Program Grants is a grant from the Foundation for Developmental Disabilities that funds innovative programs serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Grants of $500 to $20,000 support four priority impact areas: employment, family support (including health, wellness, and social connection), housing, and self-advocacy.

Proposals must be submitted by San Diego or Imperial County-based nonprofit organizations with experience serving this population; individual applications are not accepted. Indirect costs including personnel must remain below 20% of the grant request. Grant requests for 2026 are due by December 17, April 6, June 25, or October 5.

Repeat grantees must submit an evaluation form from prior funding before applying again.

Program Grants | Foundation For Developmental Disabilities | San Diego Annually, the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Developmental Disabilities determines the level of support for community programs to assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

We offer grants to nonprofit organizations for innovative programs that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Grants usually range from $500-$20,000 with a maximum of $20,000 per grant. We typically fund programs focused on our four areas of impact which include employment, family support, housing, and self-advocacy.

Our family support category encompasses initiatives focused on health and wellness, resources, and social connections— assuring partnerships that drive high-impact results for our community. Proposals must be submitted by San Diego and Imperial Counties-based nonprofit organizations. We do not accept applications from individuals.

The applicant must have experience in providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Grant Criteria – Please read thoroughly before submitting Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed. If your program is vendorized by the San Diego Regional Center, it will only be eligible for funding if the request supports an expansion or falls outside the current vendorized program design.

We typically fund only one program per organization per fiscal year. Future funding requests will not be considered unless a completed evaluation form from your previous grant has been submitted. This form is typically sent near the end of your funding period.

Programs previously funded by the Foundation more than twice may be considered; however, priority will be given to new program initiatives. The Foundation will provide funding for supplies and physical equipment with a unit cost of less than $500. Any individual item with a cost of $500 or more is classified as a capital expense and is not eligible for program grant funding.

Indirect costs, including personnel costs, are generally expected to remain below 20% of the total grant request. Indirect costs allocated for stipends to individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as those for consultants, may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Late applications will be deferred to the following Board Meeting for review.

Grant requests for 2026 must be submitted to grants@foundationfordd. org by the close of business on the following dates: December 17th, April 6th, June 25th, October 5th Click the button below to download an application. Please note that there have been some changes to our grant application.

Read the application thoroughly before submission.