Who do we help?

Individuals and groups living in or serving the City of San Diego may request funds.

The San Diego Lions Club, through its Welfare Foundation, endeavors to assist individuals and non-profit groups in the local San Diego area who cannot find funding from any other source. It may be an eye prosthesis for an economically disadvantaged resident of San Diego, or it may be a van for blind citizens donated to the San Diego Center for the Blind. It may be a laptop computer for a Navy seaman disabled in the line of duty, or it may be the funding to send at-risk youth to camp in the mountains.

Do we still assist the blind? You bet! But we do so much more for San Diegans!

Our Decision Process

We have three standing committees that consider funding requests for the community.

The SIGHT/HEARING Committee considers all requests from individuals and groups that have to do with hearing or sight loss. Individuals who need specialized equipment to compensate for these losses may apply. Individuals who need eye surgery may apply. Groups that assist the sight and hearing impaired may request funds through this committee.

The S/H committee generally meets on the first Thursday of each month. To make the funding cycle, your request must be received in some form at least eight days before this date. If you need eyeglasses or hearing aids, please go to Resources/Affiliates/Links.

The YOUTH ACTIVITIES Committee considers all requests from individuals and groups that have to do with children under the age of 18. We will entertain requests to support local activities for under-funded groups. We support local agencies such as the Boys & Girls Clubs, Scouts, Camp Fire, etc. We assist schools and are partnered with Valencia Park School and Twain Jr./Senior High.

The Youth Activities Committee generally meets the first Tuesday of each month. To make the funding cycle, your request must be received in some form at least eight days before this date.

The COMMUNITY SERVICES Committee considers all requests that do not naturally fall under the auspices of the first two committees listed. These include, but are not limited to, assistance for disabled adults, seniors, and the military.

The Community Services Committee generally meets the second Wednesday of each month. To make the funding cycle, your request must be received in some form at least eight days before this date.

Please note that there are no funding decisions in December. Please consider this in the timing of your proposal.

The final decision to fund a request is made by the Trustees of the Welfare Foundation.

Before submitting a funding request, be sure you will be considered

If you do not live in the City of San Diego or your group serves another city in the County, please go to the Resources/Affiliates/Links for the link to the Lions International Website. There you can locate a contact person in the Lions Club in your area.

A Group Seeking Assistance

The group must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency serving the City of San Diego or residents of San Diego County which include the City.

The San Diego Lions Club prefers to fund requests for equipment and capital improvements of a one-time nature. Our By-Laws restrict us from providing operating funds to agencies that are affiliated with the United Way, although we can fund capital items for these groups. We may not donate to the capital fund drives of other agencies, nor may we provide aid for individuals or organizations outside the U.S., except through recognized international charitable agencies.

If your group qualifies, please write a letter explaining your need and complete Sections I and II of the Charitable Request Form. If you need multiple items, it is helpful to provide a complete list with attached prices, so that the committee may select an item or items that best fit into the budgetary process of the Foundation.

Mail your request to the LIONS CLUB OF SAN DIEGO, 310 MARKET ST., SAN DIEGO, CA 92101, or fax your packet to (619) 239-3539. Funding, if approved at all levels, generally takes from four to eight weeks. PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR PHONE NUMBER and/or EMAIL address in your request.

An Individual Seeking Assistance

IF YOU NEED EYEGLASSES OR EYE SURGERY, please refer to the Resources/Affiliates/Links on this website for instructions.

IF YOU NEED A HEARING AID, please refer to the Resources/Affiliates/Links on this website for instructions.

The San Diego Lions Club will consider requests to assist U.S. citizens who live in the City of San Diego and can demonstrate financial need for a variety of situations.

Some of Individual Request That We Will Consider

Specialized equipment for handicapped persons, camperships for disabled or at-risk youth, assistance with surgeries.

Individual Requests That We Will Not Consider

Funding for school sponsored youth field trips (in or out of state), funding for pageants, funding to pay rent, phone bills, or other regular monthly living expenses.

Write a letter explaining your financial situation, and complete Parts I and III of the Charitable Request Form. Mail your request to the LIONS CLUB OF SAN DIEGO, 310 MARKET ST., SAN DIEGO, CA 92101, or fax your packet to (619) 239-3539. Funding, if approved at all levels, generally takes from four to eight weeks. PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR PHONE NUMBER and/or EMAIL address in your request.