Santa Barbara Foundation
Santa Barbara, California · EIN 951866094 · Private foundation
Santa Barbara Foundation is a private foundation based in Santa Barbara, California. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $24.9M in grants paid and $421.0M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 2,448 individual grants from this funder — $169.6M awarded across 2018–2024 — including its support for arts & culture. Below is its full funding profile.
What Santa Barbara Foundation funds
Santa Barbara Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, economic development, education, environment & conservation, faith-based, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include children, youth pop.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Santa Barbara Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dechomai Asset Trust PUBLIC AND SOCIETAL BENEFIT | Jacksonville, FL | $7.0M | 2024 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund PUBLIC AND SOCIETAL BENEFIT | Covington, KY | $6.3M | 2024 |
| Johns Hopkins University EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT | Baltimore, MD | $3.2M | 2018 |
| Johns Hopkins University EDUCATION | Baltimore, MD | $2.5M | 2019 |
| Food & Water Watch HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES | Washington, DC | $2.2M | 2018 |
| Food & Water Watch FOOD SYSTEMS | Washington, DC | $2.2M | 2023 |
| Dignitymoves HOUSING AND SHELTER | San Francisco, CA | $1.6M | 2023 |
| Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT | Santa Barbara, CA | $1.5M | 2018 |
| Santa Cruz Island Foundation ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMALS | Carpinteria, CA | $1.5M | 2019 |
| Food & Water Watch FOOD SYSTEMS | Washington, DC | $1.5M | 2019 |
| Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara EDUCATION | Santa Barbara, CA | $1.4M | 2019 |
| Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara EDUCATION | Santa Barbara, CA | $1.3M | 2020 |
| Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT | Santa Barbara, CA | $1.3M | 2024 |
| United Way of Santa Barbara County Inc HUMAN SERVICES | Santa Barbara, CA | $1.2M | 2020 |
| Foothills Forever Incorporated ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMALS | Santa Barbara, CA | $1.2M | 2024 |
Santa Barbara Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from Santa Barbara Foundation
Santa Barbara Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at sbfoundation.org.
Is Santa Barbara Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
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Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about Santa Barbara Foundation
- Does Santa Barbara Foundation accept grant applications?
- Santa Barbara Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does Santa Barbara Foundation fund?
- Santa Barbara Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include Dechomai Asset Trust, Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund, Johns Hopkins University. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does Santa Barbara Foundation give in grants?
- Santa Barbara Foundation reported $24.9M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $169.6M over 2,448 grants.
- Where is Santa Barbara Foundation located?
- Santa Barbara Foundation is based in Santa Barbara, California. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 951866094.
- How can I find foundations similar to Santa Barbara Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Santa Barbara Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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