The Fund for Santa Barbara

Home
United States
Santa Barbara, CA
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.

06/19/2026

Tomorrow, communities across Santa Barbara County will gather to celebrate Juneteenth, commemorating the day news of emancipation finally reached the last enslaved people in Texas in 1865.

The FUND is proud to sponsor both Juneteenth Santa Barbara and Juneteenth Lompoc, two community-led celebrations that honor this history while celebrating Black culture, joy, excellence, and community today.

As Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt, president of the NAACP Santa Maria-Lompoc Branch and a member of The FUND's Racial Equity Grantmaking Committee, shared: "Now more than ever, we must work to share the historical and current achievements of our Black community. With federal agencies not acknowledging Black History Month and other significant cultural holidays, we stand firm that in Santa Barbara County, we still celebrate, acknowledge, and respect our diversity, which only strengthens us."

Join us tomorrow in Old Town Lompoc for Juneteenth Lompoc 2026: Honoring the Past, Serving the Present, Inspiring the Future, from 11 AM–5 PM or at Plaza Del Mar in Santa Barbara for the ninth annual Juneteenth Santa Barbara celebration, Love for the People, from 11 AM–6 PM.

We're grateful to the organizers, volunteers, vendors, and community leaders who make these events possible. Happy Juneteenth! ❤️🖤💚 💛

06/18/2026

The Central Coast Community Organizing Training is back this August! In this three day introductory training, participants will learn about the power of grassroots organizing, relationship building & recruitment, developing strategic campaigns and much more!

📍 Santa Maria
📅 August 21–23, 2026
🗓 Register by July 8

Register early, this training fills up every year! Sliding scale tickets are available based on organizational budget.

Visit socialjusticeacademy.org/cccot to learn more and register!

06/05/2026

Let’s raise a glass for our Grantees! 🥂☀️The FUND’s Grant Awards Celebration is returning this summer on Wednesday, July 29.

Join us as we honor the recipients of our 2026 Racial Equity Grants and Movement Building Grants (announced in July). Whether you’re a grantee, supporter, community partner, or simply care about building a more just and equitable Santa Barbara County, this is a chance to come together with fellow changemakers, celebrate the organizations leading bold work across our region, and enjoy an inspiring evening of storytelling, conversation, and joy.

📍 Corque Hotel, Solvang�
🗓️ July 29 | 5–8 PM�
🥂 Hors d’oeuvres & beverages provided

RSVP at fundforsantabarbara.org/grant-awards-celebration

06/03/2026

📣 SAVE THE DATE! The Youth Organizing Summit returns on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

Join youth from across Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties for a day of workshops, speakers, conversations, and community-building focused on the issues impacting young people and the changes they want to see in their communities. Open to junior high and high school youth, as well as educators, organizers, and adult allies.

🗓️ August 29, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍 Santa Barbara City College, Leni Fe Bland Forum.

Free to attend. Meals, interpretation, and transportation support will be available. Registration and additional details coming soon!

A partnership of The Fund for Santa Barbara and The McCune Foundation.

06/02/2026

When the team understands the assignment 🗳️😎 Shoutout to The FUND staff for showing up, making our voices heard, and exercising one of our most important democratic rights: voting!

With so much at stake for our communities, our rights, and our future, every vote matters. If you haven't voted in today's Primary Election, there's still time!

🗳️ Vote by Ballot Drop Off: Return your completed ballot to a secure, official ballot drop box location or at the County Elections Office.

🗳️ Vote in Person: Santa Barbara County polling places are open today until 8:00 PM. You can vote in person, drop off your completed ballot, or receive voting assistance.

📍 Find your nearest vote center or ballot drop box at
countyofsb.org/1158/CVIG-and-polling-place-lookup

⚠️ Important: Avoid mailing your ballot today. Mail delays could prevent your vote from being counted. Instead, return your ballot to an official ballot drop box or vote center. If you must mail it, take it inside a U.S. Post Office and ask for a hand-stamped postmark. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked no later than June 2.

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

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?