almost every type of fundraising event, including intimate high net-worth donor gatherings, galas, festivals, and fashion shows. In 2015 A.

J. launched Queen Bee Fundraising to share the art and science of nonprofit event planning, sponsorship acquisition, and engagement strategies with organizations worldwide. She is a recognized topic expert and trainer, and presents on subjects such as nonprofit event planning, event sponsorships, committee and volunteer leadership, generational giving, fundraising, and guest engagement.

About Nathan Chappell, MBA, MNA, CFRE As a thought leader, public speaker, author and AI inventor, Nathan is one of the world’s foremost experts on the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and generosity.

His recently published award-winning book, The Generosity Crisis; the Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity’s Greatest Challenges has been dubbed as “Required reading for our generation of professionals in the nonprofit sector” by NonProfit Pro. Nathan serves as Chief AI Officer at Virtuous Software. In 2019, he founded Fundraising.

AI, an advocacy organization focused on the Responsible and Beneficial use of AI for the global fundraising community. He is co-host of the weekly Fundraising. AI podcast, one of the top nonprofit technology podcasts globally.

Nathan is regularly featured in publications such as Forbes, Fast Company, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, AFP Advance, AHP Journal, and Citibank Global among others. Nathan serves as an advisor for the OpenAI Users Forum, the AI for Good Foundation, the International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS), and the Forbes Technology Council.

He holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from University of Notre Dame, an MBA from University of Redlands, a certificate in International Economics from University of Cambridge, a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT, a certificate in Philanthropic Psychology from the Institute of Sustainable Philanthropy and is a certified fundraising executive (CFRE).

Mallory Erickson is the founder and CEO of Practivated, an executive coach, fundraising consultant, and host of the What the Fundraising podcast. She is dedicated to transforming the nonprofit sector by helping fundraisers move beyond transactional approaches to build lasting, mission-aligned partnerships.

Through her Power Partners Formula, Mallory has trained over 60,000 fundraisers, blending executive coaching, behavior design, and strategic fundraising. Her book, What the Fundraising, explores how shifting away from a scarcity mindset leads to greater impact and sustainability. At Practivated, which Mallory founded in 2024, she continues to drive innovation in fundraising through technology, coaching, and science-backed strategies.

If you’re ready to fundraise with confidence and alignment, Mallory’s work is for you. A fundraising and community-building professional for nearly 30 years, Mark Stuart has devoted his career to helping donors realize their hopes, dreams and aspirations. Since joining San Diego Foundation as President and CEO in May 2019, SDF has grown its assets to $1.

5 billion. Under Mark’s leadership, SDF raised and deployed $67 million for COVID-19 relief efforts and in its most recent fiscal year granted a record $150 million. Before joining SDF, Mark managed a staff of 64 and a budget of $14 million at San Diego Zoo Global (SDZG).

He led SDZG’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, raising $530 million. Mark serves on the Board of Directors for Certified Fundraising Executives International, the League of California Community Foundations, San Diego Regional Policy and Innovation Center and San Diego Symphony Foundation.

Allison Ohanian, CSPG serves as the Associate Vice President of Gift Planning and Donor Development at the University of Hawai’i Foundation. In this role, she assists donors interested in supporting charitable initiatives across the University of Hawai’i System and acts as a subject matter expert on complex giving vehicles, particularly those involving non-cash assets.

Passionate about education and empowerment, Allison is dedicated to helping individuals navigate the intricacies of gift and charitable planning. Before joining the University of Hawai’i Foundation, Allison held the position of Senior Director of Planned Giving and Estates at San Diego State University, bringing over 15 years of expertise to her current role.

She is a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving and holds a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from the University of San Diego. An active leader in her field, Allison is a past president of the San Diego Planned Giving Partnership and currently serves as a board member of the Hawaii Gift Planning Council.

Cesar Boc is a passionate fundraiser in the philanthropic space, a fearless leader, and a firm believer in healing and restorative justice for Latine communities. Cesar, a Guatemalan Mayan Kaqchikel immigrant, was raised in Long Island, New York, has deep roots in grassroots organizing and community lawyering, and is an avid learner of religious and holistic approaches to healing our communities.

Currently, Cesar serves as the Deputy Director of Organizational Giving at Hispanics in Philanthropy, a transnational nonprofit organization that advances Latine causes, where he leads the fundraising pipeline from private foundations. Previously, he managed fundraising at the Center for Migration Studies and Legal Outreach in New York.

