Every year, after the shopping fervor of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, comes Giving Tuesday, a global initiative encouraging people to use their dollars for good. There’s no specific charity or organization tied to the movement—instead, you’re welcomed to choose the cause that lights you up and donate accordingly. To help you find the recipient closest to your heart, we rounded up 40 San Diego nonprofits fighting for social justice, environmental conservation, and everything in between. Donate your time or money to one of these meaningful organizations making a difference locally.
Feeding San Diego is one of the county’s most impactful hunger-relief organizations. To date, the nonprofit has provided San Diegans with more than 350 million meals through initiatives such as food drives, CalFresh program assistance, school pantries, food rescue programs, and more. The organization utilizes excess stock from local grocery stores and farms to reduce food waste while fighting hunger in our area.
The San Diego food bank distributed 50 million pounds of food last year and serves nearly half a million people every month across the county. As they advocate for the hungry and provide them with nutritious food, they educate others about issues related to food insecurity locally.
Lucky Duck Foundation
Lucky Duck funds and leads programs focused on aiding San Diego’s homeless population. The organization connects individuals to shelters, provides employment opportunities and job training, and delivers food and water to unhoused people.
Father Joe’s Villages
Established in 1950, Father Joe’s Villages have been a beacon of hope for San Diego’s homeless population. Each night, their shelters house 2,000 individuals, offering food, housing, and opportunities for those faced with serious illness, mental health issues, substance abuse, and domestic violence. Through their food, housings, education, and family services, Father Joe’s Village serves as a sanctuary for those in dire need within the local community.
Sharia’s Closet
Founded in 2006 by Shamine, Sharia’s Closet began with her personal mission to gather clothes, diapers, and hygiene essentials for those in need throughout San Diego. Today, this nonprofit has aided over 55,000 individuals, dedicated to providing emergency clothing to families and individuals facing crises.
Courtesy of the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties
Social Justice Organizations
This Is About Humanity
This Is About Humanity focuses on helping children separated from their families at the border. The org supports families by providing legal services, mental wellness checkups, and living essentials. It also funds educational trips to the border and fights for changes to the US asylum system.
GenerateHope
Founded by Susan Munsey, LCSW, GenerateHope provides sex trafficking survivors long-term care, mental health services, safe housing, and comprehensive education programs to help them reintegrate into society and build brighter futures. To date, the program has helped more than 160 women in San Diego.
Support the Enlisted Project
Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) aims to develop financial literacy among enlisted service members and recently discharged veterans. STEP offers counseling, education, and grants to military members and their families. The organization also maintains an emergency financial assistance program and distributes food, supplies for babies, and other items to military families in need.
Fundación Tijuana Sin Hambre
During the pandemic, Mexico reached its highest poverty level in a century. In response, Maru Rique created Tijuana Sin Hambre, an organization fighting hunger in San Diego’s sister city across the border. The nonprofit delivers 3,000 meals per day to shelters and orphanages throughout Tijuana.
AMVETS
AMVETS (American Veterans) works to assist local veterans through mental and physical health resources and housing programs. You can also support AMVETS by shopping at its two local thrift stores.
ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a public interest law firm working to protect human rights in the US. The organization’s local branch fights for equality, immigrant rights, reproductive justice, education equity, housing equity, and LGBTQ rights through litigation and lobbying efforts.
Courtesy of the Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation
Health & Medical Charities
Scripps Health Foundation
As the most highly ranked hospital in San Diego County, Scripps focuses on philanthropy with the new Here for Good campaign, which is raising funds for the expansion of the Scripps medical system and community programs. The Scripps Health Foundation supports medical research and care for patients facing cancer, Covid, neurological issues, and more.
Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation
The Rady Children’s Hospital is considered one of the top ten children’s hospitals in the US. Its foundation funds orthopedic, cardiovascular, neurological, genomic, and mental health research for local kids.
San Diego Blood Bank
San Diego Blood Bank donates 150,000 units of blood per year to hospitals throughout Southern California. The nonprofit also supports research into more advanced blood type matching and the usage of umbilical cord blood to treat various diseases.
San Ysidro Health
San Ysidro Health offers affordable care in more than 20 clinics across San Diego County. Children and adults can utilize San Ysidro Health for medical, dental, and behavioral or mental health services.
Foundations of Sharp HealthCare
The Foundations of Sharp HealthCare plays a vital role in supporting San Diegans through critical medical services, groundbreaking clinical research, and compassionate caregivers across multiple campuses throughout the city. Donations to this foundation contribute to emergency health services, art-based healing initiatives, support for women and newborns, rehabilitation programs, and various other philanthropic efforts.
GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego
Since 2018, GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego has been supporting more than 600 families in the area, offering free educational, therapeutic, and career-building programs for individuals with Down syndrome from prenatal stages to adulthood. Run by primarily by volunteers, GiGi’s Playhouse strives to help participants and their families reach their highest potential
Courtesy of Baja Animal Sanctuary
Animal Charities
Baja Animal Sanctuary
Established in 1997, Baja Animal Sanctuary is Northern Mexico’s only no-kill shelter. The organization sterilizes stray and abandoned animals, cares for more than 400 pets at its Rosarita campus, and finds forever homes for rescued cats and dogs.
In addition to functioning as a shelter for rescued dogs and cats, the Helen Woodward Animal Center delivers pet food to homebound, low-income, and disabled seniors and veterans; offers educational and animal therapy programs; and operates two animal hospitals. Since its founding in 1972, the organization has taken in 44,483 animals and successfully found homes for 29,474 of them.
