Inspiring Future Leaders

San Diego Gas & Electric® (SDG&E®) is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million customers throughout San Diego and southern Orange counties. SDG&E is part of the Sempra Energy® family of companies, a Fortune 500 company. As part of our commitment to the community, SDG&E invests its energy, volunteer time, and financial resources to improve the quality of life in communities where we do business. On March 1 2013, SDG&E launched the Inspiring Future Leaders Initiative, making grants available to organizations that create a meaningful impact on the community through the promotion of responsible leadership, including the development of youth leaders. The Inspiring Future Leaders Initiative will have a targeted focus on the pillars of character development that directly impact fair and ethical leadership:

• Responsibility
• Credibility
• Accountability
• Sustained transparency
• Willingness to collaborate with other community organizations
• Long-term value
• Fair and ethical business practices

As part of this 2013 Request for Proposals (RFP), the Inspiring Future Leaders Initiative will support programs that meet either objective in the following areas:

1. Leadership, Mentoring and Character Development Services
2. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Programs
3. College and Workforce Preparedness

This Initiative will award grants to charities, whose programs effectively capture the essence of developing strong youth leaders, primarily from underserved and diverse communities, while engaging the minds and consciences of those who are future decision makers of tomorrow.

Groups that meet all the following criteria are eligible to apply:

• All grant applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.

• Grant recipients must focus efforts on K-12 students.

• All program dollars must be administered in the SDG&E service territory

• All organizations must be able to show the impact of the programs in the community.

Every submitted grant application will be evaluated by an internal review committee. Extra consideration will be given to organizations that target underserved and diverse populations.

Requests to the following are excluded:

• Individuals
• Groups that practice discrimination based on age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disabilities, race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry
• Sectarian or denominational religious groups, except for programs that are broadly promoted, available to anyone and free from religious orientation
• Organizations whose primary mission is not focused on youth development or leadership, or who have no substantial prior experience in delivering leadership, mentorship or educational programs.
• Organizations whose primary mission is:
  
  • Higher education
  •  Arts and culture
  • Health and human service

These organizations are however encouraged to participate in this initiative as part of a collaborative with a leadership development organization serving as the lead applicant. 

Funds cannot be used for:

• General operating expenses that are unrelated to the execution of the proposed program/project
• Equipment purchases not primarily related to the intended purpose of the fund
• Advocacy initiatives/programs that are political in nature
• Land acquisitions
• Research related projects
• Capital campaigns
• Travel expenses
• Loans or loan guarantees
• Debt reduction or past operating deficits
• Liquidation of an organization

The online application for the Inspiring Future Leaders Initiative is available at:

Apply for Inspiring Future Leaders Initiative