He has organized immigrant workers in multiple states and is committed to empowering Latinx immigrant communities through fundraising and philanthropic spaces. Cesar obtained an MA in Human Rights and Theology from Boston College and a BA from St. John’s University.

Cesar is an avid soccer fan whose favorite team is FC Barcelona. He enjoys cooking, running, and walking his two dogs and is a self-proclaimed lover of literature. Hannah provides coaching and consulting derived from 20+ years of experience as a professional fundraiser, non-profit executive, campaign consultant and board member.

Hannah has proudly supported dozens of nonprofit organizations in raising more than $150M and counting. She specializes in major expansion campaigns, board recruitment and development, strategic development planning and executive coaching. In 2024, Hannah was named a Leader of Influence: Nonprofit & Philanthropy by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

When Hannah is not coaching and consulting, she serves the sector as a Certified Trainer for Fundraising Academy and volunteers with the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global IDEA committee and on the Board of Directors for her hometown AFP Chapter of Greater Los Angeles. Karen Boyd, Ph. D.

is an economist and the Director of Research at the San Diego Regional Policy and Innovation Center. In this role, she is responsible for developing, executing, and sharing actionable, equity-focused research on the region’s most pressing economic, social, and environmental problems.

She has published and presented research on artificial intelligence and the future of work in a variety of top-tier academic venues and was an editor for JASIST’s Special Issue on “Artificial Intelligence and Work. ” Karen earned her Ph. D.

from the University of Maryland, College Park (2020), where she studied ethics in the curation of training data for machine learning models. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan School of Information, studying the ethical implications of automated emotion recognition algorithms designed for use in the workplace.

She also has an MBA from the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego (2011) and a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. Priya Parker is helping us take a deeper look at how anyone can create collective meaning in modern life, one gathering at a time.

She is a facilitator, strategic advisor, acclaimed author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters , the executive producer and host of the New York Times podcast, Together Apart , and the host of The Art of Gathering Digital Course. Parker has spent 20 years helping leaders and communities have complicated conversations about community and identity and vision at moments of transition.

Trained in the field of conflict resolution, Parker has worked on race relations on American college campuses and on peace processes in the Arab world, southern Africa, and India. Parker is a founding member of the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network. She studied organizational design at M.

I. T. , public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and political and social thought at the University of Virginia.

Parker’s The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters (Riverhead, 2018) has been named a Best Business Book of the year by Amazon, Esquire Magazine, NPR, the Financial Times, 1-800-CEO-READS and Bloomberg. She has spoken on the TED Main Stage, and her TEDx talk on purpose has been viewed over 3 million times. Parker’s work has been featured in numerous outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, TED.

com, Forbes. com, Real Simple Magazine, Oprah. com, Bloomberg, Glamour, the Today Show and Morning Joe.

She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, Anand Giridharadas , and their two children. With 30 years of experience in philanthropy and nonprofit management, Sharyn Goodson works to enhance the capacity of philanthropists and mission-driven organizations to address society’s challenges.

She is recognized for building meaningful relationships, developing innovative grantmaking and fundraising strategies, and delivering compelling nonprofit training programs.

Sharyn is the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy at the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, where she leads philanthropic efforts to fulfill the foundation’s mission of building thriving Jewish communities and promoting sustainable, just, and vibrant societies in San Diego, Israel, across the United States, and around the world.

Sharyn rejoined the Jewish Community Foundation after nine years as Vice President of Philanthropy at the Leichtag Foundation. Her previous roles include Vice President of Philanthropy at the Jewish Community Foundation, Director of Grants at Jewish Family Service of San Diego, and Program Director at Aspen Community Foundation in Aspen, CO.

Sharyn is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a Certified Facilitator through the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and a certified Nonprofit Board Consultant through BoardSource. Kara Robertson is a nationally recognized nonprofit strategist and founder of Prism Philanthropy, where she helps mission-driven organizations unlock funding and scale impact.

With nearly 20 years of experience, Kara has raised over $40 million across sectors like education, health, and the arts—specializing in capital campaigns, major gifts, and high-stakes grants.

She’s secured transformational funding from top institutions, including: $3M – AdventHealth $750K – Robert Wood Johnson Foundation $387K – National Endowment for the Humanities $250K – Pabst Steinmetz Foundation $1M under consideration from Pivotal Ventures (Melinda Gates Foundation) A trusted thought leader, Kara teaches 1,500+ students on Udemy, mentors graduate students at UCF and was recently featured on the Bloomerang blog for innovative donor engagement.

