Santa Barbara Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $35,776,166 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by programme
• Grant Range: $2,000 - $50,000
• Geographic Focus: Santa Barbara County, California

Contact Details

• Website: https://sbfoundation.org
• Phone: (805) 963-1873
• Email: info@sbfoundation.org
• Main Office: 1111 Chapala Street, Suite 200, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
• North County Office: Santa Maria, CA

Overview

The Santa Barbara Foundation, established in 1928, is one of California's oldest community foundations. As a comprehensive community foundation, they mobilise collective wisdom and philanthropic capital to build empathetic, inclusive, and resilient communities. The foundation manages donor funds and provides strategic grantmaking to local nonprofits, focusing on addressing the most pressing challenges facing Santa Barbara County residents. Their mission emphasises collaboration, community impact, and building sustainable solutions through strategic philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation offers multiple targeted grant programmes with specific focus areas and funding amounts:

Capacity Building

• Small Capacity Building Grant: Up to $6,000 (one application per year allowed)

Community Support Programmes

• Behavioural Health/Health Care Grant: Up to $30,000 for up to two years
• Food Grant Programme: Up to $30,000 for up to two years
• Shelter & Safety Grant: Up to $30,000 for up to two years
• Senior Programmes Grants: $2,000 - $15,000

Child Care & Youth

• William and Lottie Daniel Child Care Scholarships: Up to $50,000
• Child Care Grant: Up to $15,000 (for providers serving children 0-5)
• Youth Mental Health Providers Recruit, Retain, Rest and Recuperation Fund: Amount varies

Arts & Environment

• Towbes Fund for Performing Arts: Up to $15,000
• Conservation, Environment and Public Trails Grant: Up to $25,000

Other Programmes

• Tri-Counties Blood Bank Grant Programme: Amount varies
• William and Lottie Daniel Scholarship: Amount varies

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on six strategic priority areas:

• Child care access and quality
• Workforce development
• Housing affordability
• Digital equity
• Nonprofit organisational support and capacity building
• Natural environment and conservation

What They Don't Fund

Whilst not explicitly detailed in available materials, the foundation primarily funds 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations serving Santa Barbara County. Organisations should review specific programme guidelines for eligibility requirements and restrictions.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership:

• President & CEO: Jackie Carrera (jcarrera@sbfoundation.org)
• Vice President, Philanthropic Services: Tammy Sims Johnson (tjohnson@sbfoundation.org)
• Vice President, Programs: Liz Thasiah (lthasiah@sbfoundation.org)

Key Programme Staff:

• Bridgette Bugay: Senior Programme Officer - Food, Shelter & Safety, Housing Affordability, Conservation, Environment, and Health
• Jamie Perez: Programme Officer - Behavioural Health and Health Care
• Deanna Vallejo: Senior Programme Officer - Broad portfolio
• Maria Caudillo: Capacity Building Programmes (mcaudillo@sbfoundation.org)
• Beatriz Garcia: Child Care Programmes
• Mary Robles: Senior Programmes

The foundation maintains a commitment to transparency in operations and provides audited financial statements and IRS Form 990s publicly on their website.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

1. Review available grant opportunities on the foundation's website
2. Determine which programme(s) align with your organisation's needs
3. Review specific guidelines and eligibility requirements for chosen programme
4. Contact the appropriate programme officer to discuss your project
5. Submit application through the online Nonprofit Grants Portal
6. Applications must be submitted by specific deadlines for each programme

Most applications are submitted online through their SmartSimple grants management system.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by programme but typically range from 6-12 weeks after application deadlines. The foundation uses a rigorous review process involving research, planning, due diligence, and evaluation.

Application Cycles:

The foundation operates multiple grant programmes with fixed annual deadlines. Specific deadlines vary by programme and are published on the foundation's website. Key programmes include:

• Small Capacity Building Grant: Multiple cycles throughout the year
• Behavioural Health/Health Care: Annual cycle (typically early spring)
• Food Grant Programme: Annual cycle (typically spring)
• Shelter & Safety Grant: Annual cycle (typically summer)
• Child Care Grant: Annual cycle (typically late summer)
• Conservation, Environment and Public Trails: Annual cycle (typically summer)
• Towbes Fund for Performing Arts: Two cycles per year

Consult the foundation's website for current deadline information.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. Applicants are encouraged to contact programme officers before applying to discuss project alignment and competitiveness.

Reapplication Policy

For the Small Capacity Building Grant, organisations can apply only once per calendar year. Other programmes' reapplication policies should be confirmed with specific programme officers.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's strategic approach and programme structure, successful applications typically:

• Clearly align with one of the foundation's six strategic priority areas
• Demonstrate measurable community impact in Santa Barbara County
• Show organisational capacity to effectively manage grant funds
• Include collaboration with other organisations when appropriate
• Address pressing community needs with innovative or evidence-based solutions
• Provide clear metrics for evaluating success
• Contact programme officers before applying to ensure alignment and receive guidance
• Submit complete applications well before deadlines through the online portal
• Utilise the foundation's Collaboration for Social Impact resources for capacity building

The foundation also values organisations that can leverage their grants with other funding sources and demonstrate sustainability planning beyond the grant period.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Contact the specific programme officer before applying - they are available to provide guidance and ensure alignment
• Maximum grants range from $6,000 to $50,000 depending on the programme, with most community grants capped at $30,000
• The foundation operates multiple grant cycles throughout the year with fixed deadlines - plan accordingly
• Focus on demonstrating clear impact within Santa Barbara County communities
• Consider applying for capacity building grants to strengthen organisational infrastructure
• The foundation emphasises collaboration - partnerships with other nonprofits may strengthen applications
• Online application through SmartSimple portal is required - ensure technical readiness

References

• Santa Barbara Foundation Official Website: https://sbfoundation.org
• Grant Opportunities Page: https://sbfoundation.org/nonprofits/grant-opportunities
• Nonprofit Resources: https://sbfoundation.org/nonprofits
• Meet Our Staff: https://sbfoundation.org/meet-our-staff
• Financial Transparency: https://sbfoundation.org/financials
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/951866094