The San Diego Foundation’s Encinitas Fund has awarded $60,000 to several local nonprofit organizations, earmarking programs focused on mental wellness, food access and environmental education, the foundation announced Tuesday, Feb. 17.
The disbursement is the Encinitas Fund’s largest so far, the foundation stated in news release. The money was distributed to organizations serving residents across Encinitas. Each group received a $5,000 grant to support specific community-based projects, ranging from youth mentorship and recycling efforts to food distribution and library programming.
The grants will help launch or expand initiatives such as a weekly healthy meal box program for families, surf therapy and mentorship for underserved youth, free live music events at the Encinitas Library and soft-plastic recycling programs. Other funded efforts include community garden expansion, school farm improvements and support for local food pantries.
The Encinitas Fund is a community-led giving circle that pools donations from residents, families and businesses to support nonprofit work in the city. It was founded by local residents and originally operated under the Coastal Community Foundation before becoming part of the San Diego Foundation.
“Encinitas is a special place where people care deeply about one another, and the Encinitas Fund gives us a way to turn that care into action,” Katrina Dodson, an Encinitas resident and supporter of the fund, said in the announcement. “By coming together through collective giving, we’re able to support the organizations that show up for our neighbors every day and ensure our community thrives.”
Programs receiving funding include projects run by the Encinitas Community Garden, Encinitas Historical Society, Encinitas Union School District Farm Lab, Friends of the Encinitas Library and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Food Pantry. Others are Changing Tides Foundation, Experience Nature Unplugged, Healthy Day Partners, Plastic Beach, The Joy Connection and Un Mar de Colores.
Fund leaders said the goal is to give local organizations flexible support to address immediate needs while strengthening long-term community connections. The grants are intended to help nonprofits sustain and grow programs that serve residents of all ages and backgrounds.
Information about is available at the San Diego Foundation’s Encinitas Fund webpage.