She also led the Opera Orlando Gala 2024, delivering the highest net revenue in its history. Her work blends data-driven strategy, AI-powered grant prospecting, and deep donor insights—and she dedicates 20+ hours monthly to pro bono consulting for nonprofits in need.

As Vice President of Philanthropy, Lety Martinez leads the planning, development, and implementation of all communications, marketing and fundraising activities across the organization. She stewards ICF’s relationship within Mexican foundation networks and has helped ICF earn recognition as key funder for Mexican organizations. She magnifies the culture of philanthropy across ICF staff and board members.

Lety was awarded Outstanding Development Professional of the Year 2021 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) San Diego Chapter and was selected as 2023 San Diego Magazine’s Nonprofit Rising Star. She joined the International Community Foundation in August 2017 as the Marketing & Development Manager.

Lety has over 12 years of experience successfully fundraising and stewarding donor relations for several Mexican nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining ICF, Lety served as the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Tijuana. She was previously Youth Program and Fundraising Director for Centro de Formación Humana and a Social Investment Director for Fundación Dibujando un Mañana.

Lety has also served as a volunteer in Budapest, Hungary at Szent Benedek Iskola and the Regnum Christi. Lety is a graduate of Universidad Anáhuac México Norte where she received a Master of Family Sciences for Counseling, and she is certificated in Non-Profit Management by United Way Mexico and USAID. Previously she earned her B.

A. in International Business from Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) Campus San Luis. She also holds a Master Degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management at the University of San Diego.

Lety’s devoted to the growth and sustainability of Mexican nonprofits. She is a proud Mexican living in San Diego, where she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family. She is also a Human Rights and LGBTQIA+ advocate.

Michele Wray Khateri is the Director of Fundraising & Strategic Initiatives for Blueprint, a real estate development nonprofit that provides facility solutions for charter schools in California, Colorado, Texas, and Washington.

She has worked as a fundraising professional at education, human rights, and social service nonprofits and has served communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey as well as in Europe and the Middle East.

Michele is an active volunteer in the fundraising profession, currently serving as Immediate Past President of the Greater San Fernando Valley chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and having presented at conferences for Fundraising Academy and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in the U.S. and the Middle East.

Michele holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Scandinavian Studies from UC Berkeley and a Masters in International Affairs with a focus on Human Rights from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. Earning a Bachelor’s in History and Psychology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2009, Muhi Khwaja didn’t know what to do until the summer before graduating.

The Development Summer Internship Program at the University of Michigan sparked an interest in fundraising (development) as a career. After working with several nonprofit organizations, he earned his Master’s in Public Administration in 2013, from U-M, specializing in nonprofit management.

Muhi has over 15 years of experience as a development professional with several nonprofits (Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, Ta’leef Collective, American Red Cross, and The MAVEN Project) all ranging from one person development teams to leading a development team which all led to his founding the American Muslim Community Foundation.

Muhi is currently the Chief Development Officer at the AMCF and serves as a Trainer for Fundraising Academy. In 2016 he became a Certified Fund Raising Executive from the Association of Fundraising Professionals and in 2017 earned a Certificate of Fund Raising Management from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy where he is also Adjunct Faculty.

In 2020, Muhi earned a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown University. In 2024 Muhi received his Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from Indiana University. He resides in Tampa, Florida operating Nonprofit Solutions, LLC and enjoys riding his motorcycle, photography, and hiking.

Richard Tollefson established Phoenix Philanthropy in 2004 after a successful career in fundraising and advancement management. Prior to starting Phoenix Philanthropy, Richard served as vice president for institutional advancement at his alma mater, Thunderbird School of Global Management.

At Thunderbird, he managed two comprehensive fundraising campaigns, raising funds and managing constituent engagement programs in 26 countries, including a commitment that became the largest naming gift to a college or school of business in the world at that time.

Richard transformed Thunderbird’s alumni association into a global professional association, created a corporate relationship management structure to generate revenue and manage relationships across all parts of the institution, and managed conferences, seminars, and events around the world.

Throughout his career, Richard successfully guided many other acclaimed arts, culture, and educational institutions, including Master Chorale of Orange County, The Joffrey Ballet, the University of Arizona, and Arizona State University. Sean Briner, Director of Annual Giving Programs, has been part of the University Advancement division at California State University San Marcos for 14 years and higher education for more than 25 years.

In the Office of Annual Giving, he manages philanthropic outreach to alumni, employees, parents, students, and friends of the university. He has led all ten years of the university’s day of giving, CSUSM Giving Day, for which the university has received CASE District VII Circle of Excellence Awards in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2024.

