Santa Barbara Foundation Announces $2.5 Million in Multi-Year Grants to Local Nonprofits

The Santa Barbara Foundation announced an astonishing $2,530,000 in multi-year grants to nonprofit partners in the categories of Behavioral Health and Care, Food and Shelter, and Safety. More than 60 non-profit organizations will benefit.

“The multi-year grants will directly support local nonprofits in their efforts to make Santa Barbara County a safer, healthier place to live,” said Jenny Kearns, senior director of grants at the Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF). “The grants were awarded through a rigorous research partnership process, planning and due diligence.”

The committees, comprised of subject matter experts and community members, worked diligently to generate precise amounts of funding that would best support each organization’s efforts.

“This is the second round of grants spanning two years that SBF has put into action since 2022,” Kearns said. “This frees up our valued nonprofit partners to focus more time and energy on doing their critical work in the community and less time applying for grants.”

Unity Shoppe, an organization that provides groceries, food and other resources to affected families across the county, is one of the beneficiaries.

“The grants help stock shelves with fresh, nutritious groceries, allowing Unity Shoppe to offer a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, staples and proteins,” said Angela Miller-Bevan, executive director/CEO of Unity Shoppe. “These donations allow Unity Shoppe to continue fulfilling its mission of serving the community with dignity, empowering individuals and families to recover and providing resources that promote self-sufficiency and stability.”

Santa Barbara Foundation grants benefit an extensive list of nonprofit organizations, increasing their impact in Santa Barbara County. Kearns emphasizes that the foundation’s ability to support nonprofits is expanded by community support, new donors and partnerships, and the organization welcomes interested supporters.

For more information about Santa Barbara Foundation grant opportunities, click here. The following is the full list of recipients:

Grants for behavioral health and health care

Behavioral Health and Health Care grants are available to support nonprofit organizations that provide services in the areas of behavioral health and/or health care.

Food Subsidies

Food Grants are available to support nonprofit organizations that offer food programs.

Shelter and safety allowances

Shelter & Safety Grants are available to support nonprofit organizations that provide services in the areas of safety and shelter, including housing loss prevention.