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.
In addition to community grant programs, the foundation is a catalyst for community change and offers grant opportunities under our focus areas and initiatives. Please visit our Landscape, Ecosystems, Agriculture and Food Systems (LEAF) Initiative and Community Caregiving Initiative pages to learn about these community initiatives.
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 contact the staff member listed on the initiative pages or on the grant opportunities below.
Small Capacity Building Grant Programs (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.
Health Care and Behavioral Health Grants are available to support nonprofit organizations directly providing services in the areas of health care and behavioral health. Grant amounts: up to $50,000.
Food and Shelter Grants are available to support nonprofit organizations directly providing services in the areas of food and shelter. Grant amounts: up to $50,000.
William and Lottie Daniel Fund Child Care Scholarships guidelines and applications will open in March. This community opportunity provides support to nonprofit organizations that provide quality child care for working families. Please continue to check the Santa Barbara Foundation website and social media for more updates.
ChilldCare Grants are available to support nonprofit child care providers and family support services in Santa Barbara County to meet the critical needs of young children and set the stage for lifelong learning success.
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.
The Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts is now accepting grant applications for a single distribution of funds in 2018. Please submit all application materials by July 31, 2018. Grant requests for this round should not exceed $15,000. Starting in 2019, there will be two distributions. Additional information will be shared at the end of this year.
Contact our team to help you with your specific needs.
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