Community grants are grants the Foundation makes in response to needs and requests from the nonprofits in our community. They are supported by the Foundation’s endowment and donors, and are awarded through a rigorous process of research, planning, due diligence and evaluation. Foundation staff consult with community volunteers whose expertise ensures a balanced approach to the review process.
Please review the community grant descriptions below to see which is the best opportunity for you. The majority of our applications are online with the exception of our Give Together Grant Programs which can be completed through a fillable PDF.
Please note: Before starting your fillable PDF application, please download and save the application to your desktop using Adobe Reader. Edits made to the form in the browser will not be saved. Review Application & Submittal Procedures for further instructions.
Grant guidelines and applications will be posted as they become available. For more information, please reference our Eligibility Criteria & FAQs, or #AskSBF! We encourage you to reach out to an SBF staff member – points of contact are listed for each Grant Opportunity below, and on our special initiative pages.
Small Capacity Building Program grants (formerly Express Grants) are awards of up to $5,000 aimed at strengthening the organizational capacity and programmatic effectiveness of nonprofit organizations serving Santa Barbara County. Click here to learn more.
Health Care Grants are available to support nonprofit organizations directly providing services in the areas of health care. Grant amounts: up to $50,000.
Behavioral Health Grants are available to support nonprofit organizations directly providing services in the areas of behavioral health. Grant amounts: up to $50,000.
Food Grants are available to support nonprofit organizations directly providing services in the areas of food. Grant amounts: up to $50,000.
Shelter & Safety Grants are available to support nonprofit organizations directly providing services in the areas of shelter and safety. Grant amounts: up to $50,000.
William and Lottie Daniel Fund Child Care Scholarships are available to nonprofit organizations that provide quality child care for working families.
The Santa Barbara Foundation offers Child Care grants of up to $15,000 to increase capacity among nonprofit child care providers in Santa Barbara County to meet the critical needs of young children and set the stage for lifelong learning success. This year’s grant will also focus on supporting providers in leadership and professional development, family engagement, and strategies that promote equitable access to quality child care. Grants will be awarded to nonprofit child care providers serving children 0-5 years of age.
Blood Research and Education Grants, offered through the Tri-Counties Blood Bank Fund, are available to support blood and blood-related products and services.
The Senior Programs of Santa Barbara Committee Advised Fund Program Grants are available to support programs and projects directed to the welfare of senior citizens in the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria. Grants cannot be used for overhead, salaries, capital or building funds. Grant range: $2,000 to $15,000. Collaborative applications are acceptable.
The Senior Programs Fund also makes available each year a sum of $5,000 for its Express Grants, with the purpose of funding a limited number of one-per-year grants to a grantee of up to $1,000 each. Express Grants are available for a variety of activities in the following areas: small projects, short-term opportunities and sponsorships.
Towbes Fund for Performing Arts (TFPA) Grantmaking Changes due to COVID-19 — Fall 2020 Grant Cycle
During the past several months, our community has faced unprecedented times presenting both broad needs and unique challenges. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the revenue sources for Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts (TFPA) have been negatively affected. TFPA grants are supported directly by real estate income. With the rental market greatly impacted, we find ourselves with significantly less to give, so we have decided to suspend the Fall TFPA grant cycle.
We plan to reevaluate the situation later this winter and will provide an update of any changes for Spring of 2021. We understand that these are incredibly challenging times and wish our community partners and fellow community members only the best. Please take care of each other, be safe, and be well.
Contact our team to help you with your specific needs.
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