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Ann Jackson Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.3M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M

Ann Jackson Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,344,834 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Rolling basis (varies due to volunteer trustees)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $50,000
  • Average Grant: $20,901
  • Geographic Focus: Santa Barbara County, CA (primarily South County)
  • Total Assets: $74+ million

Contact Details

Address: P.O. Box 5580, Santa Barbara, CA 93150
Phone: (805) 969-2258
Website: www.annjacksonfamilyfoundation.org
President: Palmer G. Jackson

Note: The foundation has no paid staff and relies on volunteer family trustees. Site visits are uncommon, and personal meetings with applicants are only arranged when clarification is needed.

Overview

The Ann Jackson Family Foundation was established in 1978 with an initial gift from Ann Gavit Jackson (Mrs. Charles H. Jackson Jr.) to continue the philanthropic legacy of Ann and Charles Jackson, who were deeply committed to Santa Barbara's betterment throughout their lives. The Jacksons, married in Santa Barbara in 1927, were involved in ranching (the Alisal Guest Ranch), horse breeding and racing, and real estate investments. With over $74 million in assets, the foundation distributed $3,344,834 across 193 grants in 2024. The foundation focuses on Health and Human Services, The Arts, Community and Civic Infrastructure, and Education, with 90% of grants supporting Santa Barbara-based nonprofits. Operating entirely through volunteer family trustees with no paid staff, the foundation takes a deeply personal, community-rooted approach to grantmaking.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grantmaking: $1,000 - $50,000 (rolling basis)

  • The foundation made 193 grants in 2024, averaging $20,901
  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout fiscal year (June 1 - May 31)
  • No deadlines based on grant type
  • Proposals received after April 1st will most likely be considered for funding in the following fiscal year

Types of Support

  • General operating support
  • Special projects or programs
  • Capital grants (buildings & equipment)
  • Endowments (limited/rare instances)

Priority Areas

Health and Human Services: Support for people with disabilities, vision impairments, children, youth, and general social services

The Arts: Arts and culture organizations, with particular interest in music and performing arts

Community and Civic Infrastructure: Organizations supporting long-term community development

Education: Support for education at all levels

Special Interests: YMCAs and services for people who are blind or have vision impairments

What They Don't Fund

Geographic Restrictions: The foundation does not support organizations outside Santa Barbara County unless a grant proposal has been specifically requested by one of their trustees. Unsolicited proposals from organizations providing services outside Santa Barbara County will not be considered.

Focus on Established Organizations: The foundation does not restrict grants based on non-profit sector but has focused on organizations that have been providing services to Santa Barbara for the long term.

Governance and Leadership

President: Palmer G. Jackson (Managing Trustee)

The foundation is run entirely by family member trustees who volunteer their time without compensation. Palmer Jackson Jr., grandson of the founders, has been actively involved in Santa Barbara philanthropy and serves on multiple nonprofit boards. He is a musician with a particular passion for the arts.

In interviews, Jackson has emphasized the foundation's community-focused approach: "There is this family tradition that we have. It feels good from a family perspective. It also feels good because it is part of our social life. You meet really interesting people on these boards." He has noted the foundation's commitment to supporting nonprofit excellence, stating that the Ann Jackson Family Foundation has been "a consistent supporter of Santa Barbara's Partnership for Excellence Conference, the whole focus is helping nonprofits get better at what they do."

During the pandemic, Jackson emphasized the community's generous response: "I think that was just part of the culture of Santa Barbara philanthropy that we all gave a lot of emergency grants. Santa Barbara is such a generous place, and everyone got even more generous and gave more."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For grants of $10,000 or more and all capital requests:

  • Use the Common Grant Application developed through the Non-Profit Support Center (now The Foundation Roundtable)
  • Applications should be in letter form and include:
    • Photocopies of current federal and state ruling letters showing 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) public charity status
    • Certificate signed by an officer confirming the organization's exempt status has not changed

For grants under $10,000:

  • Submit a simplified 1-2 page letter clearly and simply communicating the compelling nature of the request
  • This option is primarily for smaller organizations with limited experience completing the Common Grant Application

Decision Timeline

Rolling Review: The foundation evaluates grant requests on a rolling basis throughout its fiscal year (June 1 - May 31). There are no fixed deadlines.

Important Timing Note: Proposals received after April 1st will most likely be considered for funding in the following fiscal year.

Processing Time: Because the foundation has no paid staff and relies entirely on volunteer family trustees, turnaround time for proposal evaluation may be somewhat longer than other foundations, depending on the volume of requests.

Success Rates

The foundation made 193 grants in 2024 totaling $3,344,834. Specific success rates and total application numbers are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy was found in publicly available materials. Contact the foundation directly for guidance on reapplication after a declined proposal.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Long-Term Community Impact: The foundation has shown preference for "organizations that have been providing services to Santa Barbara for the long term." Established organizations with track records in the community are favored.

Geographic Alignment is Critical: Your organization must provide services to Santa Barbara County, primarily South County. This is a hard requirement for unsolicited applications.

Clear, Concise Communication: For smaller grants under $10,000, the foundation explicitly values proposals that "clearly and simply communicate the compelling nature of the request" in just 1-2 pages.

Align with Foundation Values: The foundation was created to continue the Jacksons' philanthropic commitment to Santa Barbara. Proposals should demonstrate how your work contributes to "the betterment of Santa Barbara."

Understand the Volunteer Context: With no paid staff and entirely volunteer trustees reviewing proposals, be patient with response times and respect the trustees' time by submitting complete, well-organized applications.

Support Nonprofit Excellence: The foundation has shown consistent support for initiatives that help nonprofits improve their effectiveness, including the Partnership for Excellence Conference. Demonstrating organizational capacity and commitment to excellence may strengthen applications.

Arts Applicants: Given President Palmer Jackson's stated personal passion ("I'm a musician. So, to your point, I care about music and the arts"), arts organizations, particularly those involving music, may find a receptive audience.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic focus is non-negotiable: Only Santa Barbara County organizations (primarily South County) should apply unless specifically invited by a trustee
  • The foundation values simplicity: Smaller organizations can submit 1-2 page letters for grants under $10,000 rather than full Common Grant Applications
  • Timing matters: Submit well before April 1st for consideration in the current fiscal year; later submissions likely pushed to next year
  • Long-term community presence strengthens applications: Established organizations with track records serving Santa Barbara are preferred
  • Expect slower response times: All-volunteer trustees mean review processes may take longer than staffed foundations—build this into your planning
  • 90% local focus: Nearly all grants stay in Santa Barbara, reflecting the founders' deep commitment to their community
  • Average grant is around $21,000: While the range is $1,000-$50,000, most grants cluster around the average

References

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