The Fund for Santa Barbara plays a unique role in the community as a hub for progressive donors, activists, organizers, and policy-makers. By working with more than 200 projects each year through our Capacity Building Programs and offering grant support to approximately 75 organizations, the Fund maintains a uniquely broad set of relationships with progressive community leaders. As such, the Fund can offer donors insights into the local landscape that can help them to make strategic giving decisions.
Unlike most foundations, the Fund raises it's budget annually, which means that the Fund for Santa Barbara's work is only possible because of the support of more than 700 donors each year. See more information on the many ways to give.
Here are some of the ways in which gifts to the Fund for Santa Barbara may benefit our community:
General Support
The vast majority of donors to the Fund for Santa Barbara make unrestricted gifts of general support. These gifts are used to support the whole of the the Fund's work. In a typical year the Fund for Santa Barbara's functional expenses break down as follows:
Approximately 45% to the Grant Making Programs
Approximately 35% to the Technical Assistance Programs
Approximately 10% to Fundraising Expenses
Approximately 10% to Administration
Recent financial statements and Form 990 tax filing may be found in the fund documents.
Donor Advised Funds
The Fund for Santa Barbara also maintains Donor Advised Funds for donors who wish to make significant gifts that serve their philanthropic goals as well as the mission of the Fund over an extended period. Donor Advised Funds may be created with one-time gifts or funded on an on-going basis. Fund staff work closely with Donor Advised Fund donors to make strategic grant decisions from these funds. For more information about setting up a Donor Advised Fund, please contact Executive Director, Marcos Vargas at (805) 962-9164
Donor Education & Convenings
On occasion, the Fund for Santa Barbara offers educational opportunities for donors who share a particular area of interest. We invite donors to make their interests known so that we may include them in future gatherings.
Thank you for your support of the Fund for Santa Barbara's work!