About National Philanthropy Day

National Philanthropy Day

Wednesday, November 15, 2023
11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

To purchase individual tickets, please click here. For Sponsorship information, please contact Katie Gomez, katiegomez@afpsd.org


National Philanthropy Day® (NPD) is a special day set aside on the fifteenth of November to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy—and those people active in the philanthropic community—to the enrichment of our community and the world. 

NPD was originally conceived of and organized by Douglas Freeman in the 1980s, and the first official event was held in 1986 after President Ronald Reagan signed an official NPD proclamation. The day provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and all that it has made possible. NPD celebrates the endless daily contributions individuals and organizations across the world make to countless causes and missions. 


San Diego’s NPD is one of the largest and most successful in the U.S., attracting between 750 and 1,300 participants including philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, board members, development professionals, business, community, and civic leaders. NPD has been celebrated in San Diego for decades.  Philanthropists who have been recognized include Gwendolyn Sontheim Meyer, Ron Fowler, Kimberley & Marcus Boehm, Bob Wilson and many others who have given back so much to our community. 


Themes have included San Diego Strong - Resilience Through Philanthropy, A Symphony of Philanthropy and Reaching New Heights and in recent years the event itself has been held virtually on The CW San Diego, and previously at The Hilton Bayfront, Copley Symphony Hall, and the Del Mar Fairgrounds.  Three primary committees are engaged in making the event possible, the Honorary Committee, Planning Committee, and Resource Development Committee.

Recent presenting sponsors have included PNC Bank, San Diego Foundation, The Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, The Jewish Community Foundation, Sempra, and UC San Diego, and as many as 65 corporate, foundation and nonprofit sponsorships have been secured in a single year for NPD. There’s nothing quite like the community coming together with hundreds of like-minded San Diegans in support of all of the good work that we accomplish through philanthropy and development.


Please contact Katie Gomez, our Chapter Director, to get involved in a specific committee to help make National Philanthropy Day 2023 a great success!