The San Diego Foundation (SDF) made waves in the local academic sphere by setting a new precedent for financial support, distributing a staggering $5.5 million in scholarships to 1,371 deserving students. This effort by SDF aims to bolster access to higher education for those who need it most – particularly first-generation college students, and those from low to middle-income households.
During an event hosted at the San Diego Zoo, SDF celebrated the achievements of 500 scholarship recipients in the presence of their families and the donors responsible for the financial aid. Mark Stuart, the President and CEO of SDF, was quoted as saying, "Through the Community Scholarship Program, San Diego Foundation is ensuring that local students’ preparation for college is matched with the financial support needed to succeed and grow our region’s future workforce," according to an article from the San Diego Foundation website.
The 2025-2026 scholarship season saw SDF shatter its record, giving out 1,678 awards across 160 scholarship funds, an increase of more than $500,000 over the previous year's allotment. Achieving a significant milestone, 74 percent of these awards were granted to individuals who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. A San Diego Foundation's Student Aid Index reveals that 92 percent of beneficiaries are classified as low-middle income, with a diverse student body including 42 percent Latino/a and 14 percent U.S.-born Black and/or African American students.
Dr. Becky Petitt, who serves on the advisory council of the National Rainbow College Fund, one of SDF's initiatives, underscored the transformative impact of the foundation by stating at the Scholarship Celebration, "By investing in their education and dreams, San Diego Foundation is not only transforming individual futures but also strengthening the fabric of our entire community." She emphasized the importance of financial aid in enabling students to focus on their futures instead of financial burdens. This was supported by the NRCF, which saw triple the number of student scholarships this year, as noted in the San Diego Foundation article.
SDF's contributions have aided a wide demographic, from high school seniors to community college students and those pursuing further education or specialized training in fields like STEM, health sciences, business, and arts and education. Reflective of the foundation's impact, scholarship recipient Sajanah King expressed her gratitude: "There were moments in high school when I truly didn’t know if I’d make it," King told the San Diego Foundation, "This scholarship is more than just funding. It’s a reminder that my story isn’t over, and that people believe in where it’s going next." King is headed to Morgan State University this fall to major in psychology.
The Community Scholarship Program is the largest provider of non-university scholarships in the region, having distributed over $59.5 million to upwards of 15,400 students since its initiation in 1997. Danielle Valenciano, Director of SDF's Community Scholarship Program, invites individuals interested in contributing to the collective future of students and the community to reach out through her email, [email protected], to start a scholarship fund.
