For almost all local nonprofits just trying to survive day to day, every few donated dollars add up to simply providing needed services. Once a matching challenge grant comes along, the dollars multiply into making a real difference.

Jim Ziegler doesn’t have the deepest pockets around but his philanthropy is rooted deeper than even his longstanding grass-roots work for San Diego charities. Over the next three years, Ziegler is matching every dollar donated to the endowment fund of the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center Inc. with $1.50 of his own money, up to $100,000.

“Like every nonprofit, they’re out beating the bushes every day just to keep their doors open,” Ziegler says. “They have a responsibility to raise money. I sweetened the pot.” It’s a sweet sum, socially and financially. “One-hundred-thousand dollars is a significant amount of money for me.”

Ziegler says one aspect almost all nonprofits have in common is the lack of time and resources to plan for long-term sustainability in developing endowments.

“Jim really cares about the longevity of this organization,” says Shawn Ingram, director of development for The Center, which is based in the freshly refurbished Craftsman Hall off University Avenue Uptown. The 30-year-old Center has 50 paid staff and more than 300 volunteers.

Ingram says challenge grants are rare. The last for The Center was a $75,000 challenge two years ago by former San Diego mayor Maureen O’Connor.

Ziegler, who is retired from Wells Fargo bank and lives in University Heights, is a former chair of The Center board and has served on The San Diego Foundation board of governors for nearly three years.

Besides the endowment goal, Ziegler says he hopes his challenge will inspire others to do the same.

So far, through the first month of the challenge, Ingram says The Center’s endowment fund has raised $13,000. For more information or to contribute, call (619) 692-2077 or e-mail singram@thecentersd.org.

— Terence J. Burke