San Diego Lions Club Welfare Foundation
The Evolving Mission
The San Diego Lions Club Welfare Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity and has been a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation since 1944. The Foundation’s EIN is 33-0299972.
The San Diego Lions Club Welfare Foundation is the agency that funds charity and public service operations for the Downtown San Diego Lions Club. It is recognized as a charitable organization by government authorities and is accorded tax-exempt status with respect to contributions and bequests made for charitable purposes. With almost $5 million in our Welfare Foundation funds, financial stewardship is sounder than ever.
Building upon a plan of offering assistance to the sight and hearing-impaired, the Downtown San Diego Lions Club continues to support these worthwhile projects, but as today’s society evolves and changes, so too does its needs. The Downtown San Diego Lions Club, ever mindful of the changing times, has now taken an active role in programs involving at-risk youth, the elderly, the developmentally-challenged, and otherwise disadvantaged members of our society. We are the vanguard in providing support to our local Military and Veterans.
The Downtown San Diego Lions Club conducts and funds its charitable work through the San Diego Lions Welfare Foundation. There is no better investment in the future of San Diego. By donating to the San Diego Lions Welfare Foundation or making the Foundation a beneficiary of your estate, you will continue to serve our community for many years. It’s a continuing service record of which to be proud and donations are welcome. Please donate to support those we serve!
Charitable Grants since July 1, 1996
- 1996-1997: $ 72,135
- 1997-1998: $149,022
- 1998-1999: $123,570
- 1999-2000: $260,763
- 2000-2001: $123,541
- 2001-2002: $149,686
- 2002-2003: $138,852
- 2003-2004: $136,204
- 2004-2005: $131,872
- 2005-2006: $149,808
- 2006-2007: $154,665
- 2007-2008: $368,139
- 2008-2009: $188,676
- 2009-2010: $450,896
- 2010-2011: $187,155
- 2011-2012: $203,692
- 2012-2013: $219,356
- 2013-2014: $195,561
- 2014-2015: $182,595
- 2015-2016: $196,239
- 2016-2017: $184,622
- TOTAL: $3,967,049 through June 30, 2017
Groups assisted
- Armed Services YMCA
- The ARC of San Diego
- Blind Community Center (a capital project)
- Boys & Girls Clubs
- Campfire Boys & Girls
- College Opportunity Program
- Community Campership Council
- ElderHelp
- Family Literacy Foundation
- Hannah’s House
- Home Start Project
- Junior Achievement of San Diego
- Lions Camp Jack
- Meals on Wheels
- Partners With Industry
- San Diego Center for the Blind (a capital project)
- San Diego Council on Literacy
- San Diego Rescue Mission
- Second Chance/Strive
- Senior Community Center
- St. Paul’s Manor and Health Center (a capital project)
- Mark Twain High School
- Traveler’s Aid Society of San Diego
- USO
- Valencia Park School
- Veterans Village of San Diego
- Voices for Children
Charitable Funding Requests
Who do We Help?
Individuals and groups living in or serving the City of San Diego may request funds.
The Downtown San Diego Lions Club, through its San Diego Lions Welfare Foundation, endeavors to assist individuals and non-profit groups in the local San Diego area who cannot find funding from any other source. It may be an eye prosthesis for an economically disadvantaged resident of San Diego or it may be a van for blind citizens donated to the San Diego Center for the Blind. It may be a laptop computer for a Veteran disabled in the line of duty or it may be the funding to send at-risk youth to camp.
Do we still assist the blind? You bet! But we do so much more for those living in San Diego!
Our Decision Process
We have three standing committees that consider grant requests for the community.
The Sight and Hearing Committee considers all requests from individuals and groups that have to do with hearing or sight loss. Individuals who require specialized equipment to compensate for these losses may apply. Individuals who require eye surgery may apply. Groups that assist the sight and hearing impaired may request funds through this committee.
The Youth Activities Committee considers all requests from individuals and groups that have to do with youth under the age of 18. We will entertain requests to support local activities for under-funded groups. We support local agencies such as the Boys & Girls Clubs, Scouts, Camp Fire, etc. We assist schools and are partnered with Valencia Park School and Twain Jr./Senior High.
The Community Services Committee considers all requests that do not fall under the auspices of the first two committees. These include, but are not limited to, assistance for disabled adults, seniors, and the all military service members.
Please note that there are no funding decisions in December. The final decision to fund a grant request is made by the Trustees of the Welfare Foundation.
Before Submitting a Grant Request consider
If you do not live in the City of San Diego or your group serves another city in the County, please contact your local Lions Club in your area.
Organizations Seeking Assistance
The organization must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency serving the City of San Diego or residents of San Diego County.
The Downtown San Diego Lions Club funds grant requests for equipment and capital improvements of a one-time nature. Our By-Laws restrict us from providing operating funds to agencies that are affiliated with the United Way, although we can fund capital items for these groups. We do not fund capital fund drives of other agencies, nor do we provide aid for individuals or organizations outside the United States, except through recognized international charitable agencies.
If your group qualifies, please fully complete the Non-Profit Grant Application and attach all required documents per the instructions. If you need multiple items, please provide an itemized list with item cost, so the committee may select an item or items that best fit into the budgetary process of the Foundation. Grants typically take 8 to 12 weeks to fund. Incomplete Grant Applications will be returned.
Individuals Seeking Sight and Hear Assistance
If you require eyeglasses or eye surgery, please refer to this link for instructions: Link?
If you require a Hearing Aid, please refer to this link for instructions: Link?
The San Diego Lions Club will consider requests to assist to those living in the City of San Diego and can demonstrate financial need for a variety of situations.
Individual Grants Typically Funded
The Welfare Foundation funds grants for specialized equipment for disabled persons, camper scholarships for disabled or at-risk youth, and assistance with surgeries.
Individual Grant Not Funded
The Welfare Foundation will not fund school sponsored youth field trips, pageants, rent, phone bills, or other monthly living expenses.