The La Centra-Sumerlin Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 77-0416683 · since 1996lcsf.org·Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$2.5M
Annual giving, 2023 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$10,000 to $125k
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$30,000
Typical grant (median)
46 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • Its three funds suit your work only if it sits in Carpinteria or Santa Barbara County, or within one of its themes: education, arts, environmental initiatives, safety-net programmes, disability services, or science, technology and innovation.
  • Applicants are asked to check which fund fits before reaching out.
  • Organisations that are for-profit, individuals, political campaigns, endowments or sponsors of events should not apply, and the Carpinteria Fund does not fund events; the foundation's funds support only tax-exempt public charities under Section 501(c)(3).
  • About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $10,000 and $125,000 and the median is $25,000, so a request in that region is realistic, though its largest grant was $400,000.
  • Start with a Letter of Inquiry, which the foundation uses to confirm eligibility before deciding whether to invite a full application, and note that 90% of its grant dollars in its most recent filing went to organisations it had also funded the year before.

Overview

The La Centra-Sumerlin Foundation is a US private foundation based in Santa Barbara, CA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The La Centra-Sumerlin Foundation makes grants through three independent funds, each with its own focus, geography and process. The Carpinteria Fund supports nonprofit organisations based in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara County organisations bringing programmes or services to the Carpinteria community. It is a generalist funder supporting educational programming, local arts, environmental initiatives and access to natural resources, alongside safety-net programmes including food, shelter and housing. The Health Equity & Access Fund supports initiatives to reduce barriers, improve care and alleviate the burden of living with physical or cognitive disabilities; its interests include quality of care, accessibility and independence, caregiver support and advocacy. The Frontier Fund supports science, technology and innovation with potential for outsized impact. Its funds support tax-exempt public charities under Section 501(c)(3).

Themes

  • Education
  • Arts
  • Environmental initiatives
  • Safety-net programmes
  • Disability services
  • Science, technology and innovation

Geographic Focus

Carpinteria; Santa Barbara County.

What They Don't Fund

  • For-profit organizations
  • Individuals
  • Political campaigns
  • Endowments
  • Sponsor events
  • Carpinteria Fund only: events

How to apply

For funds accepting applications, organisations begin with a Letter of Inquiry. The foundation uses it to confirm eligibility and understand the request, then decides whether to invite a full application.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 90% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
  • Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 98 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • Applicants are asked to make sure their organisation and its work align with one of the funds before reaching out.
  • The Carpinteria Fund considers organisational health and stability, including leadership, board stewardship, financial stability and operational effectiveness.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.

Grant dollars by state

California100%
  • The largest single recipient received 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2023, 90% of grant dollars went to organisations The La Centra-Sumerlin Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • 7% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

46 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $30,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 46 grants in tax year 2023 by size

$10k–$25k37%
$25k–$50k24%
$50k–$100k22%
$100k–$250k13%
$250k–$500k4%

Median $30,000 (tax year 2023)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Family Service Agency · Child welfare
    $366,8392023 tax year
  • Carpinteria Children's Project · Education programs
    $290,0002023 tax year
  • Land Trust of Santa Barbara County · Preserve natural resource and agricultural land
    $240,0002023 tax year
  • Santa Barbara Education Foundation · Education program
    $133,4002023 tax year
  • Carpinteria Education Foundation · Education programs
    $126,5002023 tax year
  • Santa Barbara Foundation · Improve quality of life in santa barbara county
    $125,0002023 tax year
  • Independent Living Rescue Center · Assisted living facility
    $108,0002023 tax year
  • Carpinteria Community Theatre · Performing arts
    $100,0002023 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • K Shea — Treasurer / CFO
  • M Duca — Director
  • L Duca — Chair Of Board
  • A Honikman — Secretary
  • S Duca — Director
  • Whitney Kopf — President / Executive Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

2 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$2,960,535$2,693,500$37,978,951Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$2,848,021$2,520,739$53,526,081Filing for 2023 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

Other sources

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