The C. J. Stafford and Dot Stafford Memorial Trust, administered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., provides grants to support a variety of charitable causes specifically benefiting residents of San Diego County, California. The Trust's mission is to enhance the community by funding projects across several key areas, including arts, culture and humanities, education, health, and human services.
Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations classified as public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Trust has a strong geographic focus, only funding organizations located in and directly serving the San Diego County area. Organizations operating outside this region are not eligible for funding consideration.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, but to be considered for the annual review, they must be submitted by May 1. Grant decisions are made at a meeting in June and typically communicated to applicants by July. Each applicant receives an automated email confirmation upon submission, and funded projects may require periodic progress reports and a final report.
The average grant size ranges between $5,000 and $7,500. The Trust typically awards around eight grants per year, totaling approximately $50,000 in annual giving. The Trust encourages applicants to submit detailed and clear applications that demonstrate strong alignment with their mission areas and direct benefit to San Diego County residents.
