Our History 

A hallmark of the Human Dignity Foundation is the grassroots nature of its establishment and growth. While the founding gift used to start our endowment was generous though it was modest in size relative to founding gifts to other community foundations. The vision of the founders has been carried forward to inspire a broad base of donors in our community to build and support the work of the foundation since the very beginning. While this has been a challenging task, it speaks to the strength of support for the Foundation in our community. This grassroots foundation will serve our community into the future.
  • 1996 The Human Dignity Foundation was established as a 501c3 community foundation for the benefit of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in our community. A general endowment fund to benefit our community was created with a gift of $29,000 provided through the generosity of the family of the late Lincoln Aston.
  • 1998 Our foundation is introduced to the public with our first gala event Springtime in the Park. This becomes an important annual event to promote the vision and potential of an LGBTQIA+  community foundation in San Diego.
  • 1999 The Board of Directors hires staff, including an executive director, to lead foundation activities. This gives HDF a full-time presence in our community.
  • 2001 In collaboration with the San Diego Foundation and others, HDF raised $300,000 for our first grant program.
  • 2003San Diego Pride establishes a donor advised fund to distribute funds raised through our annual San Diego Pride festival. This fund has distributed over $200,000 to our community since it was established.
  • 2007 First grant program funded entirely by income from our general endowment fund. This demonstrates the benefit and potential for a general endowment fund.
  • 2008 AIDS Foundation San Diego selects the Human Dignity Foundation to manage the majority of their assets as a donor advised fund.
  • 2009 Alliance Healthcare Foundation awards HDF a major contract to manage the San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative. That year $220,000 was granted out to local HIV service organizations
  • 2010 The San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative grants out $496,685 to local HIV service organizations.
  • 2011 The San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative grants out $476,685 to local HIV service organizations.
  • 2012 The San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative grants out $438,469 to local HIV service organizations.