First 5 Santa Barbara is offering grants to community-based organizations such as nonprofits, schools, and institutes of higher learning that serve children birth through age five, their families, and those who care for them. Currently, three categories for funding are available, including Innovation, Capacity Building, and Express grants.

“Systems often are the holders of inequities,” said Wendy Sims-Moten, executive director of First 5 Santa Barbara County. “We must do more than close gaps and point to disparities. We must look critically at all facets of our organizations as we strive in all of our work to achieve social and race equity, a state in which all children have the same opportunity to reach the potential we know they have.”

Five Look Back Innovation Grants in the amount of $1,500 each provide an opportunity for organizations to share their innovative COVID-19 strategies developed over the past 18 months that focused on social and racial equity.

The commission will award up to three Look Ahead Innovation Grants ranging from $2,500-$3,750 to support think-tank opportunities that investigate equity and social justice issues and potential to create a change in practice or an operational procedure within an organization or community.

The commission has set aside $45,000 for Capacity Building grants intended to support short-term organizational-wide change efforts. Grants up to $15,000 are designed to build the leadership or staff capacity of an organization via some type of professional or leadership development activity, including trainings, conferences, or certifications.

These activities must be in the areas of equity and/or social justice and align with the commission’s Strategic Plan and Social Justice and Racial Equity Statement. Applicants must show proof of a fiscal match.

The commission has budgeted $105,000 for Express Grants to provide funding for short-term, one-time projects that align with the Result Areas, Outcomes, and Indicators as outlined in the 2021-25 Strategic & Fiscal Plan (pages 16-19).

Note, Express grants are not intended to fund salaries/benefits or require ongoing funding commitments. Express grants will not exceed $10,000 per project and must be expended within a single fiscal year.

Deadline to submit a letter of interest or application for the innovation grants is Monday, Nov. 22. Deadline to submit a Capacity Building application is Friday, Dec. 3. The deadline to submit an Express grant application is Wednesday, Dec. 1.

An information session will be held for the Innovation and Capacity Building Grants, 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 4. For more information or to download a Letter of Intent or application form, visit http://first5santabarbaracounty.org/.

For more about First 5 Santa Barbara County, visit www.first5sbc.org/trs, or call 805-560-1039. First 5 Santa Barbara County Children and Families Commission, funded by Proposition 10, works in partnership with individuals and organizations throughout the county to support the health, early learning, and well-being of children prenatal to age 5 and their families.