On May 13, nearly 500 community supporters gathered for the annual Celebration of Grants event at the iconic Lobero Theater. They had one thing in common.
The all sat spellbound, their attention riveted on the stage as, one-by-one, 10 nonprofit leaders revealed their life-changing work, earning a much-anticipated grant from the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara.
The enthusiastic audience celebrated each awardee and learned about the vital projects the Women’s Fund will support this year. This annual event underscores the vital role community support plays as nonprofits struggle to adapt to recent federal funding cuts.
Inspiring stories of how these gifts will transform the incredible work of each organization gave deep meaning to the importance of this rare group of philanthropic women who are changing lives every day.
The 22-year high of $1.275 million, made possible by the collective giving of their 1,541 members, shows the strength of this all-volunteer, women-run giving model addressing the critical needs of women, children and families in south Santa Barbara County.
“It’s no secret: these are challenging times for nonprofits, the people they serve and the donors who support them,” said Carolyn Jabs, board chair.
“For myself, I’ve found the Women’s Fund is the best antidote to discouragement,” she said. “It is truly a joy to work with other committed women who understand the impact we can have when we pool our resources for the common good.”
Since 2004, the Women’s Fund has contributed more than $14 million to 173 programs at local nonprofits that address critical community needs and enhance the quality of life for women, children and families in south Santa Barbara County.
A Unique Grantmaking Model
The grantees do not apply for the funds in the usual way of writing a grant. Nonprofits must be invited to apply for funding.
The 17-member research committee carefully chooses agencies to invite to submit an application for projects that will benefit women, children and families. and meet a critical need in the community.
Once applications are received, the research committee conducts an in-depth investigation for each organization, presenting the committee’s recommendations to the membership for a vote. The result of that voting process culminates in the final list of grantees.
All dollars remain in south Santa Barbara County. Generous sponsors and community supporters, an all-volunteer leadership team and enthusiastic volunteers help offset expenses to maximize grants.
“The Women’s Fund is run by very frugal women,” Jabs said. “We have no staff; 267 volunteers manage everything.”
Ten Nonprofits Recognized
The 2025-26 grant recipients are:
· AHA Attitude, Harmony, Achievement — $150,000 for gap funding over two years to sustain in-school social-emotional learning programs led by facilitators to help teens build emotional management, deep listening, and social skills.
· Angels Foster Care — $60,000 to replace an aging vehicle with a new hybrid SUV to transport foster children to medical appointments, court hearings, and family visitations.
· Community Partners in Caring — $62,500 to support new staff to recruit and train volunteers who will provide door-to-door transportation and social interaction for local seniors and adults with disabilities.
· Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County — $200,000 for gap funding over two years for a full-time school therapist to provide mental health screenings, crisis response, and counseling local junior high and high school students.
· Friendship Adult Day Care Center — $82,500 to hire a transportation coordinator and part-time driver to provide safe, reliable facility transport for members living with dementia.
· Mission Scholars — $150,000 over two years to partially fund a staff position for one-on-one mentorship, career coaching, and leadership workshops to help low-income, first-generation students apply for college, graduate and secure employment.
· Planned Parenthood California Central Coast — $200,000 for gap funding over two years to keep the Santa Barbara Health Center open, and provide essential reproductive healthcare to patients.
· Santa Barbara Meals on Wheels — $100,000 for gap funding over two years to sustain existing affordable food delivery services and wellness checks for homebound seniors living in the city of Santa Barbara.
· Santa Barbara Rescue Mission — $150,000 to remodel an existing storage space into an eight-bed dormitory to provide stabilization and trauma-informed care for women awaiting addiction treatment.
· Veggie Rescue — $120,000 to purchase a refrigerated truck to safely transport and deliver surplus fresh and packaged food to its nonprofit partners.
Grateful Recipients
“Friendship Center is elated to receive our first-ever grant from the Women’s Fund,” said Kathryn Westland, executive director.
“These funds, which will support the operation of our dementia-friendly transportation program, are a meaningful vote of confidence in our mission and our community impact, made even more special as we celebrate Friendship Center’s 50th anniversary this year,” she said.
“Angels Foster Care provides loving, stable and nurturing homes for children ages 0-5 in foster care to no fault of their own,” said Dr. Jacqueline McDonough, executive director.
“With great appreciation of the Women’s Fund, we are able to purchase a vehicle dedicated to transporting these infants and toddlers for visits with their biological parents, ensure safe travel between foster homes, and to take them to medical, dental, and court appointments,” she said.
“This support from the Women’s Fund has given Angels the means to continue to support children as they heal, thrive, and truly transforms their lives,” she said.
“I’m deeply grateful to the Women’s Fund for investing in our work.,” said Eryn Shugart, executive director of Veggie Rescue. “Because of their support, we are able to move fresh, nutritious food quickly and with dignity to nonprofits serving our most vulnerable neighbors and continue growing to meet the increasing need across our community.”
“The Women’s Fund represents so much of our community, and they have a thorough and invigorating process to identify grantees,” said Rolf Geyling, executive director of Santa Barbara Rescue Mission. “As a nonprofit leader, it is very affirming to receive this support, and I feel privileged to be able to communicate our gratitude.”
12 Local Women Joined Forces
In 2003, Carol Palladini was experiencing fundraiser burnout. She wanted to explore a new approach to philanthropy. She called her friends together.
They decided that, instead of organizing costly fundraising events, they would simply pool the money they wanted to give and award grants to nonprofits doing important work on behalf of women, children and families.
By 2004, the 12 philanthropically minded women had designed a collective giving plan to benefit Santa Barbara families.
Palladini, Fritzie Yamin, Joanne Rapp, Perri Harcourt, Jean Kaplan, Shirley Ann Hurley, Dale Kern, Elna Scheinfeld, Meredith Scott, Kay Stern, Anne Smith Towbes, and Marsha Wayne formed what today is referred to as a Giving Circle.
Thanks to the loyalty of its members, the Women’s Fund has blossomed into the largest giving circle in the United States based on membership.
Easy to Join
The Women’s Fund welcomes all women to join. Men are welcome to donate but cannot become voting members.
To become a member, a woman contributes to the Women’s Fund as either an individual or part of a group. This enables her to help select the recipients of a grants pool, which is comprised of all members’ donations.
There is no minimum contribution required; however, a minimum contribution of $275 is suggested. Membership contributions determine how members vote to distribute the funds collected each year. One vote is awarded for every $2,750 contributed.
There are two ways to contribute and vote:
· Become a Group Member by joining with other women who, together, contribute $2,750 (or more) in a calendar year. Each group receives one vote for every $2,750 contribution the group has made. There is no limit to the size of a group or how much a woman may contribute.
· Become an Individual Member by contributing $2,750 (or more) in a calendar year. Receive one vote on how collected funds are distributed the next spring for every $2,750 contribution a woman makes, up to a limit of four votes.
For more about the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara, visit www.womensfundsb.org.