The annual Dibs Employee Giving Campaign was also recognized in 2024 with the CASE Circle of Excellence Global Award. Sean holds a B. A.

in Education/Journalism from The Ohio State University and an M. A. in Education from Xavier University.

He earned a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and has served as a CASE District VII volunteer for eight years. He currently serves as the CASE District VII Cabinet chair elect. His favorite part of the job is helping campus partners large and small raise funds that better help students succeed.

Shantel Suárez Ávila, the proud daughter of Mexican immigrant parents, is a Chicago native turned Escondido, CA resident, dog mom, garden steward, yoga practitioner, and passionate nature adventurer.

As the Founder and Principal Strategist of Más Allá—Spanish for “beyond”—she leads a community-centered, values-driven fundraising consulting firm dedicated to advancing equity and justice by closing funding gaps and raising critical resources for and with women and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities across the U.S. A champion of transformative change, Shantel also co-stewards the Community-Centric Fundraising San Diego Chapter, collaborating to challenge traditional fundraising norms, prioritize collective well-being, and reimagine philanthropy with care and intention.

With deep roots in her heritage and a heart for justice, she is committed to cultivating bold, equitable systems that empower communities to thrive. Dr. Bill Stanczykiewicz serves as senior assistant dean for external relations at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Bill directs The Fund Raising School while also serving on the academic faculty, teaching in the bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs.

Bill has been associated with raising more than $120 million over the last 25 years as a nonprofit executive director and board member. His hobbies include dating his wife, Carmen, who is a major gift fundraiser, and they enjoy talking fundraising while strolling along San Diego Harbor or watching the sunset from Point Loma. Meet Frank Velásquez Jr.: Storyteller Extraordinaire, Social Justice Warrior, and Community Connector!

With a heart as big as his vision, Frank dances on the frontlines of change in relentless pursuit of racial and gender equity. Whether he’s dropping knowledge on the conference stage or storytelling behind the scenes, Frank’s passion for social justice is as infectious as his smile. And he creatively connects our stories, preserving the unique flavor of each one like a delicious bowl of gumbo.

As Founder of 4 Da Hood and the mastermind behind the Ascending Leaders in Color leadership program, he’s forging paths for Peeps of Color to lead with more authenticity, courage, and joy! Because for Frank, advancing equity isn’t just a job — it’s a movement towards building generational wealth for communities of color to thrive!

A Vice President with Netzel Grigsby Associates, Kevin Delaney believes the success of any organization starts with strong leadership and a shared strategic vision by all stakeholders. With NGA, Kevin facilitates the development of strategic fundraising and marketing plans, conducts executive searches, supports board recruitment and development efforts, and serves in interim leadership roles.

Prior to joining NGA, Kevin served as the director of annual giving at Loyola Marymount University, where he managed the school’s $6 million annual fund and supported development officers from various schools, colleges, and programs across campus.

Most recently, Kevin served in senior leadership roles at Chaminade College Preparatory and La Salle College Preparatory supporting the fundraising, marketing, admissions, and community outreach efforts. Kevin is a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Los Angeles Chapter, and has served as Chair of National Philanthropy Day and other executive committee board positions.

He is actively involved in the Pasadena community and serves on the school board of St. Philip the Apostle as Vice-President for Development. Kevin earned his B.

A. in Business Administration and M. A.

in Secondary Education from Loyola Marymount University. Tarry Kang, CFRE, serves as the Senior Director of Development for Student Affairs at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), bringing with her a wealth of experience and a strong record of success in higher education and nonprofit development.

Since joining CSUN in 2021 as the Director of Development for the University Library and Centers, Tarry played a pivotal role in securing major achievements such as the acquisition of the Dickens Collection for Special Collections & Archives, a Max Factor Family Foundation grant for the Bridge to the Future Scholars Program, and funding for the Library’s first Tataviam educational mural.

Prior to CSUN, she held key leadership roles at organizations including Village Family Services, Ascencia Homeless Shelter, and MEND – Meet Each Need with Dignity demonstrating a deep commitment to addressing basic needs and supporting vulnerable communities. Tarry’s in-depth knowledge of CSUN and its development processes, combined with her passion for student success, make her a driving force in Student Affairs.

She also currently serves as President of the AFP Greater San Fernando Valley Chapter for 2025-2026. Dan Mueller is a dynamic, embodied nonprofit leader who values community, equity and social change. Dan has over a decade of experience with diverse nonprofits and volunteer-based organizations such as the U.S. Peace Corps and Slow Food USA.

