The Santa Barbara Foundation’s Inaugural State of Nonprofits in Santa Barbara County Event, 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, at the Santa Barbara Hilton Beachfront Resort is sold out.
At the event, findings from the Foundation’s new “State of Nonprofits in Santa Barbara County” report will be shared with attendees, who will hear a panel discussion with nonprofit leaders, and more.
To be added to a waitlist or tickets, interested parties may email Kelly Lazarus at Klazarus@SBFoundation.org.
Community members may join a free public webinar to hear and see highlights of the report findings, 10-11 a.m. Thursday, June 4.
Interested parties may register for the webinar at Webinar: State of Nonprofits in SB County 2025 Report – Santa Barbara Foundation.
The State of Nonprofits in Santa Barbara County Report is produced by the Santa Barbara Foundation with the University of California, Santa Barbara Gevirtz Graduate School of Education’s Center for Evaluation and Assessment.
“We are here to help the local nonprofits that keep our county thriving,” said Jackie Carrera, Santa Barbara Foundation president/CEO. “The insights in this report, which we’ll share at the public events, will highlight the collaboration and support needed to ensure they can have their greatest impact serving our communities.”
“What many people may not know is that not only do our nonprofits ensure that our neighbors facing the toughest challenges have what they need, but that the nonprofit sector is also a significant economic driver in our county, employing 8.5 percent of the workforce,” Carrera said.
Of the 2,000-plus nonprofits registered in Santa Barbara County, 665 have paid staff. And employment in the local nonprofit sector increased 21 percent from 2019 to 2024. For reference, during that same period, overall county employment decreased by 1.45 percent.
Other data about the local nonprofit sector contained in the report include the following: 92 percent of nonprofit leaders report steady or increasing demand for services; 88 percent engage volunteers to fulfill their missions; and 44 percent of nonprofit revenue comes from program fees, while government grants and charitable donations each account for about 25 percent of revenue.
Other topics addressed in the report and presentations include distribution of services across regions of Santa Barbara County, financial health and financial forecasts, how nonprofits collaborate to amplify their impact and optimize expenditures, and more.
The report includes Santa Barbara Foundation’s recommendations for nonprofit, business, health, education, government representatives and community leaders about how to best support and engage with nonprofits to maximize success and impact.
The State of Nonprofits in Santa Barbara County Report was produced with DataLake which provided quantitative data analysis and the Towbes Foundation which provided research funding support.
The Santa Barbara Foundation is grateful for the support of the inaugural event by Impact Sponsors Boone Graphics, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation, Towbes Foundation and Valley Wealth Strategies; Premier Media Sponsor Pacific Coast Business Times; Video Sponsor Lure Digital; Community Partners Mercer Advisors and Natalie Orfalea Foundation; and Friends of the Sector California Lutheran University Center for Nonprofit Leadership, Coastal Intelligence, McCune Foundation, PIP Printing, State Street Insurance, and Telea Insights.
Founded in 1928, the Santa Barbara Foundation connects donors, nonprofits, government, businesses, and the people of Santa Barbara County to take on the region’s most challenging needs.
The Foundation mobilizes charitable giving and connects their expertise to that of donors, nonprofits, and residents to create meaningful impact on local communities. For more, visit SBFoundation.org.