The Kinship Fund Partner Grants 2025

The Kinship Fund is an initiative of the Nancy Neffson and Wetmore Family Foundation, established to support the resilience and well-being of women and girls. The foundation itself was founded by Nancy Neffson prior to her passing in 2021, and The Kinship Fund was formally launched in May 2023. The fund prioritizes partnerships with non-profit organizations in the San Diego region that are focused on removing barriers to opportunity, including poverty, lack of educational access, and involvement in the justice system. The grantmaking process is based on the principles of trust-based philanthropy, emphasizing relationships over reports, minimizing administrative burdens for applicants, and encouraging open and transparent communication.

The purpose of the Partner Grant program is to foster multi-year collaborations with non-profits working to address systemic inequities impacting women and girls in San Diego County. Funding can be used to support general operating expenses, capacity building efforts, specific projects, seed funding for new programs, challenge or matching grant needs, and innovation-focused initiatives. The fund is open to both established and grassroots organizations, including smaller nonprofits that may be in the early stages of development, provided they meet eligibility requirements.

To apply for a 2025 Partner Grant, interested organizations must submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) through The Kinship Fund’s grant portal by Friday, March 7, 2025. Applicants will first need to register for an account on the portal before completing the LOI. Selected organizations will be invited to submit a full application, with notifications sent by Monday, April 7, 2025. Full applications will then be due by Friday, April 18, 2025. This two-stage process allows The Kinship Fund to identify partners that align closely with their mission before requiring the more extensive final application.

The Partner Grants specifically focus on nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status or those fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3). Individuals and scholarship programs are not eligible. The fund seeks to work collaboratively with its grantee partners, aiming to reduce the administrative burden associated with grant applications and reporting, while accelerating the timeline between application submission and funding decisions. Multi-year grants are offered to provide consistent support over time.

The Kinship Fund is firmly rooted in the values of equity, humility, and mutual accountability. They emphasize the importance of learning from the communities they serve, centering the experiences of those closest to the challenges being addressed. For questions or additional information, interested applicants may contact Kim Jones at kim@kinshipfund.com or call 619-460-4458. The fund’s physical address is 8697 La Mesa Blvd., Suite C-102, La Mesa, CA 91942. The Federal Tax ID for the Nancy Neffson and Wetmore Family Foundation is 87-2907153.