The Fund for Santa Barbara

Home
United States
Santa Barbara, CA
The Fund for Santa Barbara

IG:
(1)

The Fund for Santa Barbara is a 501(c)3 non-profit community foundation that advances progressive change by strengthening movements for Economic, Environmental, Political, Racial, and Social Justice in the Santa Barbara County region.

05/08/2026

Save the date! Bread & Roses returns to Santa Barbara City College’s Great Meadow on Sunday, October 4th from 2–6 PM.

Join us for an afternoon of live music, good food and drinks, inspiring speakers, and community as we celebrate the people, relationships, and movements shaping Santa Barbara County. For more than 30 years, Bread & Roses has brought together organizers, artists, advocates, and community members for one of the Central Coast’s largest annual progressive gatherings.

We’re also looking for Early Event Sponsors to help make this year’s event possible and keep it accessible to our community. Sponsors confirmed by July 31, 2026 will be recognized in our printed invitation. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities at fundforsantabarbara.org/bread-roses/

04/29/2026

Deadline extended! Applications for the 2026–2027 Youth Making Change (YMC) Board have been reopened through Friday, May 8 at 11:59 PM. If you are a teen ready to make an impact in your community, this is your chance.

Youth Making Change is a teen-led grantmaking and leadership program where young people take part in real decision-making—reviewing proposals, funding youth-led projects, and helping shape where resources go across Santa Barbara County. Each year, two YMC Boards award $15,000 to projects that support young people and address issues impacting youth in our communities.

Open to ages 13–19, regardless of background, identity, ability, spoken language, or academic status. Board members receive community service hours and a stipend.

Know a young person who should be part of this? Share this post with them. For questions, reach out to [email protected]. Learn more and apply at fundforsantabarbara.org/ymc-board

04/29/2026

We’re excited to welcome Arcelia Sencion as Board President at The FUND for Santa Barbara!

A Board member since 2023, Arcelia brings more than 30 years of nonprofit leadership in Santa Barbara County, supporting children, youth, families, and survivors of gender-based violence. She brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach grounded in listening, relationship-building, and a deep sense of responsibility, along with a clear belief that lasting change requires both systemic solutions and strong community support systems.

We also want to thank Eric Cardenas for three years of dedicated leadership as Board President. His steady guidance helped lead The FUND through pivotal and challenging times. When so much felt uncertain, he kept us grounded in our values, allowing us to meet the moment by supporting communities under attack, strengthening movements for justice, and ultimately tripling our grantmaking in 2025.

Please join us in thanking Eric and welcoming Arcelia in this next chapter of leadership!

04/25/2026

Final Hours to Apply! If you’ve been thinking about applying to the Youth Making Change Board, this is your sign. Applications close tonight, Friday, April 24 at 11:59 PM.

Young people are already leading change in their communities. Youth Making Change (YMC) is a teen-led grantmaking and leadership program where young people play a direct role in supporting their communities—reviewing proposals, funding youth-led projects, and helping shape where resources go across Santa Barbara County. Open to youth ages 13–19, regardless of background, identity, ability, spoken language, or academic status.

Don't miss this chance make a difference, meet new friends, and grow your leadership skills! Apply now at fundforsantabarbara.org/ymc-board

04/17/2026

Santa Barbara County is weighing a major investment in jail expansion at a time when critical community services are on the chopping block. There’s a clear alternative: scale back the project and invest in the services that actually support long-term safety and well-being.

Take action:
• Sign and share the petition bit.ly/limitjailfunding
• Show up: Friday, April 17 at 9 AM at the County Board of Supervisors Meetings in Santa Maria & Santa Barbara (or join virtually) to give public comment

03/17/2026

Reminder! Applications are still open for the 2026–2027 Youth Making Change (YMC) Board.

Youth Making Change is a teen-led grantmaking and leadership program that empowers young people to participate directly in philanthropy as decision-makers throughout an entire grant cycle. Each year, two YMC Boards—one in Santa Maria and one in Santa Barbara—award $15,000 in grants to youth-led projects that address the needs of young people across Santa Barbara County. YMC supports projects that take on the root causes of social issues impacting youth in our community.

