San Diego community nonprofits receive $425,000 from Airbnb

Airbnb is pleased to share that five San Diego nonprofits will receive Airbnb Community Fund donations to help advance local initiatives that aim to strengthen communities across the city. In total, these organizations will receive a cumulative $425,000 to support their work. These organizations include:

• City Heights CDC, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego through several programs including eviction prevention, affordable housing, transportation and planning and economic development programs. 

• Jewish Family Service, a national organization with a San Diego chapter supporting the community through programs like the Safe Parking Program, providing safety, resources, and support to unsheltered San Diegans living in their vehicles, and helping families transition to permanent housing.

• San Diego Parks Foundation, a nonprofit committed to improving quality-of-life through equitable investments in parks and recreation opportunities. Airbnb’s  investment will help fund the construction of a new Encanto Skateboard Plaza, providing a vibrant, inclusive skateboard plaza for youth and families.

• San Diego River Park Foundation, whose mission is to engage and inspire people to reimagine the San Diego River as a thriving natural and recreational treasure. Airbnb’s contribution will support their Grant Park program, providing hands-on experience-based STEM learning to classrooms from socioeconomically diverse communities, doubling the number of children that can participate each year.

• Sharia’s Closet, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring dignity, confidence, and hope to individuals and families in crisis. Airbnb’s contribution will directly support programs like The Bag of Hope initiative that provides personalized care packages filled with clothing, hygiene products, and comfort items to San Diegans in need including survivors of domestic violence and families displaced by disaster.

Launched in 2020, the Airbnb Community Fund is a $100 million initiative to directly support local communities and the people who live there. Each year, we donate to organizations that are supporting and strengthening communities around the world. 

“Airbnb hosts and guests in San Diego contribute greatly to the community. Now, through the Airbnb Community Fund, we’re proud to deepen that impact by supporting a range of nonprofit partners who tirelessly work to assist neighbors, create new opportunities for learning and recreation, safeguard the environment, and help ensure San Diego remains a strong and thriving place for generations to come.” – Janaye Ingram, Director of Community Partner Programs & Engagement, Airbnb. 

“We’re incredibly grateful to Airbnb for their support through the Community Fund. This donation helps us expand our work to create a more vibrant, inclusive, and connected City Heights. With this funding, we’re able to deepen our efforts around community engagement, support local leadership, and invest in programs that improve quality of life for our residents. Partnerships like this are essential to building a stronger, more resilient neighborhood for everyone who calls City Heights home.” – Alexis Villanueva, President & CEO, City Heights CDC

“We’re deeply grateful to Airbnb for their support of our Safe Parking Program. Their partnership helps ensure that individuals and families living in their vehicles have a safe place to rest, connect with vital resources, and take the next step toward stability and housing. Thanks to Airbnb, we’re turning compassion into action and action into lasting change, helping people move forward with hope.” – Dana Toppel, CEO, Jewish Family Service San Diego

“This Encanto project is about more than a skateboard plaza, it’s about equity, access, and empowering the next generation. Thanks to Airbnb, we are creating a space where Encanto youth can feel seen, supported, and inspired.” – Leona Subblet, CEO, San Diego Parks Foundation 

“Thanks to Airbnb’s generous support, we’ll be able to provide meaningful outdoor learning experiences that will have a lasting impact on the lives of San Diego’s youth. Airbnb’s ‘belong anywhere’ motto truly comes to life through this partnership—because all youth belong outdoors, discovering and connecting with nature.” – Rob Hutsel, President & CEO, San Diego River Park Foundation

“Through Sharia’s Closet’s Bag of Hope program, this generous donation from Airbnb will empower our program to deliver clothing and basic necessities to individuals and families facing hardship.” – Shamine Linton Founder & CEO, Sharia’s Closet 

Each year, we’re proud to partner with local hosts to identify and select non-profit organizations to receive Community Fund donations. Hosts play a key role in helping to ensure our funding supports local priorities and directly benefits the communities that need it most. In San Diego, our host community led the way in selecting Sharia’s Closet. 

“Being part of Airbnb’s Community Fund process is truly an honor. As a San Diegan, it’s incredibly rewarding to help direct support to nonprofits like Sharia’s Closet, knowing our choices are making a real difference for our neighbors and strengthening the community I call home.” – Guillermo, Airbnb Community Leader in San Diego

To learn more about the Airbnb Community Fund and past recipients, please visit www.airbnb.com/communityfund.