The Fund for Santa Barbara

The Fund for Santa Barbara IG:

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.

You may have seen some new faces around The FUND — give a warm welcome to Landon & Yaquilina!Landon joins The FUND as ou...
08/24/2026

You may have seen some new faces around The FUND — give a warm welcome to Landon & Yaquilina!

Landon joins The FUND as our new Operations & Finance Manager. A born-and-raised Santa Barbaran, he’s excited to support the movement for justice in his own community. He comes to The FUND after more than a decade at SB ACT, where he worked across nonprofit operations and programs while helping build coalitions among nonprofits, government agencies, and faith communities around housing justice and immigrant rights. Landon is passionate about building bridges across Santa Barbara County’s diverse communities and creating relationships rooted in mutuality rather than hierarchy.

Yaquilina is our newest Grants Intern, supporting voter education efforts. Raised in Santa Maria by immigrant farmworker parents, Yaqui recently graduated from UCLA with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Community Engagement and Social Change. Before joining The FUND, she supported community-based research on civic engagement, youth leadership, voter engagement, and organizing in Santa Barbara County through the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center. She’s excited to deepen her experience in community philanthropy and grantmaking while supporting working-class and underserved communities across the Central Coast.

We’re excited to have Landon and Yaquilina bringing their experience, local roots, and commitment to community into this next chapter of The FUND’s work!

The 2026–2027 Youth Making Change Grant Cycle is now open! Youth ages 12–24 in Santa Barbara County can apply for up to ...
08/21/2026

The 2026–2027 Youth Making Change Grant Cycle is now open! Youth ages 12–24 in Santa Barbara County can apply for up to $3,000 to fund youth-led projects that create positive community impact. Applications are due Friday, October 9.

We’re hosting two free workshops to walk through the application, answer questions, and connect applicants with the YMC Board — come learn how to submit a strong proposal!

📅 Santa Maria — Wed, Sept 23 | 5:30–7:00 pm
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 402 S Lincoln St, Santa Maria, CA

📅 Santa Barbara — Thu, Sept 24 | 5:30–7:00 pm
The Fund for Santa Barbara Office, 3rd Floor Conf. Room, Suite 305, 1528 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA

Learn more, apply, or register at fundforsantabarbara.org/ymc-grant-application

We’re excited to welcome an incredible lineup of youth-serving organizations and community partners who will be presenti...
08/20/2026

We’re excited to welcome an incredible lineup of youth-serving organizations and community partners who will be presenting, facilitating workshops, and tabling throughout the day at this year's Youth Organizing Summit! Come connect, build organizing and civic engagement skills, and learn alongside young people and organizers from across Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

Registration closes Monday, August 24, 2026 at 11:59p.m. Free to attend. Open to youth in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties and adult allies. Meals, interpretation, and transportation support available.

Register at: fundforsantabarbara.org/youth-organizing-summit-2026

Bread & Roses tickets are officially on sale! This year's theme: Bread & Votes. As we head toward a critical midterm ele...
08/18/2026

Bread & Roses tickets are officially on sale! This year's theme: Bread & Votes. As we head toward a critical midterm election, The FUND is leaning further into protecting access to the ballot, supporting nonpartisan voter engagement, and investing in the organizing that helps communities exercise their collective power.

Bread & Votes reminds us that the fight for bread and roses has always been about more than wages. It’s about dignity, voice, and the power of everyday people to shape their own lives. Civic participation is part of that same struggle, and when we organize and mobilize our communities to participate, we build the collective power to shape the future we deserve.

On Sunday, October 4, from 2:00–6:00 PM at SBCC’s Great Meadow, we’ll come together to honor this work and the people making it possible, gathering in community, celebrating our collective wins, and refueling for the work ahead. We hope you’ll join us for Bread & Votes! Get your tickets at fundforsantabarbara.org/bread-roses/

Meet the newest members of our 2026–27 Youth Making Change Board! 🌟These young leaders from across Santa Barbara County ...
08/17/2026

Meet the newest members of our 2026–27 Youth Making Change Board! 🌟

These young leaders from across Santa Barbara County are stepping into a year of learning, collaboration, and youth-led grantmaking through YMC. As members of our North and South County Boards, they’ll learn more about the issues impacting young people in their communities, review applications from youth-led groups, interview applicants, and ultimately decide where YMC funding will be invested.

From start to finish, young people lead the grantmaking process, supporting projects created by youth, for youth, and rooted in what their communities need. We’re so excited to see the ideas, perspectives, and leadership this year’s board brings to YMC and to their communities.

Not pictured: North Board member Mayra L.; South Board members Bella A., Daniel G., and Valeria C.

