Catholic Community Foundation Of San Diego

What Catholic Community Foundation Of San Diego does

Catholic Community Foundation of San Diego (CCFSD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered at 4747 Morena Blvd., Suite 300, San Diego, California. Its mission is to foster and amplify Catholic philanthropy across San Diego and Imperial Counties. CCFSD serves two primary constituencies: Catholic institutions (parishes, K-8 schools, high schools, and ministries) and individual Catholic donors/families. For institutions, CCFSD hosts endowments and provides investment management aligned with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines — a discipline branded as "Catholic Values Investing." For individuals, it offers three core fund products (Donor Advised Fund, Donor Designated Fund, and Endowment Fund) plus planned-giving consultations, estate-planning workshops, and a Perpetual Light Society recognition program for estate-plan donors.

The foundation operates on the eCatholic fcsuite.com technology stack, comprising a public GIVING HUB for credit-card donations and a secure donor portal for fund management. There is no proprietary technology platform. As of fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, CCFSD held $47.0 million in total assets, managed 212 funds, distributed $3.67 million in grants during 2025, and has granted $30.0 million cumulatively since inception. Revenue mechanics derive from charitable contributions (cash, appreciated stock, QCDs from IRAs, real estate) and investment returns on stewarded assets, rather than explicit donor fees. Distribution occurs via donor-directed grants, foundation-directed Field of Interest grants (across seven Catholic priority areas), and direct institutional grants typically ranging $500–$5,000.

CCFSD is governed by an independent Board of Trustees (distinct from the Diocese of San Diego) and operates under both civil and canon law as an autonomous pious foundation. The organization is led by President Will Peterson (promoted from Executive Director effective June 1, 2026), with a lean staff including a Director of Finance and Operations and a newly hired Director of Partnerships and Planned Giving. GTM motions are relationship-led: direct institutional partnerships, parish-embedded workshops (Rise & Shine, Plan Your Legacy), and a digital GIVING HUB channel for consumer-level donations.

Name

Catholic Community Foundation Of San Diego

Legal name

Catholic Community Foundation of San Diego

Website

https://ccfsd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Catholic Community Foundation of San Diego is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that hosts endowments, manages USCCB-aligned Catholic Values Investing, and operates Donor Advised, Designated, and Endowment funds for Catholic parishes, schools, ministries, and individuals in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious Organizations (81311)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Endowments (Universities, Foundations, Nonprofits) (FSAAAGAC), Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB)

Keywords

• Catholic philanthropy
• Charitable giving
• Donor advised funds
• Endowment management
• Planned giving services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Charitable Contributions: The foundation receives donations and charitable contributions from individuals, families, and institutions. These contributions are used to build endowment funds and support grantmaking activities. Donors can contribute cash, appreciated stock, QCDs from IRAs, real estate, or other tangible estate assets.
2. Investment Management: The foundation stewards financial investments of partner institutions (parishes, schools, ministries) according to Catholic Values Investing standards. The investment returns grow partner giving capacity. Revenue is generated through the growth and performance of invested assets.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Catholic Community Foundation of San Diego is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that facilitates Catholic-aligned charitable giving through Donor Advised Funds, Donor Designated Funds, and Endowment Funds. It invests all assets in accordance with USCCB Catholic Values Investing guidelines and provides grantmaking, planned giving education, and Field of Interest Endowments to support individuals, families, parishes, schools, and ministries across San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Product overview

