What do housing, youth activities, mental health, environment, food banks, animals, art, music, healthcare, education, social services and museums have in common?
They all depend on the faithful work of more than 2,000 Santa Barbara County nonprofit organizations.
People often wonder why we have so many nonprofits in our county. First, the needs are great in our area.
Surprisingly, Santa Barbara County has the second-highest child poverty rate in California. Every day, 70,000 people live in poverty here.
Thankfully, we also have many resources locally in the form of volunteers, donors and supporters of nonprofits. Also, a high number of individuals and businesses in our county are generous and philanthropically minded.
National Nonprofit Day
So, we shine an especially bright light on the essential work of charitable organizations each August to honor their vital contributions and their impact on local communities.
This year, National Nonprofit Day falls on Aug. 17, commemorating the signing of the Tariff Act of 1894, which first granted tax-exempt status to nonprofits.
More importantly, August is a time to become more engaged with our cherished causes.
Volunteer your time with a local charity, make a tax-deductible donation to your preferred nonprofit, add your favorite charities to your estate plan and\or amplify a community organization’s impact by highlighting their mission on social media.
Nonprofits are essential partners in education, healthcare, housing, environmental stewardship, the arts, and social services. Their work touches nearly every resident, often in ways that go unseen.
From helping families secure stable housing to providing meals for seniors, mentoring young people, protecting open spaces, supporting survivors of violence, and enriching community life through arts and culture, nonprofits help create the quality of life Santa Barbara is known for.
As our communities continue to face economic uncertainty, rising housing costs and growing social needs, the role of nonprofits has become increasingly vital.
“Nonprofits are the connective tissue of our community,” said Jackie Carrerra, president/CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation. “They step in where needs exist and bring together volunteers, donors, businesses and public agencies to create solutions that no single sector could accomplish alone.”
The Santa Barbara Foundation is well known for actively connecting donors, nonprofits, businesses, government and the people of our county to take on the challenges that affect us all.
Powerful Impact and Economic Challenges
The impact is both personal and economic. Nonprofits employ nearly 18,000 residents, mobilize tens of thousands of volunteers, and generate significant community investment.
Every donated dollar is multiplied through volunteer time, partnerships and additional funding that allows programs to reach more people.
When a child receives tutoring, a family finds emergency shelter or a senior gains access to healthcare services, the benefits ripple outward through the community.
Yet despite their importance, many nonprofits are operating under growing pressure. Demand for services has increased while competition for grants and charitable dollars has intensified.
Inflation has raised the cost of food, transportation, insurance and staffing.
Organizations that once stretched limited budgets are now being asked to do even more with fewer resources.
That is why National Nonprofit Day is not only a celebration, but also a call to action. Community support matters. Donations provide the flexible funding that allows organizations to respond quickly to urgent needs, innovate new programs and sustain services between grant cycles.
Create a Vibrant Community
For donors, supporting a nonprofit is one of the most direct ways to invest in the future of Santa Barbara. Whether the cause is affordable housing, youth development, mental health, environmental conservation, animal welfare, food security or the arts, every contribution helps strengthen our community’s resilience.
Local philanthropy also has a unique advantage. Donors can see the results firsthand.
The child succeeding in school, the restored habitat, the community concert, the family moving into safe housing and the senior receiving support are not distant outcomes. They are neighbors, classmates, coworkers and friends.
Giving locally creates a direct connection between generosity and impact.
Beyond financial contributions, nonprofits need volunteers, advocates, and community ambassadors. Serving on a board, mentoring a student, helping at a food distribution, participating in a cleanup effort, or simply sharing an organization’s mission can make a meaningful difference.
Strong communities are built not only by institutions, but by residents who choose to participate.
The question is not whether nonprofits matter. The question is whether we will continue to support the work that makes this community stronger, healthier, safer and more compassionate for everyone.
In a place as remarkable as Santa Barbara, nonprofits help ensure that prosperity is shared, that vulnerability is met with compassion, and that the community’s values are reflected in action.
That is a legacy worth celebrating and supporting — not just in August, but all year long.