2010 Community Investment Programs; Attaining Vibrant Communities

The Santa Barbara Foundation is now offering an array of grant opportunities; we see them as investments in the people and communities of Santa Barbara County…for our region’s nonprofit organizations (and the people who lead them) to access financial, intellectual, and civic capital in the pursuit of strengthening Santa Barbara County’s capacity in order to bring about and sustain vibrant communities.

Our new grantmaking system is a dynamic enterprise, and even more generous and nimble.  While we have moved our grantmaking to one annual distribution of impact grants, the Foundation will distribute discretionary funds and services through a variety of other ways throughout the year.  A more efficient grantmaking cycle allows us to be more responsive, while creating increased opportunities for financial support.  Please click on Applications & Guidelines to see our 2010 grant guidelines.

Three New Grant Programs

We are pleased to share with you our new proposed Discretionary Community Investment Grant Programs that the Santa Barbara Foundation will offer beginning in January.

Impact Grants

This is our largest responsive grants program (grants normally above $5,000 and up to $75,000), and is the centerpiece of our discretionary giving.  Our priority is to make a significant community impact by addressing critical community challenges and compelling community needs, and remedying conditions that result in inequality, limited opportunities, and/or a diminished quality of life. 

Mini-Grants

Grants of up to $5,000 are offered for organizational and/or program development.  The funds can be used for a variety of activities that strengthen and improve organization efficiency and effectiveness, such as business planning, board development, or fund development planning.

Conference and Training Grants

Grants of up to $500 are offered to help nonprofit leaders and staff members participate in opportunities that enhance their knowledge, skills, and leadership capabilities.  The funds can be used for registration fees for conferences or trainings, transportation expenses related to attendance at conferences or trainings, and consulting or coaching services.

Please click on Applications & Guidelines for each of our three grant applications.

Pertinent Dates

Deadlines for 2010 are as follows:

Grant Program	Letter of Inquiry Deadline (By 5:00 P.M.)	Application Deadline (By 5:00 P.M.)	Award Date
Impact Grants	April 1, 2010 (Organizations submitting a Letter of Inquiry for an Impact Grant are strongly encouraged to discuss their project with a Community Investment Officer prior to the Letter of Inquiry deadline.  Please schedule your appointment by March 1, 2010.)	August 2, 2010	December, 2010
Mini-Grants		1st Monday of month beginning February 2010	Eight weeks from application deadline
Conference and Training Grants		1st Monday of month beginning March 2010	Eight weeks from application deadline

Toward the goal of building vibrant communities, we partner with funders and nonprofit agencies through which community issues are addressed and resolved.  Please click on Applications & Guidelines to see the 10 ways the Santa Barbara Foundation partners with nonprofits.

Since 1928, the Santa Barbara Foundation has supported the work of diverse nonprofits offering a wide variety of services throughout Santa Barbara County.  As we begin our 9th decade of service, our vision for the Foundation is to be an even stronger catalyst for positive change.  We look forward to achieving that with you.