Her passion for cultural exchange has sent her to Belize, Jamaica and Puerto Rico to support grassroots community development initiatives in education, agriculture and sustainability. Since moving to San Diego in 2018, Dan has supported numerous community-led environmental initiatives through resource and partnership development.

Dan recently obtained their Master of Arts in Peace & Justice from the Kroc School of Peace Studies and is also a certified yoga instructor. She finds healing and deep solidarity in co-stewarding San Diego’s Chapter of Community Centric Fundraising. Outside of work, Dan finds purpose in being a plant and pet parent, receiving the title of “cool auntie” from her niblings, and joyfully eating her way through life one adventure at a time.

Additionally, Alex leads all crowdfunding projects, coordinating with Advancement Services to ensure proper tracking and deposit of gifts. In Annual Giving Programs, she assists with direct mail, student philanthropy, and faculty/staff giving initiatives, fostering relationships with student organizations and staff to encourage philanthropy.

Alex’s contributions have been recognized with two CASE Global Circle of Excellence awards in 2024 and “Best in Annual Giving” awards for the “Calling Dibs” Employee Giving video (2023) and “Volunteer Materials” (2024) from the Annual Giving Network. She was recently named a 2025 CASE District VII “Rising Star Award” recipient. She is a proud CSUSM alum and mother to three daughters.

Download the San Diego Donor’s Guide to Donor-Advised Funds This helpful resource provides you the information you need to better understand the impact and benefits of donor-advised funds. 2023-2024 Nonprofit Giving Guide This guide highlights 25 small, grassroots organizations led by people of color, vetted by our team, and positively impacting the lives of San Diegans.

Download the Charitable Legacy Guide for San Diego Families This valuable resource will help you understand how to set up a legacy fund and the lasting impact planned gifts can have for you, your family and your community. Download the Private Foundation Brochure The Private Foundation Solution Brochure helps you better understand donor-advised funds and the benefits they provide for you or your family.

Download the Corporate Giving Playbook for San Diego Businesses The Corporate Giving Playbook for San Diego Businesses teaches you the basics of building and sustaining a successful corporate giving program that unlocks benefits for your employees and your brand. The Advisor monthly e-newsletter provides philanthropy news and trends and financial planning strategies for advisors and their clients.

Kimberly Bottom is a passionate storyteller and a sharp strategic thinker with 15 years of experience in digital media, spending the last 10 years primarily focused on digital content and marketing for nonprofits.

With a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Central Florida, and work that earned an award from the Associated Press, Kimberly has gathered, produced and distributed thousands of hours of content to inform and inspire audiences.

In her current role as the Director of Community Engagement at Feathr, Kimberly consults with nonprofits of all shapes and sizes on the most effective and efficient ways to know, grow and engage their audiences. Lisa Gonzalez is the Senior Competitive Intelligence Manager at Bloomerang who loves understanding and connecting with customers to help them solve problems.

Drawing on her extensive experience launching and explaining innovative technologies for major brands such as Klaviyo, Sony, and Qualcomm, she is now dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations grow and thrive. Geoff Green is the CEO of CalNonprofits, an alliance of over 10,000 nonprofits advancing policy advocacy, education, and research to build a more powerful and politically engaged nonprofit network across California.

Prior to CalNonprofits, Geoff served as CEO of California’s largest community college foundation, was a leader in the College Promise movement, and helped secure a record $100M gift to two dozen community colleges. Before that he served as Executive Director of an activist-led social justice fund. His previous work includes public affairs radio programming, campaign field organizing, and as a nonprofit trainer / facilitator.

With nearly 30 years of experience in (and a love of) the nonprofit sector, Geoff also consults professionally. As a volunteer auctioneer, he has raised over $6 million for more than 60 nonprofit organizations and frequently emcees events, moderates panels, and facilitates discussions on community issues. His other community work includes more than ten years of public affairs radio programming and as a campaign field organizer.

Geoff served as President of the Board of the Santa Barbara Ventura Counties Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2012, President of the Foundation Roundtable of Santa Barbara County from 2014 to 2015, and as Chair of the Board of Directors for the California Association of Nonprofits from 2016 to 2018.

He also served on the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara from 2008 through 2021. He joined the Board of Directors of Peabody Charter School in 2020, Latinos LEAD in 2021, and the Community Environmental Council in 2022. He also serves on several advisory