Inspiring Future Leaders

With the Inspiring Future Leaders (IFL) giving initiative, we support programs that develop the next generation's innovative, diverse and talented STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) workforce to drive economic growth and community success.

Inspiring Future Leaders

SDG&E invests in programs that advance K-16 STEM education and leadership development in historically underrepresented communities.

SDG&E launched three new signature initiatives to ensure that every student has equitable access to a
bright future in STEM.
  • SDG&E graduated its pilot cohort of the #BeThatGirl Mentorship Program, championed by SDG&E CEO Caroline Winn. This employee engagement opportunity pairs our women STEM professionals with underrepresented students interested in STEM. Inspiring Future Leaders nonprofit partners nominate their high school to college-aged students to take part in structured mentor sessions, which also serves as a safe space for the participants to ask questions and hear real experiences from industry leaders in STEM. 

  • SDG&E launched its first scholarship program designed to support students of color, girls and women in high school or college who plan on pursuing a degree in a STEM field. The Inspiring Future Leaders STEM Scholarship program provides $10,000 scholarships that can be eligible to be renewed for up to three years – meaning students could receive up to a total of $40,000 in financial aid. Meet our 2023 winners

  • In collaboration with our nonprofit partners, SDG&E helped bring two national programs to San Diego for the first time. Girls Inc. of San Diego County’s Eureka! is a five-year college-based summer intensive program that includes a summer STEM camp at UCSD for rising 8th graders and continues programming for that cohort through high school graduation. The American Heart Association of Southern California’s STEM Goes Red Initiative brings high school students from underserved areas for a day of hands-on STEM activities and heart-health education. 

Grant Details

Thank you for your interest in applying for an Inspiring Future Leaders grant. Applications are no longer being accepted.  If you have questions, contact  sdgecommunity@sdge.com(link sends email).

SDG&E Inspiring Future Leaders 2024 Grant Recipients 

SDG&E’s Inspiring Future Leaders initiative supports 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that have shown commitment to bridge equity gaps and improve access to STEM education. SDG&E has offered charitable funding under this signature initiative for more than a decade. This includes supporting programs that align with SDG&E’s #BeThatGirl initiative to address the gender equity gap for girls and women interested in pursuing career pathways in STEM, the trades and leadership.  

SDG&E is proud to announce the 2024 recipients of its Inspiring Future Leaders grant initiative. This year, 50+ organizations were awarded close to $1M in shareholder funded grants to develop the next generation’s innovative, diverse and talented STEM workforce to drive economic growth and community success. 

A Step Beyond(link is external) 

Comic-Con Museum(link is external) 

Partners In College Success(link is external) 

All Girls Stem Society(link is external) 

DETOUR Empowers(link is external) 

Parent Institute for Quality Education(link is external) 

Alpine Education Foundation Inc.(link is external) 

Earl B Gilliam Bar Foundation Inc of San Diego County(link is external) 


Pro Kids, First Tee - San Diego(link is external) 

Armed Services YMCA of the USA(link is external) 

Elementary Institute of Science(link is external) 

Project Next(link is external) 

AZ Cyber Initiative(link is external) 

First Gen Scholars(link is external) 

Promises2Kids(link is external) 

Barrio Logan College Institute(link is external) 

Fleet Science Center(link is external) 

Reality Changers(link is external) 

Basic Assistance To Students In The Community (BASIC)(link is external) 

Girl Scouts San Diego(link is external) 

RISE Urban Leadership Institute Of San Diego(link is external) 

Big Brothers Big Sisters Of San Diego County(link is external) 

Girls Inc. of San Diego County(link is external)

Salk Institute(link is external) 
Blue Heart Foundation(link is external)  Junior Achievement - San Diego(link is external)  San Diego Air and Space Museum(link is external) 

Boys & Girls Club, East County(link is external) 

Just In Time for Foster Youth(link is external)

San Diego Childrens Discovery Museum(link is external) 

Boys & Girls Clubs, North County(link is external) 

Lifeline Community Services(link is external) 

San Diego Public Library Foundation(link is external) 

Boys & Girls Clubs, Oceanside(link is external) 

Links Foundation Inc - San Diego Chapter(link is external)  San Diego Squared(link is external) 
California State University San Marcos Foundation(link is external)  MANA de North County San Diego(link is external)  San Diego State University - The Campanile Foundation(link is external) 
Carlsbad Educational Foundation(link is external)  MANA de San Diego(link is external)  Somali Family Service of San Diego(link is external) 
Casa De Amistad(link is external)  Mandate Project Impact(link is external)  The Preuss School UC San Diego(link is external) 
Casa Familiar(link is external)  Media Arts Center San Diego(link is external)  USS Midway Museum(link is external) 
Cesar Chavez Service Clubs(link is external)  Monarch School(link is external)  Women In Cyber Security(link is external) 
Chula Vista Public Library Foundation(link is external)  Our Genetic Legacy(link is external)  Women of Color Roar Media(link is external) 
Classroom of the Future Foundation(link is external)  Pacific Arts Movement(link is external)  YMCA of San Diego County(link is external) 

SDG&E Finds the Eureka!
Moment with Girls Inc. 

Girls Inc. of San Diego is helping shape the future workforce by equipping youth with the necessary people, programming, and environment to succeed. They have found that as young girls transition from elementary to middle school, they are more likely to defer from pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). 

As part of SDG&E’s #BeThatGirl initiative, SDG&E funded the program’s arrival in San Diego to further encourage 25 rising eighth grade girls from Knox, Mission and Rincon Middle schools that have shown that spark for STEM. Over four weeks, they filled the classrooms and explored the UC San Diego campus to embark on the start of their five-year Eureka! journey.  

More Information

For questions about your application, visit our Funding Guidelines page.