Wood-Claeyssens Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $7,768,250 (2024)
Assets: $119.7 million
Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000
Median Grant: $25,000
Number of Grants: 116 grants (2024)
Geographic Focus: Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, California
Application Method: Invitation-only

Contact Details

Email: grants@woodclaeyssensfoundation.org
Phone: (805) 966-0543
Website: http://www.woodclaeyssensfoundation.org
Address: Santa Barbara, CA

Overview

Founded in 1980, the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation serving the Santa Barbara and Ventura County communities in California. With assets totaling approximately $119.7 million and annual giving of over $7.7 million distributed across more than 100 grants, the foundation has been a significant supporter of local nonprofits for over 40 years. The foundation's mission focuses on enabling those in need to acquire the basic necessities of life—food, clothing, shelter, social services, public safety, and self-actualization—while enhancing their quality of living. The foundation has a specific emphasis on quality programs that educate and enhance the lives and well-being of children and the underprivileged. The foundation values anonymous giving, collective impact, strategic philanthropy, nonprofit excellence, clear goals, heightened accountability, thoughtful evaluations, and data-driven metrics.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $1,000,000, with a median grant of $25,000. Applications are accepted on an invitation-only basis from qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. The foundation distinguishes between:

Returning Applicants: Organizations that have received a grant from the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation in the last 2 years
New Applicants: All other organizations follow a separate New Applicant Grant Process

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on:

Basic Human Needs: Food security, clothing, shelter, and social services
Public Safety: Programs that enhance community safety
Children and Youth: Quality programs that educate and enhance the lives of children
Underprivileged Populations: Programs serving disadvantaged individuals and families
Self-Actualization: Programs that help individuals reach their full potential
Arts and Culture: Cultural programs that enhance quality of life
Health and Mental Health Care: Health services and mental health support
Support for Vulnerable Populations: Programs for adults, older adults, and people with disabilities

Recent Grant Examples (2023)

Foodbank of Santa Barbara: $1,000,000 for "Building Readiness: Campaign for a Hunger Free Tomorrow"
Santa Barbara Education Foundation: $500,000 for "SB Unified School District Program for Effective Access to College"
Students for Eco Education & Agriculture: $355,000 for farm day programs in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties
Santa Barbara Special Enforcement Team Support: General operating support

What They Don't Fund

The foundation only considers applications from qualified 501(c)(3) organizations headquartered in and/or serving the Santa Barbara and Ventura County areas. Organizations outside this geographic region are not eligible.

Governance and Leadership

The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation is governed by a board of directors that manages the foundation's assets and oversees grantmaking decisions. Board members include:

Noelle C. Burkey (President)
Brett L. Burkey
Jenna M. Burkey
J. Brad Burkey
Jared P. Burkey
Charles C. Gray
Shelby J. Hughes
Ailene B. Claeyssens

President Noelle Claeyssens Burkey has spoken about the foundation's approach to grantmaking, noting in a statement about a major hospital donation: "We hope that the challenge grant will inspire others to join us," indicating the foundation's interest in leveraging their gifts to encourage broader community support.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. Organizations interested in applying must first request permission to apply by sending an email to grants@woodclaeyssensfoundation.org. The email should include:

Applicant name
Organization name
Type of grant request the organization will be submitting

The foundation will review the request and respond with instructions on how to begin the grant process if the organization is invited to apply.

Required Application Materials

For invited applicants, typical application requirements include:

A letter describing the activities of the applicant organization
Most recent 12-month financial statement
Form 990
Current budget
Board of directors list
Proof of tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3)

Decision Timeline

Grant decisions are made by the board of directors. Grant checks and declination letters are mailed to notify organizations of the board's decision(s). Specific timeframes for decisions are not publicly available, but notifications are sent via postal mail.

Reapplication Policy

If an organization fails to submit a completed application or make necessary changes in a reasonable time, its application will be abandoned and the organization must re-apply in the following year. Organizations that have received a grant within the last 2 years are considered "Returning Applicants" and may follow a streamlined process.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and recent grantmaking patterns, successful applications likely demonstrate:

Geographic Focus: Organizations must be headquartered in and/or serve Santa Barbara or Ventura County. This is a strict eligibility requirement.
Focus on Basic Needs: The foundation has made substantial grants to organizations addressing fundamental needs such as food security (e.g., $1 million to Foodbank of Santa Barbara), indicating strong support for organizations serving basic human needs.
Impact on Children and Underprivileged: The foundation specifically emphasizes "quality programs that educate and enhance the lives and well-being of children and the underprivileged." Applications serving these populations appear to be prioritized.
Organizational Excellence: The foundation values "nonprofit excellence, clear goals, heightened accountability, thoughtful evaluations, and data-driven metrics." Applications should demonstrate strong organizational capacity and clear measurement of outcomes.
Strategic Approach: The foundation believes in "strategic philanthropy" and "collective impact," suggesting they favor organizations with well-thought-out approaches and those that collaborate with other community partners.
Invitation-Only Model: Getting on the foundation's radar is critical, as they do not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations should ensure they are known to the foundation before attempting to apply.
Complete and Timely Applications: The foundation's policy of abandoning incomplete applications for a year indicates they value responsiveness and thoroughness in the application process.
Range of Grant Sizes: With grants ranging from $5,000 to $1 million and a median of $25,000, the foundation supports both smaller projects and major initiatives. Organizations should be realistic about their request size relative to their organizational capacity and project scope.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only process: You cannot simply apply to this foundation. You must first email grants@woodclaeyssensfoundation.org to request permission to apply. Build relationships and visibility in Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties to get on their radar.
Geographic restriction is absolute: Only organizations serving Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties are eligible. Do not waste time applying if you serve other regions.
Focus on basic needs and vulnerable populations: The foundation's mission centers on helping people access life's necessities. Applications serving children, the underprivileged, and addressing food, shelter, and safety needs align well with their priorities.
Demonstrate excellence and metrics: The foundation values "data-driven metrics" and "thoughtful evaluations." Your application should include clear goals, accountability measures, and evidence of organizational excellence.
Wide grant range allows flexibility: With grants from $5,000 to $1 million and a median of $25,000, there's room for both modest and ambitious requests. Scale your ask appropriately to your organization's capacity and the project scope.
Complete applications promptly: If invited to apply, respond quickly and thoroughly. Incomplete applications will be abandoned and require reapplication the following year.
Previous grantees have an advantage: Organizations that received funding within the last 2 years follow a "Returning Applicants" process, suggesting the foundation values ongoing relationships with proven partners.

Wood-Claeyssens Foundation