Equitable Schools Fund

The Equitable Schools Fund is a movement, and we’re building something simple yet bold. Simple, because the inequities are clear when you look at our schools; and bold, because what we’re building challenges the way we’ve been taught to think about philanthropy and what it means to show up for our community.

At the heart of the ESF is the belief that every child in San Diego deserves a quality education and opportunities, no matter their zip code–and that when we come together as a community, we can harness our power to make this a reality.

Bold Vision, Urgent Action

Our bold goal is to change the system, while at the same time meeting the moment to address the inequities and fill the immediate gaps we see so clearly.

When we invest in the Equitable Schools Fund, we’re not just making a donation, we’re taking a stand, joining the movement along with hundreds of neighbors across San Diego in saying that the system is broken, and we have the power to change it.

Because the hard truth is that our public schools in San Diego are operating more like private institutions. In some neighborhoods, families and communities raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for their schools through PTAs and Foundations; while in other neighborhoods, many schools don’t even have an avenue for accepting donations through a PTA or Foundation, let alone the level of wealth to fundraise at anything near these levels.

Our ultimate goal is to change this system–essentially to put ourselves out of business. To get there, we need a movement of people standing up and saying: We see this, and we’re not going to turn away. Together, our collective voice will grow louder and stronger until policymakers and education leaders have no choice but to listen and act.

So yes, we are working toward systems change. And also yes – fundraising now is critical to closing the gaps that exist in the inequitable system that we see so clearly today. Students and schools across San Diego deserve the same level of investment and access to resources now, while we build the movement for long-term systemic change.

Centering Trust, Ensuring Accountability

Our approach centers trust in the wisdom of communities, while at the same time operating with transparency and accountability.

We center trust and empower communities to make their own decisions about what their schools need. Just as we trust our own PTAs to know what our neighborhood schools need and how to make that happen, we trust that schools and communities across San Diego do too. From student recognition to teacher appreciation to family events–we’re investing because we simply know that kids, teachers, and schools deserve these things, and that they matter.

While we don’t ask schools to prove to us that their specific initiatives “deserve” support, we do have clear guidelines, processes, transparency and accountability by funding through the established Community Schools framework. And the stories and successes that emerge are remarkable and transformative.

Everyone Has a Why

Everyone has a why as to why we’re here, why we’re choosing to be part of this movement. Some of us have seen these inequities firsthand, as a student or parent. Some of us are educators with a deep understanding of how resources can change outcomes. Some of us already support our own child’s school and want every school to have the same support. Whatever your why, it belongs here.

We’re not asking people to stop giving to their own schools. We’re asking them to see beyond their own neighborhood and recognize that generosity doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. We’re meeting people where they are, helping them see the inequities that many of us are unintentionally perpetuating. We believe there’s enough care, commitment, and resources in our community for every student to thrive.

It’s not up to any one of us alone to solve this…but it is on all of us to take action. When each of us brings our why to this work, we create a movement bigger than any one donation, bigger than any one school, and bigger than any of us alone. Together, our collective action can shine a light on inequity and move us closer to a San Diego where every student, school, and community has access to the opportunities they deserve.

The Equitable Schools Fund Team
November 2025