Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties

Name

Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties

Legal name

Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties

Website

https://catalystsd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), Nonprofit, Social Services & Community Development Congresses (THAHAJAO)

Keywords

• Membership association
• Philanthropy services
• Grantmaking collaboration
• Fiscal sponsorship
• Nonprofit infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from foundations, corporate giving programs, giving circles, donor advised funds, public charities, government funders, impact investors, and individual donors. Dues scale based on annual giving levels, ranging from $750 to $15,000 for grantmaking organizations.
2. Fiscal Sponsored Projects: Administrative and management fees from fiscal sponsorship of collaborative projects and initiatives, including Funders Together to End Homelessness San Diego, Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative San Diego, and others. 2024 income: $521,852.
3. Regranting: Facilitation of pooled grantmaking funds through member collaboratives. Note: In December 2024, a $1M regranting pledge was received to be distributed in 2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association that connects and activates funders in San Diego and Imperial Counties. The organization provides membership-based services including peer networking, collaborative action programs (Funders Together to End Homelessness San Diego, Binational Migration Funders, Climate Funders, Arts & Intersections), data and insights through the Catalyst Data Hub (powered by Impala), customized grants management and fiscal sponsorship services, learning events including an annual conference, and biweekly policy briefings.

Product overview

Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties operates as a nonprofit membership association serving the philanthropic sector. The organization's primary offerings include the Catalyst Data Hub (a comprehensive grantmaking data platform powered by Impala), multiple issue-focused collaboratives (Funders Together to End Homelessness San Diego, Binational Migration Funders, Climate Funders, Arts & Intersections, and others), Data & Insights services with regional research reports, Customized Support for grants management and program administration, Learning & Connecting programs including annual conferences, the Nancy Jamison Fund for Social Justice awards, and biweekly Policy Briefings. As part of Philanthropy California, Catalyst also participates in statewide initiatives. The organization functions as a community of funders rather than a technology product company, with its offerings centered on connecting, activating, and supporting philanthropic giving in the San Diego and Imperial Counties region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Philanthropy California: Statewide alliance of Northern California Grantmakers, Southern California Grantmakers, and Catalyst working together to increase impact in building and sustaining thriving, equitable communities. Combined membership represents more than 600 funding organizations.
• Catalyst Collaborative
• Nancy Jamison Fund for Social Justice
• Catalyst Data Hub
• Stop the Hate Program
• Yes in God's Backyard (YIGBY)

