Poway Community Foundation Grant Program

The Poway Community Foundation (PCF), a donor-advised fund of The San Diego Foundation, supports projects that uplift the residents of Poway, California. Its mission is to inspire lasting philanthropy and civic pride by funding initiatives that improve local quality of life. PCF specifically funds projects that demonstrate measurable impact and clear benefit to the community within Poway. Organizations seeking support must be either a 501(c)(3) public charity or a fiscally sponsored project under such an entity, or a school or government agency. The Foundation does not provide grants to individuals, supporting organizations, or private non-operating foundations. Projects intended to fund scholarships or support religious or political doctrine are ineligible. The grant program offers awards between $2,500 and $10,000. These grants must be used for well-defined projects that can be completed within 12 months. Applications must demonstrate not only a clear goal and actionable strategy but also methods of evaluation and proof of long-term sustainability. Projects must serve residents within the city limits of Poway, and successful applicants should be prepared for a site visit during the grant period. Additionally, the fiscal sponsor, if used, must have a clearly established cooperative relationship with the applicant and be willing to administer the grant if selected. PCF emphasizes community-centered investment, requiring that funding proposals contribute specifically to the Poway area and address community-identified needs. The application process takes place through an online submission portal. Applicants must complete all fields in one sitting, as the form does not support saving drafts. It is recommended that responses be prepared offline and then pasted into the webform. A PDF copy of the submitted application will be sent to the organizational leader’s email address. Applications must include narrative responses using clear formatting and adequate white space to aid reviewer comprehension. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Applicants are also required to detail project outcomes and future funding viability as part of their proposal. Evaluation includes application review, a possible site visit, and participation in an interview and finalist meeting. All proposals are reviewed for eligibility and alignment with PCF’s mission. The 2025 grant timeline begins with application availability from May 12 through August 30. An informational Zoom forum will be held on July 7 from 2 to 4 PM. Applications are due by August 30, 2025, at 5 PM PDT. Selected applicants will be interviewed on October 7, and finalist meetings will take place at Templars Hall, Old Poway Park, on November 16 from 3 to 5 PM. Awards will be announced by December 2, and the grant period runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026. Awardees must submit a mid-year update and a final report; failure to comply may affect eligibility for future grants. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to the PCF team via email at Grants@PowayCommunityFoundation.org. They aim to respond within 24 hours. The Foundation encourages grantees to acknowledge PCF’s support through print and social media outlets. This annual cycle provides a regular opportunity for organizations dedicated to Poway’s community betterment to secure the funding they need to implement meaningful change.

Prepare responses offline and copy into the application; organize narratives clearly with white space for reviewer readability.