Rancho Santa Fe Foundation is proud to support San Diego’s military and veteran community through our program, The Patriots Connection.
By partnering with local nonprofits serving the military, we are confident that our local military and veteran families will have access to the support and services they need.
The 2023 TPC grant cycle is now open. Please see below for details regarding eligibility requirements, the process, and deadlines to apply.
How to Apply
In 2022, Rancho Santa Fe Foundation began multi-year funding to support the sustainability of our Military/Veteran grantees. In 2023, the Foundation looks forward to continuing to partner with the 2022 multi-year recipients as well as new community partners. The 2023 grant cycle is currently in progress and is no longer accepting applications.
2023 Grants Timeline
Online Process Opens – Friday, April 7, 2023
LOIs Due at 4 PM – Thursday, April 27, 2023
Applications Invited – Friday, May 19, 2023
Applications Due at 4 PM – Friday, June 16, 2023
Site Visits – TBD
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for grant consideration from TPC, organizations must:
- Be located in and providing services in San Diego County
- Have tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status
- a charitable organization that does not have tax-exempt status, must have a fiscal sponsor where a relationship between the two can be clearly demonstrated. The fiscal sponsor must be willing to administer the grant if awarded.
- Submit only one proposal — if more than one proposal is submitted from the same organization, all proposals from that organization will be ineligible for funding
- Not discriminate based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status
- Be current with grant report if previously funded
The Patriots Connection generally does not fund:
- Major building campaigns
- Conferences
- Endowments
- For-profit organizations
- Individuals
- Organizations/projects outside of the San Diego region
- Projects that promote religious or political doctrine
- Research (medical or otherwise)
- Existing obligations/debt
2022 GRANTS
Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, through its military focus area, awarded grants totaling $355,300 to 15 nonprofit programs serving the military in San Diego County in 2022.
Alpha Project for the Homeless – $20,000 | Alpha Lofts – Permanent supportive housing for Veterans
Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton – $25,000 | Operation Little Learners
Armed Services YMCA San Diego – $25,000 | Military youth development
Biocom Institute – $15,000 | Veterans in Life Sciences
Fisher House Southern California – $30,000 | Family support services and equipment for San Diego Fisher Houses
Foundation for Women Warriors – $35,000 | Women Veteran Transition Services
INFO LINE of San Diego County (2-1-1 San Diego) – $20,000 | Expanding access to 211’s Military and Veteran services
Kids’ Turn San Diego – $30,000 | Creating Brighter Futures Project
North County San Diego Veterans Stand Down – $30,000 | 6th annual North County Veterans Stand Down
Paralyzed Veterans of America, Cal Diego Chapter – $10,000 | PVA Communications Program
Resounding Joy – $25,000 | Semper Sound Military Music Therapy
SAY San Diego – $20,300 | Military Family Resource Center
United Through Reading – $20,000 | United Through Reading for San Diego’s Military and Veteran Families
Wounded Warrior Homes – $30,000 | Transitional Housing and Re-Integrative Services
Zero8Hundred – $20,000 | Veteran Transition Support Program
2021 GRANTS
Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, through its military focus area, awarded grants totaling $289,500 to 16 nonprofit programs serving the military in San Diego County in 2021.
Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton – $20,000 | Operation Little Learners
Armed Services YMCA San Diego – $17,500 | Social/educational youth & family connection programs
Big Brothers Big Sisters – $15,000 | Operation Bigs
Biocom Institute – $12,500 | Veterans in Life Sciences
Blue Star Families – $12,500 | Welcome Week
Coastal Roots Farm – $15,000 | Fresh produce for military and veteran families
Family Health Centers of San Diego – $22,000 | Equipment for MFCC to increase access to mental health services for veterans and their families
Feeding San Diego – $20,000 | Feeding Heroes program
Foundation for Women Warriors – $20,000 | Women Veteran Transition Services
Helping Paws Foundation – $20,000 | Low/No cost veterinary for military pets
Interfaith Community Services – $15,000 | Full spectrum supportive services for veterans
San Diego Second Chance – $20,000 | Wrap around services for justice involved veterans
Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) – $20,000 | Emergency Financial Assistance and financial literacy training
The Rosie Network – $20,000 | Service2CEO
USO San Diego – $20,000 | Pathfinder Transition, Camp Pendleton expansion
Wounded Warrior Homes – $20,000 | Housing and Re-Integrative Services
2020 GRANTS
Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, through its military focus area, awarded grants totaling $268,500 to 18 nonprofit programs serving the military in San Diego County in 2020.
2-1-1 San Diego – $15,000 | Better coordinate care and improve connections between military families/veterans to health/community service providers.
Alpha Project – $20,000 | Alpha Lofts – veteran residents’ basic needs.
Big Brothers Big Sisters – $15,000 | Operation Bigs.
Coastal Roots Farm – $12,000 | Fresh produce for military families and veterans.
Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra – $15,000 | Integrated and military-specific adaptive sports.
