New Funding Stream Opens for Smaller Local Nonprofits

The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara is initiating a Small Grants pilot program, opening a fresh funding stream for local nonprofit agencies with annual budgets under $500,000. Eligible organizations may apply for unrestricted grants of $10,000 or $25,000 starting June 1.

The online application will be available June 1 through 30, with grant recipients announced in November.

“The Women’s Fund recognizes the vital role small nonprofits play in our community and is eager to support their impactful work,” said Carolyn Jabs, Women’s Fund Board chair. “This program provides a simplified path to the funding these agencies need to address the needs of women, children and families.”

The Small Grants program offers unrestricted agency grants — usable for programs, capacity-building, or capital needs — with a streamlined application and minimal reporting requirements.

The goal is to ensure that small agencies can focus more on serving the community and less on administrative burdens.

The new program, largely the result of feedback from Women’s Fund members, is part of a broader strategy to keep its grant-making responsive to community needs.

While the Women’s Fund said it will continue to award its traditional larger grants of $50,000 to $200,000 — generally to agencies with annual revenues above $500,000 — the Small Grants program is specifically designed to reach smaller organizations that often struggle to access larger, highly competitive funding pools.

For more about eligibility and to access the application when it opens June 1, visit https://womensfundsb.org/small-grants-pilot-program at womensfundsb.org or nprnsb.org.

With more than 1,400 members, the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara is the largest women’s collective giving circle in the U.S. by membership. The organization focuses on the critical needs of women, children and families in south Santa Barbara County.

Since its founding in 2004, the Women’s Fund has granted nearly $13 million to 163 local nonprofits, supporting programs and projects that create measurable, lasting change in the community.