In 2025, Prebys Foundation continued learning alongside our partners, supporting community-led efforts across arts, health, civic vitality, and beyond as we worked together toward a stronger, more equitable San Diego. And as shifting federal priorities created new pressures locally, we joined with community to respond quickly and collaboratively to emerging needs.
A Message from our CEO
In this video, Grant Oliphant shares a year-end message that takes viewers inside a landmark year defined by decisive action, collaborative leadership, and major progress across our grantmaking, partnerships, and civic initiatives. He reflects on how Prebys responded to unprecedented pressures while continuing to advance transformative ideas. Grant also offers a look at the strategic direction guiding our work as we move into 2026.
Grantmaking
In our fifth full year of grantmaking, shifting federal policies created unprecedented stress across the arts, health, medical research, and broader nonprofit sectors. Guided by a new 5‑point plan and informed by real-time community feedback, we expanded our support and strengthened partnerships to meet rising regional needs. In all, we increased our annual funding by more than $23 million, investing roughly $70 million to sustain stability, spark innovation, and amplify nonprofit voices across San Diego.
Arts & Culture
Prebys strengthened San Diego’s arts and culture ecosystem by protecting creative infrastructure, expanding access to space, and investing in cultural leadership. In response to public funding cuts and rising costs, we awarded $13.375 million in emergency grants — prioritizing operating support and funding for venues and spaces to keep doors open, artists working, and arts experiences accessible across the county. We also invested in long-term cultural infrastructure, including a new multidisciplinary arts hub in Downtown San Diego and an arts fellowship supporting arts-led neighborhood development. Together, these investments reinforced the arts as essential civic infrastructure and a driver of connection and belonging across San Diego.
Youth Success
Prebys advanced youth success by investing in initiatives that expand opportunity and stability for young people across San Diego. Through the Youth Workforce: Career Pathways initiative, we awarded $6 million to support paid training, apprenticeships, and wraparound services that help young adults build sustainable career paths. We also launched United for Youth with regional partners — a $5 million collaborative uniting more than 40 organizations to strengthen housing, employment, and mentorship for over 500 current and former foster youth. Together, these efforts create stronger, more equitable pathways to independence and long-term well-being.
Health & Well-Being
Prebys responded to historic federal disruptions in health and food assistance with targeted grantmaking to protect core community needs. We invested $3 million to strengthen the region’s food security network. At the same time, we awarded more than $4 million to community health organizations to extend care, innovate service models, and maintain access. Together, these efforts helped stabilize essential services and safeguard the health and well-being of San Diegans during a period of extraordinary strain.
Medical Research
Prebys responded to urgent federal funding cuts by deploying $7 million in rapid-response grants to seven of San Diego’s leading research institutions, helping stabilize critical programs and retain early- and mid-career scientists. We also hosted a public event to help San Diegans understand the effects of these cuts and how they can take meaningful action. Together, our grantmaking and community engagement efforts aimed to protect scientific talent, preserve momentum, and safeguard the medical discoveries that shape San Diego’s global leadership.
Healing Through the Arts & Nature
Prebys launched the Healing Through the Arts and Nature initiative with a $5.2 million investment supporting 59 nonprofits using creative and nature-based experiences to improve community well-being. We amplified grantee impact through storytelling and learning labs that strengthened how organizations measure and share results. Prebys also supported the launch of San Diego’s first social prescribing initiative, connecting healthcare and the arts through Art Pharmacy. Together, these efforts underscore the power of arts and nature to foster healing, connection, and healthier communities.
Catalytic and Civic
Through a set of cross-cutting investments, Prebys strengthened civic infrastructure, the nonprofit sector, and the conditions that allow communities to thrive. Highlights included launching Prebys Sparx to advance youth-centered innovation, investing $2 million in nonprofit journalism to support informed civic dialogue, and partnering on a bold new vision to revitalize the Downtown Civic Center as a vibrant cultural and civic hub shaped by community input. We also continued to elevate awareness and solutions around the Tijuana River pollution crisis through grantmaking and storytelling. These efforts represent just a portion of our additional grantmaking this year.
VAPA Foundation Wins Inaugural Prebys Sparx Award
$2 Million for Nonprofit News Outlets
Impact Investing
Prebys Foundation views impact investing as a powerful tool to advance community well-being alongside our grantmaking. As we refine our strategy, we’re aligning capital with the same values that guide our philanthropic work — equity, opportunity, and lasting impact. In this video, CFIO Gil Alvarez shares how we approach impact investing and why it matters for San Diego’s future.
2025 Prebys Leadership Awards
Earlier this year, the Prebys Foundation honored five exceptional leaders with the 2025 Prebys Leadership Awards. Each has made a powerful impact on well-being across San Diego — advancing healing, access to care, creative expression, and youth success. Each awardee received both recognition and a financial award to help them continue to lead in their community role.
Pediatric oncologist of UC San Diego and Rady Children’s Hospital
Former President and CEO of the Monarch School Project
Executive Director of the US-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership
Executive Director of Outdoor Outreach
Artistic Director of Arms Wide Open
Learning & Evaluation
Since launching our Strategic Plan in 2023, learning has become a core practice at Prebys Foundation—helping us stay accountable to community and guiding how we fund, partner, and show up across our impact areas. In this video, Dr. Novi Yarber shares how learning with community is shaping a more intentional, informed approach for the foundation.
Stop & Talk Podcast
Take a look back at Season 3 of Stop & Talk with this end-of-year listening guide, featuring conversations on health, creativity, community, and leadership across San Diego County.
Stop & Talk Podcast
People de San Diego
In 2025, our People de San Diego stories highlighted San Diegans discovering healing through creative expression, building community as newcomers to the country, and gaining new skills that open pathways to meaningful careers. By centering these personal journeys, from circus arts to playwriting to solar installation, the series shows how investment in community organizations creates opportunity, belonging, and well-being for real people.
Together, these stories reflect a more vibrant and connected region. One where everyone has a chance to grow and thrive.
2025 News
Beyond our grantmaking, we’re partnering across the region to tackle urgent priorities — from advancing the cleanup of the Tijuana River Valley and supporting Civic Center revitalization, to accelerating housing development and uniting for San Diego to help meet basic needs. These efforts reflect our commitment to work alongside community and local leaders to drive meaningful, lasting change. Click the links below to explore how collaboration fuels well-being across our region.
WAVES Festival
The Inaugural WAVES Festival Kicked Off May 6 – 7, 2025A Celebration of Well-being, Art, Vision, Entrepreneurship and Science in San Diego and Southern California, taking place at UCSD Scripps S...
