The Fund for Santa Barbara

And that is a wrap! We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our sponsors, vendors, and volunteers who made the 31st annual Bread and Roses a true joy. Since its inception in 1993, Bread and Roses has honored the 1912 textile worker strikes in Lawrence, Massachusetts which saw over 25,000 workers (immigrant, majority women) combat injustices. The strikes bore the term "Bread and Roses" where "Bread" represented a living wage while "Roses" represented dignity and respect. Our movement draws a coalition of multi-racial and intergenerational donors from across the County. A coalition of donors who may not share a background but share lived experiences and values. A coalition seeking to be part of creating a world that is peaceful, dignified and just. Thank you all for doubling down and standing with our community.

We're Hiring! The Fund for Santa Barbara seeks a dynamic, self-motivated individual to support the logistics and administration of The FUND’s innovative grant programs and processes. Interested candidates should send cover letter, resume, and references to Grant Programs Manager, Tania Reyes at: tania@fundforsantabarbara.org Position open until filled.

Thank you for celebrating with us! We are profoundly moved by the positive energy and palpable hope that arises as we celebrate the remarkable social justice work undertaken by our grantees across Santa Barbara County. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these dedicated individuals and organizations for their unwavering commitment to improving our communities. The recent gathering, attended by, changemakers, and allies, was an inspiring evening filled with community joy and celebration. The success of this event was made possible by your presence and support, and we hope that it serves as a beacon of hope during challenging times. Our efforts are greatly supported by the dedication of our volunteer Grant Making Committee, whose generous contribution of time ensures that community needs remain at the heart of our social justice initiatives. We are deeply appreciative of their steadfast commitment to advancing social justice. We also wish to express our gratitude to the County of Santa Barbara and the Office of Arts and Culture staff for their collaboration on the Racial Equity Fund of the County of Santa Barbara (REF). The REF grantees recognized at the event are a testament to the County’s decisive actions to address racial inequity in our region. We commend their ongoing efforts and hope this partnership continues to strengthen, focusing on investing in the most racially vulnerable and historically marginalized communities in Santa Barbara County. The work of The FUND over the past 44 years would not be possible without the generous support of our donors. We sincerely appreciate your contributions and commitment to both The FUND and our exceptional grantees. If you have not yet made a financial contribution and wish to do so, please visit our website--every donation, no matter the size, is valued and appreciated. All of our grantees are listed in the Grant Making History section on our website. Their impactful work plays a crucial role in advancing the progressive social change movement that we are dedicated to supporting. We encourage you to stay connected with them, offer your support, and follow their progress. In Solidarity,  The FUND Team 

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of our 2024 Movement Building Grants. The FUND takes pride in providing grants to organizations that play a vital role in fostering a more equitable Central Coast region and which traditional philanthropy often overlooks. The success of our grant making is possible thanks to our dedicated Grant Making Committee (GMC. Since March, they've reviewed proposals, conducted site visits, and deliberated tirelessly. We're grateful for their commitment to advancing social justice. Visit our website to learn more about these advocates for progressive change. Each cycle, The FUND selects a grantee for the Gloria Liggett Community Justice Fund award, honoring the legacy of community activist Gloria Liggett. This cycle, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council will receive a $10,000 grant to establish a Land Advisory Council. This initiative will develop a land trust curriculum rooted in tribal history, voices, stories, and authentic management practices, fostering a revitalization of Chumash culture and heritage. Continue reading to learn about the transformative work each of our Movement Building Grantees is doing and join us in celebrating them and our 2024 Racial Equity Fund grantees at our annual Grant Awards Celebration on August 14th.

We are pleased to share that the Racial Equity Fund of the County of Santa Barbara (REFCSB) funding recommendations were UNANIMOUSLY approved by the County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors! The Racial Equity Fund of the County of Santa Barbara (REFSBC) stems directly from the grassroots organizing efforts of Black Femme leaders in Santa Barbara County. In response to the events surrounding the 2020 killing of George Floyd and the persistent racial justice movement, these leaders advocated for the County of Santa Barbara to prioritize investment in the Black community. Consequently, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors acknowledged racism as a public health crisis, and affirmed their commitment to racial justice in our county. They took action by allocating $500,000 towards addressing equity issues within the county. Approximately half of these funds were designated for internal institutional equity development, while the remainder was earmarked for distribution. The FUND was selected to distribute these funds through our community-led participatory grant-making process. Since 2022, The FUND and The County have continued to work together to distribute these funds. This announcement marks the culmination of the third cycle of this collaboration. We commend the County Board of Supervisors for continuing to invest in and sponsor the Racial Equity Fund of the County of Santa Barbara. We hold immense gratitude for all who contributed time and energy to this extensive process. Your support has been instrumental in our journey. Special thanks to the volunteer REF Grant Making Committee. We applaud the County of Santa Barbara for taking concrete steps to address racial inequity in our region and hope that this partnership continues to initiate a more concerted effort by the County to invest in the most vulnerable and historically marginalized communities in Santa Barbara County. Please join us in congratulating the groups and organizations receiving funding on August 13th! We look forward to witnessing the transformative work they are carrying out to build a more equitable, just, representative, and inclusive region.

We're #hiring a new Grants Associate in Santa Barbara, California. Apply today or share this post with your network.