Catholic Community Foundation of San Diego is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 that operates as a philanthropic platform for Catholic individuals, families, and institutions. The core offerings include three fund types—Donor Advised Fund (DAF), Donor Designated Fund, and Endowment Fund—managed through the Giving Hub (fcsuite.com-based donation platform) and Portal systems. The Foundation provides Catholic Values Investing services adhering to USCCB guidelines and distributes grants through its Field of Interest Endowment Grant Program and CCFSD Grantmaking Program. Additional services include the Plan Your Legacy Workshop for parishes, the Rise & Shine Breakfast Series for Catholic school leaders, and the Perpetual Light Society recognition program for planned giving donors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) Charitable giving accounts that allow Catholic donors to make irrevocable contributions, receive tax benefits, and recommend grants over time to qualified Catholic and charitable organizations. Designed for individuals and families seeking a flexible, faith-aligned vehicle for ongoing philanthropy.
• Donor Designated Funds Funds established by donors to benefit one or more specific Catholic parishes, schools, or ministries chosen at the time the fund is created. Suited for donors who want to direct their giving to particular Catholic institutions in San Diego and Imperial Counties.
• Endowment Funds Long-term invested funds where the principal is preserved and grants are distributed from earnings to support Catholic parishes, schools, seminarians, and ministries in perpetuity. Designed for donors and institutions seeking permanent, sustainable funding for Catholic causes.
• Catholic Values Investing Investment management of all Foundation assets in accordance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) guidelines on Catholic Values Investing. Applied across Donor Advised Funds, Donor Designated Funds, and Endowment Funds to ensure all capital deployment aligns with Catholic Social Teaching.
• Field of Interest Endowment Grant Program Field of Interest Endowments established by the Foundation across five Catholic priorities—vocations, seminarian formation, Catholic education, life and dignity, and evangelization. The Foundation issues grants from these pooled endowments to nonprofits, parishes, and schools advancing each priority area.
• Plan Your Legacy Workshop Educational workshop series that equips Catholic donors with the knowledge and tools to plan charitable gifts through wills, estates, and other planned giving vehicles. Targeted at individuals and families interested in leaving a Catholic legacy.
• Rise & Shine for Catholic Education Breakfast Series Annual breakfast series dedicated to advancing Catholic education in San Diego and Imperial Counties, gathering donors, school leaders, and community supporters to sustain and grow the Foundation's Catholic education endowment.
• Giving Hub (Online Donation Portal) Online giving platform that allows donors to contribute to the Foundation's funds and Field of Interest Endowments through a dedicated portal. Designed for one-time and recurring online donations.
• CCFSD Grantmaking Program The Foundation's overarching grantmaking program that distributes grants to parishes, schools, and Catholic nonprofits across San Diego and Imperial Counties, including from Field of Interest Endowments. Since 2015 the program has directed $30 million in grants to Catholic causes.

Quantifiable outcome

• $47.0M in assets held, $3.67M grants distributed in 2025, $30.0M granted since inception
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015CCFSD adheres to USCCB's 'Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines' for Catholic institutions and individuals. These investment principles focus on protecting human life, promoting human dignity, reducing arms production, pursuing economic justice, protecting the environment, and encouraging corporate responsibility.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Boston: Independent Catholic foundation serving Eastern Massachusetts with donor-advised funds, endowments, and parish endowment programs. Comparable in mission and three-fund product structure, though operating in a larger and older Catholic market.
• Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Green Bay: Diocesan Catholic foundation offering endowment funds, planned giving, and grants to parishes and schools in Northeast Wisconsin. Closely comparable as a regional Catholic philanthropy hub with parish-embedded distribution.
• The Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Hartford: Regional Catholic community foundation providing endowment and planned-giving services to Catholic parishes, schools, and ministries in Connecticut. Closely comparable product set and parish-relationship-driven GTM.
• Catholic Community Foundation of Minneapolis and St. Paul: An independent Catholic community foundation serving the Twin Cities Catholic community with donor-advised funds, endowments, and grantmaking. Directly comparable in mission, structure (501(c)(3) + canon-law entity), and product mix to CCFSD.

Broad incumbents

• National Christian Foundation (NCF): The largest Christian-affiliated donor-advised fund sponsor in the U.S., offering giving accounts aligned with biblical/religious values. Comparable as a faith-based DAF and grantmaking platform, but operates nationally and across denominations rather than as a single Catholic community foundation.
• Fidelity Charitable: The largest U.S. donor-advised fund sponsor with national scale, sophisticated digital donor experience, and broad investment menus. Competes for the same Catholic wealth and estate gifts CCFSD targets, though without USCCB-aligned values investing.
• Schwab Charitable: Major national donor-advised fund sponsor affiliated with Charles Schwab, offering investment options and giving accounts to high-net-worth donors. Competes with CCFSD for planned-giving and charitable wealth transfer dollars at the regional Catholic level.

Regional players

• The San Diego Foundation: The largest community foundation serving San Diego County, managing over $1B in assets and offering donor-advised funds and scholarship funds. Direct regional peer with overlapping donor base and territory, though secular and operating at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ccfsd.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catholic-community-foundation-san-diego
• Instagraminstagram.com/ccfsandiego

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Catholic Community Foundation Of San Diego