With Thanksgiving this week and Giving Tuesday just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the spirit of gratitude and generosity.
Santa Barbara County is home to countless nonprofits doing extraordinary work, and this season reminds us how even the smallest act of kindness can make a meaningful difference.
At Noozhawk, we’re proud to shine a light on these organizations through our Good for Santa Barbara County Nonprofit Section, making it easier than ever to discover causes that inspire you.
Take a moment to explore our Giving Guide and help lift up neighbors who could use a little extra support during the holidays.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Kellie Landrum, Communications Director at Providence School, to learn more about the nonprofit’s mission to prepare students for lives of purpose, equipped with the knowledge, wisdom, and character found in God’s unchanging truth.
Providence School
Question: What is the name of your nonprofit, and what is its mission?
Answer: Providence School prepares students for lives of purpose, equipped with the knowledge, wisdom, and character found in God’s unchanging truth.
Q: What motivated the creation of your nonprofit?
A: Providence has served the Santa Barbara community for more than 60 years. Providence was founded on the belief that students thrive when education emphasizes both learning and service.
Our founders envisioned a community where children grow academically while also developing hearts and hands to serve others.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded, and what are its biggest needs right now?
A: Providence is funded through tuition, annual fund donations, and philanthropic gifts. Our current priority is raising funds for our new Middle and Upper School campus, which will provide spaces designed for collaboration, leadership, and service-focused learning opportunities.
Q: How do you allocate your funding to support your mission?
A: Every gift to Providence directly supports students, programs, and community impact. Tuition only covers 70% of our annual expenses and a large percentage of our students are on financial aid.
Donations fund classroom experiences, arts and athletics, service initiatives, and tuition assistance to make Christian education accessible. Gifts also help build and enhance our campuses, including the new Middle and Upper School campus, creating spaces where students can learn, lead, and serve together.
Q: What types of events or programs do you run to engage your community and raise funds?
A: Providence hosts service projects, community outreach events, and family gatherings that unite students, parents, and alumni in giving back. Our annual Providence Fund also supports programs that encourage students to serve locally and globally.
Q: What sets your nonprofit apart from similar organizations?
A: Providence combines strong academics with a deep culture of service and community. Students are not only learning—they are actively applying their knowledge and faith to help others. Our tight-knit, Christ-centered environment ensures every student is seen, known, and empowered to make an impact.
Q: Could you share a story or two about individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by your organization?
A: At Providence, students learn that leadership and faith are expressed through service. Each week, a group of students offers free tutoring at The Club (formerly the Boys and Girls Club) for participants after school.
Our TRIAD course takes students on dedicated service projects both locally and overseas, addressing needs in the Santa Barbara community and around the world. Through our Engineering Academy, students practice service by creatively solving problems that benefit the community.
On campus, the Kids Helping Kids club empowers students to lead a fundraising concert supporting a nonprofit of their choice—last year’s concert raised funds for an organization rescuing women from human trafficking, bringing classmates, teachers, and families together for a shared mission.
Graduates consistently reflect that Providence shaped not only their academics but their hearts, teaching them to think compassionately, act courageously, and serve joyfully in their communities.
Q: How do you share your nonprofit’s impact and updates with the public?
A: Our instagram @providencesb is a great place to stay connected and informed.
Q: Can you highlight one immediate goal and one long-term vision your nonprofit aims to achieve in the next year?
A: Immediate goal: accelerate fundraising for the new Middle and Upper School campus to ensure its timely completion and to expand our capacity.
Long-term vision: deepen our scholarship and financial assistance program so that more students from diverse backgrounds can experience a Providence education rooted in Christian truth and community.
Q: Is there anything important or unique about your nonprofit that we haven’t covered yet?
A: Of course grades are important – but it’s not the only measure of success in education. We measure success not just in grades, but in student engagement, service, and character growth. Are students taking on leadership roles? Serving their peers and the broader community?
Acting with integrity and compassion? Feedback from students, families, and alumni, combined with participation in service and leadership initiatives, shows that Providence graduates leave equipped to make a positive impact in their communities.
Click here to support Providence School’s mission to prepare students for lives of purpose, equipped with the knowledge, wisdom, and character found in God’s unchanging truth.
Check out Noozhawk’s Guide to Giving for a full list of nonprofits to donate to this giving season.
If you would like to include your nonprofit in our Good for Santa Barbara section and Giving Guide click HERE.