Connect San Diego

Contents

Connect San Diego is a nonprofit organization based in San Diego, California, focused on convening leaders across civic, philanthropic, corporate, academic, and nonprofit sectors to address regional challenges. It acts as a local convener linking stakeholders from institutions such as University of California, San Diego, San Diego State University, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego Health, and corporate partners like Qualcomm and Petco to align resources and strategy. Connect San Diego works alongside entities including San Diego Association of Governments, County of San Diego, City of San Diego Office of the Mayor, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and philanthropic organizations such as The San Diego Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-affiliated initiatives.

Overview

Connect San Diego positions itself as a regional network and backbone organization connecting leaders from University of San Diego, California State University San Marcos, Scripps Health, Sharp HealthCare, San Diego International Airport, Port of San Diego, San Diego County Water Authority, San Diego Gas & Electric, and arts and culture institutions like San Diego Museum of Art and Old Globe Theatre. The organization convenes cross-sector forums with participation from decision-makers tied to USD School of Law, SDSU Fowler College of Business, Biocom California, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, and civic initiatives influenced by events such as the Democratic National Convention (2016) and policy efforts echoing California Governor's Office. Connect San Diego emphasizes collaborative strategies similar to those championed by networks like Collective Impact Forum and frameworks used by Nonprofit Finance Fund and Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Founded in 2005 amid regional conversations involving leaders from San Diego County Board of Supervisors, City Council of San Diego, San Diego Convention Center Corporation, and local philanthropists tied to Horton Plaza redevelopment discussions, Connect San Diego evolved from earlier civic coalitions linked to San Diego Chamber of Commerce and civic efforts that engaged Mayor Jerry Sanders and Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Early development drew advisors from academic centers such as Center on Policy Initiatives, UCSD Rady School of Management, and regional research organizations like SANDAG Research Center. Milestones include partnerships formed during economic cycles influenced by Great Recession (2007–2009), recovery initiatives associated with Obama administration regional grants, and strategic alignments with efforts by California Strategic Growth Council and workforce programs affiliated with California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.

Connect San Diego delivers convening services, leadership development, strategy labs, and sector-specific working groups engaging participants from San Diego County Office of Education, Career Education Center San Diego, Employee Development Center, and industry partners such as Illumina, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), NuVasive, Dexcom, and ResMed. Programs include convenings modeled after national initiatives by Aspen Institute, Brookings Institution, and RAND Corporation; fellowship programs inspired by Echoing Green and FELLOWSHIP programs at Harvard Kennedy School; and cross-sector task forces addressing housing and homelessness with partners like San Diego Housing Commission, United Way of San Diego County, Catholic Charities (San Diego), and Alpha Project for the Homeless. Connect San Diego also facilitates public-private partnerships with stakeholders including Caltrans District 11, Metropolitan Transit System (San Diego County), and environmental partners like San Diego Coastkeeper and Natural Resources Defense Council affiliates.

Governance of Connect San Diego involves a board and advisory councils drawing members from institutions such as Scripps Research Institute, US Marine Corps Recruiting Command, Navy Region Southwest, San Diego Padres (business partners), and major philanthropic donors connected to The Conrad Prebys Foundation and Irving and Cherna Moskowitz Foundation. Funding sources have included philanthropic grants from foundations like James Irvine Foundation, corporate sponsorships from firms such as Sony Electronics, General Atomics, and Northrop Grumman, and project grants coordinated with public agencies including California Department of Housing and Community Development, Health and Human Services Agency (San Diego County), and federal programs administered through Economic Development Administration. Financial oversight follows nonprofit standards practiced by organizations like Independent Sector and reporting norms associated with California Attorney General guidance.

Assessments of Connect San Diego's impact reference collaborations that intersected with initiatives by Regional Task Force on the Homeless (San Diego County), San Diego Workforce Partnership, San Diego Tourism Authority, and educational campaigns linked to San Diego County Public Health Services. Media coverage has appeared in outlets such as San Diego Union-Tribune, KPBS (TV) reporting, Voice of San Diego, and business press including San Diego Business Journal, with commentary from civic leaders comparable to Councilmember Todd Gloria, Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, and Congressman Scott Peters. Evaluations by local think tanks like Public Policy Institute of California and national evaluators like Urban Institute cite Connect San Diego's role in fostering cross-sector dialogue and catalytic projects, while critiques from community advocates associated with Housing California and ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties emphasize the need for measurable community outcomes and equity-focused metrics.

Category:Nonprofit organizations based in San Diego