Foundation for Women Warriors – $20,000 | Women Veteran Transition Services.
Interfaith Community Services – $20,000 | Veterans services, transitional housing, recuperative care.
Jewish Family Service – $10,000 | Hand Up Food Pantry for military families/veterans.
Kids’ Turn San Diego – $12,500 | Workshops for military families experiencing separation.
Operation Homefront – $12,500 | Emergency basic needs.
San Diego Food Bank – $10,000 | Emergency food for military/veteran families.
San Diego Second Chance – $20,000 | Housing, job training for justice involved veterans.
Semper Fi & America’s Fund – $25,000 | Financial support for wounded, ill and injured warriors.
Spirit of Sharing – $4,000 | Emergency basic needs.
Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) – $20,000 | Emergency Financial Assistance Program.
United Through Reading – $12,500 | Equip, support, and resupply UTR Story Stations.
Wounded Warrior Homes – $20,000 | Re-Integrative CM Services, housing, basic needs.
Wreaths Across America – $5,000 | Remember. Honor. Teach.
2019 GRANTS
Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, through its military focus area, awarded grants totaling $196,500 to 16 nonprofit programs serving the military in San Diego County in 2019.
Alpha Project – $20,000 | Alpha Lofts – veteran residents’ basic needs.
Big Brothers Big Sisters – $7,500 | Operation Big.
Easter Seals SoCal – $15,000 | Bob Hope Veterans Support Program.
Foundation for Women Warriors – $20,000 | Women Veteran Transition Services.
Interfaith Community Services – $15,000 | Offering Hope in Housing (OHH) Fund.
Kids’ Turn San Diego – $5,000 | Creating Brighter Futures Project-scholarship.
KPBS – $15,000 | Full time Military Reporter.
SAY San Diego – $12,500 | Military Family Collaborative.
Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank – $10,000 | Military Initiative to Combat Hunger.
San Diego Second Chance – $15,500 | Job readiness training for veterans.
Shelter to Soldier – $7,000 | Shade canopy for Poway facility.
Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) – $10,000 | Emergency Financial Assistance Program.
The Old Globe – $12,000 | Technical Center Apprentice Program.
United Through Reading – $10,000 | Mobile Story Station.
Wounded Warrior Homes – $17,500 | Re-Integrative CM Services.
Wreaths Across America – $5,000 | Remember. Honor. Teach.
2018 GRANTS
The Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, through its military focus area, awarded grants totaling $151,000 to 16 nonprofit programs serving the military in San Diego County in 2018.
211 San Diego – $10,000 | Prevention and early intervention through peer-to-peer care coordination services utilizing SD United and Community Information Exchange (CIE) technology.
American Red Cross – San Diego – $6,000 | Hug-a-Hero dolls, made from a full picture of the deploying parent, are given to young children of deploying parents. The dolls help maintain the parent/child connection during the separation of deployment.
Blue Star Families – $15,000 | Connecting military families to resources, neighbors, and community to reduce isolation and improve their wellbeing.
Camp Pendleton ASYMCA – $10,000 | Operation Little Learners is a Parent and Child Preschool Program for active duty military at Camp Pendleton.
Easter Seals of Southern California – $15,000 | Bob Hope Veterans Support Program provides transitioning veterans in San Diego County with 1:1 customized employment support, connections to 600+ employers, small business development and post-employment follow-up. Employment Specialists, who are veterans themselves, meet with participants wherever they elect in the community – for example, a coffee shop, military base, college campus or hospital.
Helping Paws – $10,000 | Covering urgent care and routine veterinary procedures for the pets of military and veteran families.
Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank – $10,000 | Emergency food assistance – 125,000 pounds of nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables to military families living on or near Camp Pendleton.
Kids’ Turn San Diego – $5,000 | Co-parenting program for separated and divorced military families.
KPBS – $15,000 |To support trustworthy military reporting to audiences throughout San Diego by having a full-time military desk that produces high-quality coverage, giving listeners stories that help them understand the issues.
San Diego Military Outreach Ministry – $5,000 | Basic needs and emergency financial assistance to junior enlisted military families.
SAY San Diego Military Family Collaborative – $5,000 | Military Transition – The Spouse Edition, educates spouses on topics including finances, employment, relocation, medical and VA benefits.
The Soldier’s Project – $7,500 | Expansion of free mental health care services in San Diego.
VetCTAP – $7,500 | A free, 8-module job search workshop series provided to military and spouses entering the civilian job force. Workshops are 8 times per year (64 nights of training) and involve coordinating 50 volunteers, media outreach, participant recruiting and tracking, fundraising, and administrative logistics.
Warrior Foundation Freedom Station – $10,000 |Kitchen appliances, supplies for Freedom Station II.
