How did La Jolla groups do in end-of-year fundraising? Quite well, they say

As 2025 wound down, several La Jolla nonprofit groups, serving causes from schools to museums, asked donors to pitch in for their often free services.

The La Jolla Light looked at how some of those fundraisers went and how the money will be used.

Muirlands Foundation

Muirlands Middle School last year set out on a historically high goal of raising $125,000. Though its foundation fell just short in the annual effort, “Muirlands Gives” chairwoman Elizabeth Van Clief said it was able to bring in $121,400. And organizers said they expect to receive further funding through corporate matches and pledges by parents throughout the year.

“Although our goal was $125,000, our budget on our Muirlands Foundation finances was $105,000,” Van Clief said. “So we consider this … giving campaign a huge success.”

The campaign began in August and ended Dec. 31, Van Clief said. More than 200 families provided contributions ranging from $50 to $25,000.

Families who donated over $800 were invited to an annual Giving Cocktail Party on Oct. 17, Van Clief said. Key foundation members and Muirlands Principal Brendan Simon spoke at the event.

Donations from the fundraiser will go toward several items: a library and technology position, thus restoring library availability and Chromebook technology support to five days a week; free after-school tutoring; tutoring by college students during school hours; extra supplies, equipment and field trips; and student-led clubs.

Athenaeum Music & Arts Library

The Athenaeum set out to raise $200,000 and brought in more than $207,000, according to spokeswoman Courtney Koenigsfeld.

“These funds directly sustain our exhibitions, concerts, classes, library collections and outreach programs, allowing us to serve more than 100,000 San Diegans each year across our campuses,” Koenigsfeld said in a statement.

The Athenaeum, which operates its flagship Music & Arts Library in La Jolla along with the Athenaeum Art Center in Logan Heights, says donations can help:

• Bring in artists for exhibitions, talks and activations

• Bring in local and international musicians for concerts

• Add rare artist books and materials to the library’s collection

• Keep the Logan Heights print studio free and open to the public

• Provide music outreach programs to schools

• Provide art instruction in the School of the Arts

The Athenaeum fundraiser — one of its two biggest sources of philanthropic support — is still collecting donations through January. The other big fundraising event, “The Talk of the Town” gala, is scheduled for Saturday, May 9.

La Jolla Community Foundation

The La Jolla Community Foundation says it garnered $65,000 in its annual year-end fundraising appeal, with the majority of it designated for the organization’s Village streetscape project.

About $44,500 will go toward the streetscape project and the remaining $20,500 for “unrestricted use,” according to foundation Executive Director Lidia Rossner. Further streetscape pledges are expected in coming months.

The streetscape plan is a $7.4 million effort to “revitalize” Girard Avenue between Prospect and Silverado streets. Fundraising has been going on the past few years.

Rossner said the group is grateful to receive “overwhelming community support,” saying it has raised $4.5 million to date for the project. About $800,000 has already been put into design, engineering and permitting, she said.

“The foundation has secured sufficient funding to complete Phase 1 construction, which will modernize Girard Avenue from Prospect Street to Wall Street, improving pedestrian safety, accessibility and aesthetics along the Village’s main corridor,” Rossner said. “The current fundraising efforts seek to secure funding for Phase 2, which will extend improvements from Wall Street to Silverado Street.”

The foundation said in December that construction documents for the project had been submitted to the city of San Diego for review and that the public bidding phase was expected to begin early this year.

La Jolla Community Center

One of the year’s biggest fundraisers was by the La Jolla Community Center, which says it brought in more than $300,000, far exceeding its goal of $50,000. That was thanks largely to what organizers called a “generous gift” from a longtime Community Center member who died recently.

The center’s holiday celebration in December brought in more than $11,000 through a combination of raffles, sponsorships and a silent auction, exceeding the goal of $10,000.

“These funds support the ongoing operations of the La Jolla Community Center, with a strong focus on programs that foster social connection and provide a vital resource for adults and seniors who may be experiencing isolation or loneliness,” said Nancy Walters, the Community Center’s executive director.

“A portion of the funds is also invested conservatively to ensure long-term financial stability and generate sustainable returns that allow us to continue serving the community well into the future,” Walters added. “We are deeply grateful for support at any time of the year, as every contribution helps ensure that our programs and services remain accessible to those who rely on them.”

La Jolla Historical Society

The Historical Society fell 10% short of its $60,000 fundraising goal, but Executive Director Lauren Lockhart said she still feels the annual appeal went well.

A few days before the end of the year, the organization sent an e-blast asking for last-minute donations. In that span, the total went from 80% of the target to 90%, Lockhart said.

“We are very fortunate we have a very generous community that’s supported us,” she said. “There are some uncertainties around some funding opportunities in the future for all nonprofits.”

Lockhart said the financial support will go toward the Historical Society’s free public programming, exhibitions, school visits and more.

Fire Station 16

A fundraising effort to help revamp the fire station at 2110 Via Casa Alta on La Jolla’s Mount Soledad has surpassed $100,000, and organizers say they’re looking to increase that.

The city of San Diego has approved a Phase 1 renovation plan shepherded by the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club to replace walls and doors in the station’s sleeping areas, along with other improvements.

Should the Sunrise Rotarians, who are joined in the effort by the Rotary Club of La Jolla and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation, come up with the money and materials, the city will provide the labor.

The fundraiser is seeking $175,000. Rotarian Cindy Goodman said the campaign has $110,000 in hand and that  additional donations are expected soon, along with donated flooring and possible grant funding.

“At $130,000 I am confident we will be able to start construction,” Goodman said.

The Foundation of La Jolla High School

The Foundation of La Jolla High School’s annual giving campaign, “Quest for Success,” asked families to pitch in to the school’s general fund, which the foundation says “offers the most flexibility for directing resources to our greatest needs.”

Foundation representatives did not immediately respond to a request for information about the money raised.

“Quest for Success” has tiered levels of support, ranging from donors of up to $249, called Red & Black Supporters, to Viking Visionaries, who contribute north of $10,000.