Youth ages 13–19 who are interested in learning about social justice and advancing progressive social change are encouraged to apply—regardless of background, identity, ability, spoken language, or academic status.Board members receive community service hours and a stipend in recognition of their time and leadership.

🗓 Apply by Friday, April 24 at 11:59 PM. Visit fundforsantabarbara.org/ymc-board to learn more and apply. Questions? Email [email protected]

03/12/2026

We’re proud to share that the County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved funding recommendations for the 2026 Racial Equity Grant!

Now five years since its creation, this powerful program was born from the grassroots organizing of the Black femme leaders of Healing Justice Santa Barbara and the advocacy of countless Black community members across Santa Barbara County. Following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, these leaders called on the County to invest in the Black community and ongoing racial justice movements, working tirelessly to make this investment a reality.

This grant supports organizations advancing racial equity through systems-change strategies. Funding strengthens historically marginalized organizations by building capacity, expanding impact, and supporting long-term sustainability. Since its inception, the County has allocated annual funding to sustain the program, which is administered in collaboration with The FUND.

Congratulations to this year’s grantees! We are excited to see the continued impact of their work in building a more equitable and just region.

03/06/2026

We’re proud to spotlight one of our Movement Building Grantees, Healing Justice Santa Barbara - HJSB, an organization that works to uplift all Black/African-Americans to affirm that they are deserving of safety, love, equity, respect, and joy.

For years, HJSB has worked to tell the full truth of Santa Barbara’s Black experience—from porch interviews with elders, hours spent scanning archives and photographs, to producing documentaries, timelines, trolley tours, and advocating for historic landmark designations. Recently, they celebrated the release of their beautiful new children’s book, We Were Here, We Are Here: A Living History of Black Santa Barbara written by Simone Akila Ruskamp and illustrated by Reyna Iman, carrying this history forward for the next generation.

During this past Black History Month, HJSB brought local Black history into community spaces across Santa Barbara from Black History Trolley Tours with Santa Barbara High School and the University Club, to a walking tour with Midland School and a community presentation with Moms Demand Action. Their Black Historical Timeline exhibition was also on display at SBCC Umoja and the Santa Barbara Public Library, offering the public a chance to engage with the rich, and often erased, history of Black Santa Barbara.

HJSB also invests in young Black students and future leaders through the Black Student Alliance. Earlier this month, BSA students attended the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Expo, where they explored admissions opportunities and applied for scholarships.

From archival preservation to youth leadership and community storytelling, HJSB reminds us that preserving and sharing our histories is essential to building lasting movements for justice. We are proud to support their work!
_______

Is your organization working to build long-term power for social change in Santa Barbara County? If so, our Movement Building Grant pre-screening closes tomorrow, March 6, with request for proposals closing next Friday, March 13. Interested applicants should reach out to [email protected] to learn more.

02/27/2026

Our community belongs to all of us. ✊🏽 Join us on Tuesday, March 3 at 5PM at Santa Maria City Hall (110 E Cook St) to say loud and clear: ICE out of 805!

We are calling on our elected officials to take immediate action, demanding transparency and real protections for immigrant families. All peoples, including our immigrant neighbors, deserve safety, due process, and the right to live without fear. Tell Santa Maria City Council it is time to act!

02/13/2026

Our Movement Building Grant Cycles are now open! This grant supports organizations leading bold, collective work to shift systems and build lasting power across Santa Barbara County.

Up to $10,000 is available through the single-year cycle. A Multi-Year Movement Building Grant will also open concurrently for long-standing partners with a history of significant funding (three or more grant cycles). Eligible organizations may request up to $20,000 per year for two years.

Please note, applications will not be widely available. Pre-application screening is required by Friday, March 6. To inquire, contact [email protected]

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of our free grant application workshops on February 19, 24, or 25, which will cover updates and changes to this year’s process. Register for the workshops and learn more at fundforsantabarbara.org/grantee-portal

Address

PO Box PO Box 90710
Santa Barbara, CA
93101

Website

http://www.fundforsantabarbara.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Fund for Santa Barbara posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in Santa Barbara?