Wreaths Across America – $5,000 | Wreath-laying ceremonies at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Miramar National Cemetery, Greenwood Memorial Park and Valley Center Cemetery, to honor our veterans, remember our fallen heroes, and teach our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families. Each wreath honors all servicemen and women for their selfless sacrifice and that of their families who are without loved ones during the holidays.
Zero8hundred – $15,000 | Military transition services – connection & support. Program participants are connected with local resources uniquely suited to their post-service/mobilization needs, through 1:1 Peer Navigators, easing their transition into the civilian community.
2017 GRANTS
The Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, through its military focus area, awarded grants totaling $175,366 to 15 nonprofit programs serving the military in San Diego County in 2017.
211 San Diego – $10,000 | SD United utilizes UniteUS technology and developed in partnership with others including San Diego Veterans Coalition. SD United supports in-depth care coordination and secure client sharing. 2-1-1’s Military/Veteran Peer Specialists provide navigation for military/veteran clients within SD United confirming outcomes with the client and referral partners, ensuring all client needs are met
Easter Seals of Southern California – $10,000 | Bob Hope Veterans Support Program provides transitioning veterans in San Diego County with 1:1 customized employment support, connections to 600+ employers, small business development and post-employment follow-up. Employment Specialists, who are veterans themselves, meet with participants wherever they elect in the community – for example, a coffee shop, military base, college campus or hospital.
Family Health Centers of San Diego – $10,000 | To support a Nurse Practitioner and two other staff who provide primary medical care in addition to clinical assessments and psychosocial support for homeless veterans with PTSD, substance abuse and/or alcohol abuse and who are eligible to reside at Veterans Village San Diego.
Heartland House – $9,155 | The Rides for Recovery project provides veterans residing at Heartland House with direct transportation to attend medical appointments and address other matters key to their recovery. This will provide them with more time to fully participate in their recovery program, strengthening their ability to stay clean and sober.
Interfaith Community Services – $15,000 | Interfaith’s Veterans Program provides specialized services to hundreds of veterans utilizing trauma-informed care, best practices, and post-traumatic growth to improve the dignity, health, and economic well-being of our nation’s heroes. Services include emergency and transitional housing, economic development, mental health counseling, case managed social services, and recuperative nursing care.
KPBS – $15,000 | To support trustworthy military reporting to audiences throughout San Diego by having a full-time military desk that produces high-quality coverage, giving listeners stories that help them understand the issues.
NVTS, Inc. (REBOOT) – $10,000 | OPERATION
Independence Program helps formerly homeless veterans re-join the workforce to become independent. Once a homeless veteran’s life has been stabilized by the San Diego Housing Commission and Veterans Administration, they are referred to OPERATION Independence to reboot their behaviors, coupled with providing job skills training and placement assistance to end the cycle of poverty and homelessness and move them to independence.
Operation Homefront – $6,500 | Operation Homefront’s Holiday Meal for Military Program helps stretch military families’ budgets during the holiday season and fosters family bonding. The HMFM serves 500 local junior enlisted military families, each family receives ingredients to make a holiday meal, gift card to purchase protein and a family board game.
Resounding Joy – $5,000 | Semper Sound is an evidence-based military music therapy program for active duty service members, veterans, and their families. On base and in the community, Semper Sound music therapists provide individual and group sessions that center on the personal and clinical goals of clients. Group music therapy has proven to be an effective medium to promote psychological well-being in men/women who indicated that they would not otherwise seek conventional therapeutic treatment. Semper Sound provides year-round, free music therapy to service members.
San Diego ASYMCA – $15,000 | Operation Hero program provides after school support to military children by assisting with school work, social skills, coping with family separation and an appreciation for military life. Those in need are identified by parents and school. They may exhibit low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, adjusting academically or lack social skills.
Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) – $12,000 | The Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) program helps military and veteran families who are facing a financial crisis by providing the necessary financial counseling, education and emergency financial grants required to help our military achieve financial self-sufficiency. These grants fund food, rent & mortgage, utilities, auto repair, auto payments & insurance, critical baby items, essential household appliances or emergency travel.
VetCTAP – $10,000 | To support the free, 8-module job search workshop series provided to military and spouses entering the civilian job force. Workshops are 8 times per year (64 nights of training) and involve coordinating 50 volunteers, media outreach, participant recruiting and tracking, fundraising, and administrative logistics.
Workshops for Warriors – $15,000 | To support the school that provides veterans, wounded warriors, and transitioning service members with industry-leading manufacturing and related curriculum to enter the manufacturing industry. The organization trains, certifies, and places a veteran into a high paying entry level job in four to eight months.
Wreaths Across America – $19,711 | Wreath-laying ceremonies at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Miramar National Cemetery, Greenwood Memorial Park and Valley Center Cemetery, to honor our veterans, remember our fallen heroes, and teach our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families. Each wreath honors all servicemen and women for their selfless sacrifice and that of their families who are without loved ones during the holidays.
Zero8hundred – $10,000 | Peer Navigators connect transitioning service members to comprehensive resources, easing their transition into the civilian community.