San Diego Humane Society
Every year, the San Diego Humane Society cares for over 40,000 animals, while sharing its expertise with other shelters nationwide. The organization raises orphaned baby cats in its kitten nursery, rehabilitates wild animals, and teaches kids about pet safety, among other programs.
FACE Foundation
The Foundation for Animal Care and Education (FACE) partners with local veterinary hospitals and healthcare providers to offer assistance to at-risk pet owners. The organization serves low-income families, seniors, students, military, and anyone at risk of losing their beloved pet by supplying financial support for vital veterinary care.
Courtesy of Voices for Children
Youth & Elderly Nonprofits
Voices for Children
Voices for Children has supported the needs and well-being of local children in foster care for more than 40 years. The organization trains and supports Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers who spend time with kids in foster care and champion their needs before a judge.
South Bay Community Services
South Bay Community Services aids children and adults in need in the southern region of San Diego County. The organization offers early childhood education, mental health services, an LGBTQ center, resources for survivors of domestic violence, housing support, and other diverse programs. Through community efforts, the nonprofit has positively impacted the lives of over 50,000 children each year
ElderHelp
With over 350 volunteers committed to helping older adults live independently, ElderHelp coordinates care for seniors and provides transportation to appointments and social activities. Operating since 1974, the organization also helps connect seniors with affordable housing and provides other essential services for our community’s elders.
Meals on Wheels San Diego County
Meals on Wheels has delivered 624,887 nutritious meals to the homes of San Diego’s senior citizens. Volunteers also conduct safety checks and spend time with meal recipients to ensure the physical and mental well-being of local residents 60 years and older.
Teri Campus of Life
Founded in 1980, TERI Campus of Life provides lifelong support, education and vocational training to neurodiverse children, adults and families throughout Southern California. Its programs now serve more than 900 individuals and families each year, offering residential care, life skills training and community‑integrated support.
Promises2Kids, a dedicated San Diego organization, focuses on uplifting the foster youth population by providing them with invaluable opportunities, tools, and guidance. Over 3,000 foster youth have found support through developmental screenings, pet therapy, mentoring programs, engaging extracurricular activities, higher education counseling, and fundraising initiatives, all of which have been instrumental in helping them overcome various challenges.
Big Brothers Big Sisters San Diego
For 55 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego has been a cornerstone for local youth, offering personalized mentoring that empowers children to strive for positive outcomes. This local chapter arranges frequent mentoring sessions, typically 2-4 times each month, and offers tailored programs catering to San Diego’s diverse populations, including the deaf, Latino, and military communities.
Arts & Culture Nonprofits
San Diego Symphony
Founded in 1910, the San Diego Symphony performs more than 140 concerts each year in addition to bringing music programs to local elementary, middle, and high school students. The organization hosts a paid summer internship program for teenagers, helping them develop leadership and public speaking skills.
Resounding Joy
Resounding Joy utilizes music therapy to aid those suffering from depression, PTSD, brain injuries, and other disorders. The organization offers programs specifically tailored to children, military service members, and senior citizens, including songwriting workshops and music lessons.
Balboa Park Cultural Partnership
Balboa Park’s collaborative brings together 25 members of its art, science, and cultural organizations—including museums, performing arts groups, cultural centers, gardens, and the San Diego Zoo—to increase the park’s environmental sustainability and improve visitor experience.
Las Patronas
Since 1946, this devoted team of volunteers has partnered with nonprofits across San Diego County to fundraise and provide grants for key community services that benefit health, education, and cultural arts. Las Patronas generates funds through initiatives and events such as their annual Jewel Ball—a social, philanthropic tradition in San Diego.
Kitchens for Good
Established in 2014, Kitchens for Good is a San Diego nonprofit harnessing the power of food to transform lives. Since launching its Baking and Hospitality Apprenticeship program in 2016, the organization has provided over 700 individuals with hands-on training in culinary, baking, and hospitality skills, aiming to break cycles of poverty and promote sustainable community growth.
Courtesy of Serge Dedina
Environmental Conservation Nonprofits
Surfrider Foundation
Surfrider San Diego is an environmental activism group centered on the protection of local beaches and coastal habitats. This organization combats plastic waste and ocean pollution through research, beach cleanups, and efforts to pass national and local legislation.
Wildcoast
This international team strives to conserve Earth’s ecosystems and address climate change. Wildcoast manages protected areas, advocates for conservation policies, promotes ocean wildlife education, and works to protect coastal communities across Mexico, Cuba, and the US.
Berry Good Food Foundation
Founded with a focus on regional, sustainable food systems, the Berry Good Food Foundation has built a network of farmers, chefs, and scientists to improve local access to healthy food, reduce food insecurity, and provide nutrition education for San Diegans.
Living Coast Discovery Center
Located in Chula Vista, the Living Coast Discovery Center advocates for local wildlife through education and conservation efforts. The Discovery Center offers exhibits highlighting San Diego–area sea creatures, birds, and insects and hosts community events, local cleanups, and other projects.
I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD)
Originating as the San Diego War Against Litter Committee in 1954, I Love A Clean San Diego has spent over seven decades serving the community to keep San Diego beautiful and sustainable. In partnership with the San Diego Ecology Center since 1989, ILACSD organizes more than 600 community cleanups each year, collecting nearly half a million pounds of litter and working toward a zero-waste future for the region.
ECOLIFE Conservation
Founded by renowned conservation biologist Bill Toone, ECOLIFE Conservation is a San Diego nonprofit tackling major global threats to both people and wildlife. Known for its impactful initiatives, the organization has established the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico and delivered over 13,500 eco-stoves, which have preserved more than half a million trees in the process.
