The Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund (RSFWF) awarded $532,000 in grants to 11 nonprofit organizations serving communities across San Diego County during its annual Grants Celebration Meeting and Awards Luncheon on May 14 at the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club.

RSFWF is a collective giving organization whose members join together in meaningful and engaging ways to support innovative nonprofit programs addressing critical community needs throughout the greater San Diego region. Since its inception in 2004, the organization has contributed more than $6.7 million to 188 local nonprofit organizations and projects, a news release stated.

Through its annual grantmaking process, RSFWF seeks to fund programs in San Diego and North County that respond to urgent and/or critical community needs, launch bold new ventures, or bring a new approach to time-worn problems. This year the focus areas were health services and social services. Eleven recipients were selected through a rigorous year-long evaluation process led by the Fund’s Grants Committee and voted on by the organization’s membership.

The membership recognized and thanked outgoing Grants Committee Co-Chairs Maritia Walper and Sara Bennett for their exceptional leadership over the past two years. Under their guidance the grants cycle began with the review of 151 Letters of Intent, 46 organizations were invited to submit full proposals, the membership conducted 21 site visits, and ultimately 13 finalists presented to the full membership for a vote, the news release stated.

Fund member Janie Rohn presented the annual Gayle Gillies-Mize Award to Shelter to Soldier. This distinguished award is presented each year to the grant applicant that received the highest number of funding votes from RSFWF members.

The $35,000 award will support Shelter to Soldier’s Psychiatric Service Dogs for Veterans and Active-Duty Military Personnel Program. Professional dog trainers work with dogs rescued from shelters to make life-changing connections to help veterans reduce suicide risk, improve mental health, ease transitions to civilian life and bring lasting benefits to veterans’ families.

In addition to Shelter to Soldier, the following organizations were also 2026 Grant Recipients:University of California Health Milk Bank — Milk Bank Expansion ($75,000); A Step Beyond — Promoting Children’s Health Through Dance Program ($60,000); Hospice of North County — After-Hours Palliative Care Program ($75,000); Vista Community Clinic — Clear Vision Diabetes Care Program ($26,000); Alzheimer’s San Diego — ALZ Ally Program ($40,000); Feeding San Diego — College Pantry Program ($21,000); Rancho Coastal Humane Society — Veterinary Care Program for Low-Income Seniors ($50,000); San Diego Oasis — Oasis Access Program ($50,000); Agrarian Institute — Giving Tree Orchard: A Lasting Solution to Food Insecurity Program ($60,000); Words Alive — Read Aloud Program ($60,000).

Representatives from each organization attended the event to accept their awards and shared how the funding will advance their important work, according to the news release.

The organization also introduced its incoming new leadership team: Mara Buchholz, board chair for the 2027–2028 term; Laura Froelich and Staci Fournier, grants committee co-chairs; Nikki Ostrem, technology chair; Geri Savitt, publicity chair; Amy Myers, program chair; Anne Thorson and Jennifer Steber, social co-chairs; and Cheryl Salmen and Kelly Stroud, members at large.

The upcoming year will include many opportunities for RSFWF members to engage with each other and the community through grantmaking, service projects, networking, social gatherings and community events. To learn more about the RSFWF or to become a member, visit: www.rsfwomensfund.org.