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Stone Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.5M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,455,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $51,188,740
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $250,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Santa Barbara County (youth programs), Low-income countries (girls' education), U.S. and international (environment)
  • Number of Awards: 70 grants in 2023

Contact Details

Mailing Address: PO Box 30304, Santa Barbara, CA 93130

Email: thestonefamilyfoundation@gmail.com

Grant Inquiries: adrienne@thestonefamilyfoundation.org

Website: www.thestonefamilyfoundation.org

Overview

The Stone Family Foundation is a family-led private foundation established in 2000 (originally in Colorado, now based in Santa Barbara, CA) with assets of approximately $51.2 million and annual giving of $2.5 million. The foundation "actively supports organizations to improve equity, vibrancy, and sustainability" through five distinct program areas: girls' education and empowerment in low-income countries, environmental preservation and health, critical thinking and civic engagement, youth initiatives in Santa Barbara County, and volunteer hospice care and bereavement counseling. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis but accepts letters of interest from organizations working in their priority areas. In 2023, they made 70 awards, demonstrating consistent grantmaking activity across their program areas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Girls' Education and Empowerment (Low-income countries in Asia, East Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean)

  • Community Grant: $25,000-$30,000 for 12-18 months
  • Development Grant: Up to $250,000 for 12-24 months
  • Focus on adolescent girls and youth ages 12-20
  • Emphasis on repeated engagement with targeted youth and long-term community commitment

Environment (California, national, and international; litigation must be U.S.-focused)

  • Grant Range: $30,000-$50,000 for 12-18 months
  • Three pillars: Preservation and Restoration, Litigation, and Health

Youth in Santa Barbara County

  • Grant Range: $25,000-$30,000 for 12-18 months
  • Three pillars: Education, Arts and Culture, and Social Services
  • Priority to organizations working within or alongside public schools
  • Past recipients include CALM, CASA, Mission Scholars, Santa Barbara Education Foundation, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and UCSB Arts and Lectures

Critical Thinking and Civic Engagement

  • Grant Range: $25,000-$50,000 (typical)
  • Specific program details available through letter of interest

Volunteer Hospice Care and Bereavement Counseling

  • Grant Range: $25,000-$50,000 (typical)
  • Specific program details available through letter of interest

Priority Areas

Girls' Education: Programs offering repeated engagement with adolescent girls (ages 12-20) in low-income countries, with clear links between program approach and academic/personal development

Environment: Protection of natural resources and habitats, expansion and safeguarding of public lands, ecosystem restoration, environmental litigation defending existing protections, investigation of environmental health impacts

Youth Development in Santa Barbara County: Academic fundamentals and lifelong learning skills, diverse artistic and cultural experiences, essential social and protective services

Civic Engagement: Programs supporting critical thinking and civic participation

Hospice Care: Volunteer hospice programs and bereavement counseling services

What They Don't Fund

Must be publicly supported tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. The foundation operates with specific focus areas and does not fund outside these five priority areas.

Governance and Leadership

The Stone Family Foundation is led by Robert R. Stone as President, with other family members holding key positions. As a family-led foundation, the Stone family maintains active involvement in grantmaking decisions and strategic direction.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Stone Family Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. However, organizations working in one of the foundation's five priority areas may submit a 1-2 page Letter of Interest (LOI) describing the organization and proposed use of requested funds.

LOI Submission:

  • Send to: adrienne@thestonefamilyfoundation.org
  • Length: 1-2 pages
  • Should clearly state which priority area(s) and pillar(s) the project supports (particularly for youth and environment programs)
  • May include brochures and public materials describing current activities
  • Annual deadline: June 30 for consideration in the following year's grant cycle

Application Cycle:

  • LOI deadline typically June 30 each year
  • Organizations that pass initial review receive invitation to submit full application
  • Grants are awarded annually

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Organizations submit letters of interest by June 30 for consideration in the following year's grant cycle, suggesting decisions are made in the months following the deadline.

Success Rates

With 70 awards made in 2023 from a foundation that accepts only invited applications following LOI review, specific success rate percentages are not publicly available. The foundation maintains focused program areas and long-term relationships with grantees.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Organizations may submit letters of interest annually, and the foundation notes they maintain long-term relationships with organizations in their priority areas.

Application Success Factors

For Youth Programs in Santa Barbara County: The foundation "prioritizes those organizations that work within or alongside the public schools, can demonstrate a clear approach to identifying and working with youth, and can articulate their own assessment of 'success.'" This emphasis on partnering with schools, having clear youth engagement strategies, and defining success metrics is critical for applicants in this program area.

For Girls' Education Programs: The foundation seeks programs with "repeated engagement and/or interaction with targeted youth" and "clear links between program approach and academic/personal development," along with "long-term commitment to and engagement with the communities." Organizations should demonstrate sustained, relationship-based programming rather than one-time interventions.

For Environment Programs: Letters of interest should "clearly outline which pillar(s) the project would support" (Preservation and Restoration, Litigation, or Health). Applicants should be specific about how their work fits within these defined categories.

General Success Factors:

  • Alignment with one of the five specific program areas and stated pillars
  • Clear articulation of approach and expected outcomes
  • Demonstration of long-term commitment to communities or causes
  • For local Santa Barbara programs, connection to public schools is highly valued
  • For international girls' education, focus on adolescent girls ages 12-20 with repeated engagement
  • For environmental work, clear connection to preservation, litigation, or health pillars

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only but accessible: While grants are by invitation only, the foundation actively reviews letters of interest, making this a realistic funding opportunity for aligned organizations
  • Annual cycle with June 30 deadline: Plan ahead to submit LOI by June 30 for consideration in the following year
  • Program-specific grant amounts: Grant sizes vary significantly by program area ($25,000-$30,000 for most programs; up to $250,000 for girls' education development grants)
  • Multi-year grants: Most grants run 12-18 months (youth/environment) or 12-24 months (girls' education), indicating preference for sustained work over one-time projects
  • Strong local connection: For Santa Barbara County youth programs, working with or alongside public schools is a priority
  • Clear articulation matters: The foundation specifically seeks organizations that "can articulate their own assessment of success" and can demonstrate clear approaches
  • Long-term relationships valued: The foundation emphasizes long-term commitment to communities and maintains ongoing relationships with grantees

References

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