Grant awardees with critical programs for women, children and families in Santa Barbara are about to be unveiled.
On May 20, at their Celebration of Grants at the Lobero Theatre, the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara will award a grants pool of $1,250,000 to local nonprofits for programs addressing the critical needs of women, children and families in south Santa Barbara County.
This is an increase of $125,000 over last year’s grants. The record-breaking grants pool makes the Women’s Fund one of the largest collective giving circles in the country.
“The size of this year’s grants pool is evidence of the generosity of our members and the commitment they have to our community,” said Carolyn Jabs, Women’s Fund Board chair.
“It also reveals the power of collective giving,” she said. “By pooling our contributions, Women’s Fund members can have an impact far beyond what we could have as individuals.”
This extraordinary organization, founded in 2004 by 12 local women, has awarded nearly $13 million to nonprofits in the community over the past 20 years, and boasts a membership of more than 1,400.
The extensive research and voting process are key to their success. Each year, volunteers focus their tireless energy on researching the needs of our community and then investigating which organizations have the most compelling projects to meet those needs.
The research committee maintains a database that includes more than 150 community agencies whose programs serve women, children and families. Members can suggest agencies to be included in the database.
In the spring, the research committee reaches out to all agencies in the database asking if they have ideas for a project that will benefit women, children and families in south Santa Barbara County. Interested agencies are asked to provide basic information and a brief project description.
In July, a sub-committee ranks the ideas that have been submitted, and the entire research committee meets to discuss projects that will receive more intensive research. Those agencies are presented to the Women’s Fund Board for preliminary review.
The agencies are asked to provide financial documents to the finance committee, which reviews the materials to confirm that the agency is financially stable and able to responsibly manage a significant grant.
Next, the agency is assigned to a researcher who contacts the executive director. In a confidential phone call, the researcher explores the proposed idea in more detail, and decides whether the agency should apply for a program grant, a capital grant, or gap funding that covers budget shortfalls.
The executive director is then invited to submit a full application and a project budget.
The researcher also visits the agency to meet the staff and get a glimpse of the program in action. After compiling all available information, the researcher prepares a report which is shared with other members of the committee.
In December, the committee discusses the projects to decide which ones should be recommended for inclusion on the ballot that will go to all 1,400 Women’s Fund members for voting in March.
The board reviews the research committee’s recommendations in January and gives final approval to the ballot.
As follow-up, the agencies that receive grants are required to provide mid-year and year-end reports on the funded projects and the impact they’ve had on the agency and its clients.
Membership is open to all women.
New members are always welcome to join as part of a group or as an individual. Each group set its own donation levels, with $275 suggested as the minimum.
Groups review the ballot of potential grantees and vote together on which projects to support. The group receives one vote for each $2,750 contributed.
Individual members make a personal contribution of $2,750 or more. Each individual member reviews the ballot of potential grantees and casts her own vote for which projects to support. She receives one vote for each $2,750 contributed.
The Women’s Fund welcomes new members. For more information, including details about upcoming events and previous grants, visit Women’s Fund website.
“In uncertain times, it’s very rewarding and humbling to be part of an organization in which so many women contribute money, time, and talent to support the nonprofits that serve vulnerable people in our community,” Jabs said.
“Our Board of Directors extends heartfelt gratitude to all of our members as well as our sponsors and community supporters,” she said.