Products and services

• Catalyst Membership Annual membership association serving foundations, corporate giving programs, giving circles, donor advised funds, public charities, government grantmakers, impact investors, and individual donors. Members gain peer networking, collaborative action opportunities, data access via the Catalyst Data Hub, customized support, learning events, and policy advocacy voice.
• Catalyst Data Hub Comprehensive open-access platform providing profiles of nonprofits and foundations, grantmaking data, smart classification into curated ecosystems, deep grant transparency, and actionable insights for the San Diego & Imperial Counties philanthropic sector.
• Fiscal Sponsorship and Grants Administration Fiscal sponsorship and administrative management for collaborative initiatives including Funders Together to End Homelessness San Diego, San Diego Impact Investors Network, and Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative San Diego. Includes grants management and program administration informed by an equity-driven lens.
• Annual Catalyst Conference Premier annual philanthropy conference serving as the largest gathering in San Diego and Imperial Counties with 200+ participants, featuring keynotes, breakout sessions, peer networking, and learning opportunities for funders.
• Biweekly Policy Briefings Biweekly e-briefing publication providing funders with timely insights on federal, state, and local policy developments affecting funding, nonprofit operations, and communities served, along with collective response strategies.
• Catalyst Collaboratives Issue-based communities of action including Funders Together to End Homelessness San Diego, Binational Migration Funders, Climate Funders, Arts & Intersections, Sustained Support Fund, and Coordinated Regional Response Collaborative. Brings together members and cross-sector partners to share knowledge, build skills, and identify shared solutions to regional issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 100 programs annually for members
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Philanthropy CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Alliance of Northern California Grantmakers, Southern California Grantmakers, and Catalyst working together to increase impact in building and sustaining thriving, equitable communities. Combined membership represents more than 600 funding organizations who invest billions annually. Brings united voice for public policy, improved learning opportunities, and broader stakeholder engagement.
• ImpalacoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner powering the Catalyst Data Hub - an open-access platform providing comprehensive view of San Diego & Imperial Counties' philanthropic sector including nonprofit profiles, grantmaking data, and sector insights.
• Council on FoundationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational membership organization of foundations that fosters an environment where philanthropy can thrive. Catalyst participates as member and benefits from national network, resources, and best practice sharing.
• Mission Investors ExchangemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading impact investing network for foundations dedicated to deploying capital for social and environmental change. Over 200 members. Catalyst leverages resources and connections to help members increase impact investing practice.
• United Philanthropy ForummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest and most diverse network in American philanthropy. Membership network of 86 regional and national PSOs representing more than 7,000 funders. Catalyst participates in advocacy and learning at federal level.
• Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNation's only immigrant-focused philanthropy-supporting organization. Works with 130 member institutions, 1,200 individual grantmakers. Catalyst participates in Delivering on the Dream network for immigration-related funding collaboration.
• Grantmakers for Effective OrganizationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelps grantmakers turn desire to improve into real progress. Works with more than 6,000 grantmakers globally to lift up grantmaking practices that matter most to nonprofits.
• CandidmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides information to help funders evaluate and share work, access tools, and improve skills. Catalyst directs members to Candid resources for foundation research and data.
• Funders Together to End Homelessness (FTEH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnly philanthropic membership organization devoted to ending homelessness in the US. Catalyst hosts Funders Together to End Homelessness San Diego as fiscal sponsorship partner.
• The Funders NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of more than 170 national, regional and community foundations committed to sustainable, prosperous, and just communities. Smart Growth California initiative works in California.
• U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership (BPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBinational membership organization supporting network of organizations building prosperity through leadership, collaboration, and philanthropy in U.S.-Mexico Border region. Aligns with Catalyst's binational work.
• San Diego Regional Economic Development CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization. Partnered with Catalyst on 2020 Build Better Summit exploring equitable economy for San Diego region.
• University of San Diego Nonprofit InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvances USD's commitment to academic excellence and serves nonprofit community through research, training, and convenings. Joint programming and knowledge sharing.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PEAK Grantmaking: PSO that supports grantmaking practice, especially for grants management professionals. Operates in a closely adjacent niche and overlaps with Catalyst's Data & Insights and Customized Support offerings.
• Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees: National PSO focused on immigrant and refugee philanthropy. Catalyst partners with GCIR inside the Delivering on the Dream network and runs the Binational Migration Funders Collaborative.
• Mission Investors Exchange: National PSO dedicated to foundation impact investing with 200+ members. Catalyst partners with MIE to support its impact-investing membership tier, and the two compete and collaborate in the same funder-services space.
• The San Diego Foundation: Largest community foundation in the San Diego region and a charter member of Catalyst since 1976. Comparable grantmaking infrastructure player whose CEO and trustees are directly engaged in the same funder ecosystem Catalyst convenes.
• Exponent Philanthropy: PSO serving small-staffed foundations with peer learning, resources, and advocacy. Comparable member-driven PSO model targeting a foundation audience like Catalyst's.
• Southern California Grantmakers: Regional association of grantmakers serving funders in Southern California and the third partner in Philanthropy California. Directly comparable PSO model, membership structure, and advocacy focus.
• Northern California Grantmakers: Philanthropy-serving organization serving funders in Northern California and one of Catalyst's two alliance partners inside Philanthropy California. Operates with the same regional association of grantmakers business model.

Broad incumbents

• Council on Foundations: National membership organization of foundations that Catalyst already partners with. Represents the national-tier PSO that competes for member mindshare and convening attention.
• United Philanthropy Forum: National network of 86+ regional and other PSOs representing thousands of funders. Catalyst is an active member, and the Forum represents the umbrella tier above Catalyst in the PSO ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Funders Together to End Homelessness: National PSO focused on homelessness philanthropy whose San Diego chapter Catalyst fiscally sponsors. Directly comparable niche PSO model and a meaningful programmatic partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SDCatalyst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CatalystSD
• Facebookfacebook.com/SDCatalyst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catalystsd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties