The EPIP-SD Giving Circle, formed in March 2018, is excited to announce its first grant to San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN). Our Giving Circle was designed to bring together emerging social change leaders interested in personally supporting San Diego nonprofits that are working toward equity and social justice in the region. 

The continual and emerging challenges faced by San Diego’s immigrant community rose to the top as a critical issue in need of immediate support. SDRRN is a coalition of human rights and service organizations, attorneys, and community leaders dedicated to aiding immigrants and their families in the San Diego border region and across San Diego County. SDRRN supports immigrant community members facing rights violations as well as humanitarian issues, including family separation and unjust deportation of asylum seekers. Their work has several components:

• a 24-hr hotline manned by trained volunteers;
• legal resources to combat fraudulent/predatory legal activities;
• wraparound services (e.g., mental health care) that immigrant families may avoid when there is widespread fear in the community;
• education and community outreach to raise awareness of immigrants’ legal rights;
• advocacy efforts in partnership with the ACLU around protecting constitutional rights.

The Giving Circle’s $500 award is unrestricted, though SDRRN shared that it could potentially be used for training community volunteers for the hotline and direct response services, or allocated to the salary of a new volunteer coordinator. “A grant from EPIP SD, while small, could be helpful in building recognition among other potential funders as SDRRN works toward their larger fundraising goals.” said Sarah Setiawan, EPIP SD Steering Committee Vice Chair.

As a group of emerging leaders from across the San Diego social sector, Giving Circle members also embrace the idea that funders have many resources at their fingertips beyond financial gifts. “We can use our connections, visibility, and knowledge of the broader social sector to raise the profile of outstanding organizations in our community. We can meet and personally engage with rising nonprofit leaders working across San Diego County.” said Alexandra Edlund, EPIP SD Steering Committee Member.

The EPIP SD Giving Circle initially set out to select one grantee in this funding cycle. However, after interviewing grantees and understanding their needs, giving circle members agreed that an additional grant was warranted. The $250 unrestricted contribution was made possible through EPIP SD Chair Ryan Ginard’s Emerging Leaders Fund at the San Diego Foundation, and will go to Traveling Stories, which works to empower children through reading and money management skills. The grant could help support a coordinator position to manage the StoryTent program that creates positive experiences associated with reading. 

The other two nonprofit nominees were Space 4 Art, a creative live/work hub for local artists, and YALLA, a nonprofit using soccer to inspire refugee and immigrant youth to achieve a college education. Please contact EPIP SD if you would like to learn more about the Giving Circle’s research on any of these nonprofits or how you can get connected to them personally! 

The EPIP SD Giving Circle welcomes new members at any time. Membership in EPIP is encouraged but not required to join the circle. There is a minimum commitment of $10/month for at least one grant cycle (six months).