San Diego Foundation — Community Scholarship Program

San Diego Foundation’s Community Scholarship Program brings together funds established by donors and distributes them through a common application. One portal provides access to more than 150 opportunities; the foundation lists awards from $1,000 to more than $5,000 and says some may renew for multiple years. There is no single award amount and no automatic scholarship for completing the form: each fund has its own review and conditions.

The 2026–27 cycle included high-school seniors, current college and graduate students, adult re-entry students, and learners at four-year universities, community colleges, and career or technical schools. General guidance called for at least a 2.0 GPA and current residence in San Diego County for at least one year. Individual funds can set stricter rules or add requirements related to a school, major, financial need, experience, or community.

Applicants document financial need through the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. If neither is available to them, the program says to complete the Federal Student Aid Estimator and submit the estimated Student Aid Index; the application also allows students to explain financial circumstances. Staff may request further documents to confirm eligibility. This process does not replace a college’s financial-aid package or promise to cover the entire remaining bill.

The 2026–27 deadline was March 4, 2026, at 2 p.m. Pacific, and has passed. The FAQ says a complete application can take up to five hours because some funds require essays, recommendations, or uploads. Gather a transcript, financial details, and reference contacts before the next window opens. As of October 12, 2026, the foundation has not posted a new deadline; the prior calendar should not be treated as an active call.

The foundation lists scholarships@sdfoundation.org and its main office at 2508 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92106; phone 619-235-2300. Before applying, read the annual criteria matrix and pursue only awards whose requirements you can document. Applying is free, and the organization warns that legitimate scholarships do not require payment to guarantee an award.

Who it serves and what it can cover: One application opens access to more than 150 opportunities, with published awards ranging from $1,000 to more than $5,000. For 2026–27, general guidance included a 2.0 minimum GPA, at least one year of current residence in San Diego County, and FAFSA or California Dream Act information; individual funds may add criteria and documents.

How to apply or get help: The 2026–27 common application has closed; the foundation has not yet posted the next cycle’s dates. Questions: scholarships@sdfoundation.org or 619-235-2300. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information