08/13/2026

If we had to sum up this year’s Grant Awards Celebration, we’d say…

❤️ An evening full of people working toward a more just Santa Barbara County
🌹 New and longtime grantees coming together in community
✨ Inspiring stories and connections across issue areas 
🎉 Good food, good company, and a whole lot of joy!

Last month, we gathered to celebrate this year’s Movement Building and Racial Equity Grant recipients and the organizing, creativity, and commitment behind their work. Together, these grants represent $768,750 invested in organizations building community power, advancing racial justice, and creating lasting change across our region.

It was a true delight to have so many of our grantee partners together in one place to celebrate our interconnected movement, share in each other’s accomplishments, and fill our cups for the work head.

Congratulations again to our 2026 grantees! We’re so proud to support your work and grateful for your bold leadership on the frontlines of change.

Grants for civic engagement work? Now that’s kinda chic ✨Our newest Voice & Vote Emerging Needs Grant offers up to $25,0...
08/13/2026

Grants for civic engagement work? Now that’s kinda chic ✨

Our newest Voice & Vote Emerging Needs Grant offers up to $25,000 to support urgent and emerging nonpartisan voter education and civic engagement efforts ahead of upcoming elections.

As voting rights continue to be curtailed across the country, The FUND is investing in organizations working to protect and expand equitable access to the ballot box—and ensure eligible community members can register, understand their rights, and cast their vote. Funding can support voter registration, nonpartisan Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) efforts, door-to-door canvassing and outreach, voter education, educational forums and media, and other civic engagement efforts that expand equitable access to the ballot box.

What to know:
• Up to $25,000 per request (approved amounts will vary based on staff review)
• 3-month funding term
• Open to eligible work in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura Counties
• Applications accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted
• A pre-application screening conversation with The FUND is required
• Priority will be given to efforts reaching low-propensity voters

📩 Contact [email protected] to inquire about eligibility and get started.

The 2026–2027 Youth Making Change cycle is officially underway!This month, our new North and South County YMC board memb...
08/12/2026

The 2026–2027 Youth Making Change cycle is officially underway!

This month, our new North and South County YMC board members came together for our annual Countywide Training to meet one another, build community, and start digging into the issues that matter most to young people.

They explored the history of voting rights and voter suppression with Unidos 805 learned about youth-led research with Future Leaders of America and the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, and talked about the challenges they’re seeing in their own communities—from mental health and housing to climate change, immigration enforcement, civic engagement, and more.

We left the day energized by the thoughtfulness, curiosity, and passion this group is already bringing to the year ahead. 💛 Help us welcome our new YMC board members and facilitators!

The Youth Organizing Summit is back!Join us Saturday, August 29 at Santa Barbara City College for a FREE, all-day gather...
08/07/2026

The Youth Organizing Summit is back!

Join us Saturday, August 29 at Santa Barbara City College for a FREE, all-day gathering bringing together young people from across Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties to connect, learn, and build power together.

Through workshops, panels, speakers, and conversations, youth will have the opportunity to:

🔸 Build organizing + civic engagement skills
🔸 Connect with young people from across the region
🔸 Explore the issues impacting their communities
🔸 Learn ways to get involved ahead of another important election season
🔸 Turn their ideas and values into action

The Youth Organizing Summit is open to high school and junior high youth, as well as educators, organizers, and adult allies.

Saturday, August 29, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. SBCC Leni Fe Bland Forum. FREE to attend. Meals, interpretation + transportation support available.

Register by Saturday, August 22 at fundforsantabarbara.org/youth-organizing-summit-2026/ Parent or guardian signature required to register for youth under 18.

Presented in partnership by The Fund for Santa Barbara, The McCune Foundation, and .

This critical election year, how can your nonprofit approach ballot endorsements in a way that’s strategic, collaborativ...
08/07/2026

This critical election year, how can your nonprofit approach ballot endorsements in a way that’s strategic, collaborative, and grounded in your mission?

Join The FUND for a free two-part workshop series, From Values to Voice: A Collaborative Approach to Ballot Endorsements, designed to help 501(c)(3) nonprofits build a thoughtful process for making and communicating ballot endorsement decisions.

📅 Session 1: Wednesday, August 12 | 10 AM–12 PM
Build your internal process, from committee formation and board engagement to clear decision-making structures.

📅 Session 2: Wednesday, September 2 | 10 AM–12 PM
Turn your decisions into action with clear messaging, compelling narratives, and strategic outreach.

Participants will leave with practical tools, templates, communications resources, and access to optional office hours for additional support.

Visit bit.ly/values-to-voice-fb to register!

Address

PO Box PO Box 90710
Santa Barbara, CA
93101

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