Escondido Community Foundation Grant

The Escondido Community Foundation (ECF), a regional affiliate of the San Diego Foundation, has launched its 2026–2027 grant cycle with a focus on fostering the human-animal bond. With a longstanding mission to enhance the quality of life in Escondido, ECF works by building community endowments, supporting local philanthropy, and facilitating legacy giving. This cycle aligns with their strategic commitment to funding projects that generate meaningful, therapeutic, and community-strengthening interactions between people and animals. The 2026–2027 grant opportunity invites Letters of Intent (LOIs) from eligible nonprofits proposing projects that highlight and enhance human-animal connections. These may include a wide range of programs such as animal-assisted therapy for individuals facing physical or emotional challenges, service animal training for those with disabilities, and support services for veterans and trauma survivors. In addition, ECF encourages proposals for pet adoption and rescue initiatives, wildlife conservation programs, educational activities that teach responsible animal care, and low-cost veterinary and pet support services for underserved communities. Applicants can request funding between $10,000 and $35,000, and all proposals must be achievable within a one-year project period. The formal grant period will begin on October 1, 2026, and conclude on September 30, 2027. Projects must demonstrate a clear benefit to residents of Escondido, and all applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 2, 2026. Only 501(c)(3) organizations, or those with a verified fiscal sponsor, are eligible. Government agencies and schools may also apply. However, grants will not be awarded to individuals, supporting organizations, or private non-operating foundations. Projects must not include scholarships, debt payments, capital or annual campaigns, or content promoting political or religious doctrine. Following the LOI submission, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by March 27, 2026. Site visits for finalists are scheduled for May 2026, with award decisions announced in August and a community celebration held in September. A grant seekers forum is also available to assist applicants, to be held virtually on November 19, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., with RSVPs due by November 18. Applications must be submitted through the San Diego Foundation’s grant portal, where applicants are required to create or update their organizational profiles. ECF emphasizes the importance of current information in the portal and encourages full profiles on platforms like Candid. Contact for technical or programmatic questions is available through Eve Childs at [email protected]. Finalists will be asked to submit detailed project budgets, narratives, sustainability plans, and performance metrics, which will inform final grantmaking decisions. Awardees will also be required to submit periodic reports and provide visual documentation of project impacts throughout the grant term.