The Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation (RBCF), an affiliate of the San Diego Foundation (SDF), is accepting grant applications for the 2025–2026 cycle in two focus areas: Music and Community Enhancement. The mission of RBCF is to enhance the quality of life in Rancho Bernardo by encouraging effective philanthropy, building a lasting endowment, and supporting impactful community programs. With a commitment to both legacy and innovation, RBCF is seeking to fund practical projects that improve local life and address emerging needs in the Rancho Bernardo area.
The Music grant area is supported by the RB Symphony on the Green Fund and offers awards ranging from $1,500 to $5,000. Eligible music programs should support community involvement and cultural enrichment. The Community Enhancement grants range from $1,500 to $10,000 and are intended for initiatives that foster community pride, revitalization, and overall quality of life. All applications must specifically address the needs and interests of Rancho Bernardo residents and demonstrate measurable community impact.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies that provide services within Rancho Bernardo. Fiscal sponsorship is allowed for groups without tax-exempt status, provided there is a clear cooperative agreement and willingness by the sponsor to manage the grant. Projects should be achievable within a one-year timeframe and demonstrate long-term sustainability, with strong potential for replication or scalability. RBCF does not fund capital campaigns, stipends for conference attendance, religious or political projects, or individuals not affiliated with an eligible fiscal sponsor.
Applications must be submitted online through SDF’s Foundant portal by 5:00 p.m. PDT on Monday, June 16, 2025. The funding period will run from December 1, 2025, to November 30, 2026. Finalist site visits will occur in July 2025, recipients will be selected by September 2025, and a public grant celebration is scheduled for November 20, 2025.
Required application fields include detailed organizational information, a project summary outlining goals and community impact, and financial disclosures such as the organization’s annual operating budget and the proposed program budget. For questions regarding the grant program, applicants can contact Trudy Armstrong at trudy@sdfoundation.org. For technical assistance with the portal, Eve Childs at echilds@sdfoundation.org is available.
