$70 million philanthropic effort led by Grant Oliphant, Robert Price and Mark Stuart will support access to housing, food, and health care
In one of the most significant coordinated philanthropic responses in recent regional history, three of San Diego’s biggest foundations announced a $70 million joint funding surge to counteract impending budget cuts that threaten essential services for thousands of residents.
At a press event held at the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, the Prebys Foundation, Price Philanthropies, and San Diego Foundation unveiled their new collaboration, “United for San Diego,” calling on other funders and community leaders to join their effort to protect access to housing, food, and healthcare.
The initiative comes as San Diego County braces for the loss of more than $300 million annually in state and federal funding that supports food security, housing stability, and healthcare access for over 400,000 residents.
Officials warned that as many as 100,000 people could lose food assistance, and one in eight San Diegans is already experiencing economic strain due to rising living costs.
Grant Oliphant, president and CEO of the Prebys Foundation, framed the collaboration as part of the region’s longstanding tradition of unity in crisis.
“United for San Diego is a promise that no one will face this crisis alone,” he said, emphasizing that the new funding will protect the essentials that sustain well-being and help build a stronger, more resilient region.
Since taking the helm of the Prebys Foundation in 2022, Oliphant has championed ambitious community initiatives, from reimagining San Diego’s Civic Center to investing in public health, environmental justice, and cross-border partnerships.
Robert Price, president of Price Philanthropies, invoked Jewish ethical teaching in urging collective action.
“We are not commanded to complete the task of making our world better, but neither are we free to do nothing,” he said.
The Price family, long committed to underserved youth and immigrant communities in neighborhoods like City Heights, has continued to build on the legacy of Sol Price, founder of Price Club and pioneer of socially responsible philanthropy.
Price said his family’s decision to expand charitable giving was driven by the immediate and visible needs of San Diegans facing food insecurity, housing instability, and loss of medical care.
Mark Stuart, president and CEO of the San Diego Foundation, called the collaboration “the most significant philanthropic effort our region has seen since the COVID-19 pandemic,” pointing to the creation of the San Diego Unity Fund as a way for every resident to contribute.
Under his leadership since 2019, the foundation has expanded its grantmaking and sharpened its focus on equity, resilience, and civic engagement.
He emphasized that the Unity Fund will distribute donations directly to nonprofits providing relief with no administrative fees, ensuring every contribution goes to those most in need.
The foundations outlined three core priorities for the emergency response: housing stability to prevent families from falling into homelessness, food security for families and seniors struggling to access nutritious meals, and healthcare support for those without reliable coverage.
Grants will be issued on a rolling basis to eligible nonprofits, with applications opening soon. The leaders stressed that while philanthropy can help fill gaps, long-term solutions will require renewed government investment and broader civic engagement.
United for San Diego represents a rare alignment of some of the region’s most powerful philanthropic players. Still, its success will depend on whether other institutions and residents heed the call to contribute.
The $70 million surge is both an immediate relief measure and a test of San Diego’s ability to mobilize collectively in the face of economic and social strain.
As Oliphant, Price, and Stuart made clear, this initiative is about more than money; it is about affirming a shared responsibility to protect one’s neighbors and preserve the community’s fabric.