On May 8, 345 members and guests of the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara gathered for the 13th annual Presentation of Grants Reception at the Fess Parker Doubletree hotel. Grants totaling $485,000 were distributed to area nonprofits for eight programs: the Accelerated Reader Program, AHA! (Attitude, Harmony, Achievement), Casa Pacifica, Channel Islands YMCA (for Noah’s Anchorage), Domestic Violence Solutions, PEAC (Program for Effective Access to College), Peoples' Self-Help Housing, and St. Vincent’s.
An all-volunteer, collective donor group with about 750 members, the Women’s Fund combines the donations of its members into significant grants focused on the critical needs of women, children and families in south Santa Barbara County. The organization holds no fundraisers, all funds come from member contributions. Over the course of nearly a year, its Research Committee conducts in-depth research of programs of area nonprofits and submits a ballot of finalists to the general membership for a vote on the ultimate grantees.
In the presentation to the members and guests, Steering Committee Co-chair Nancy Harter explained that “we give large grants, frequently for programs that wouldn’t be funded by others . . . We are flexible, funding start-ups, established programs and capital projects, and we look for ways to leverage our investments.” Research Committee Co-chair Irene Stone noted that unlike many grant making entities, the Women’s Fund does not accept unsolicited applications. Rather, organizations are invited to submit applications.