Tom Parker, one of Santa Barbara’s most influential nonprofit leaders and community philanthropists, died recently. He was 77.

Parker was the executive director of the private family Hutton Parker Foundation for more than 25 years. The foundation donated more than $100 million to nonprofit organizations during his tenure, and he helped grow the assets from $50 million to $130 million.

“Tom Parker was the most entrepreneurial philanthropist I ever met,” said Chuck Slosser, the former longtime president and CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation. “He took what he knew best, which was real estate, and wove it into the foundation’s asset base as well as its grant-making.”

Parker used his knowledge of real estate to acquire land and work to uplift nonprofits, in a community known for its philanthropy. He helped create several successful commercial office parks.

“Tom bought local properties and turned them into offices for nonprofits at below-market rates,” said Slosser. “It was an ingenious way to support them while investing prudently at the same time. I’ve often said every community needs a Tom Parker and a Hutton/Parker Foundation.”

Parker was born in Santa Barbara and was raised on Santa Barbara’s Eastside. He attended Franklin Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Santa Barbara Junior High School, and Santa Barbara High School. 

He graduated from Cal Lutheran University, where he played football on scholarship. He obtained a master’s degree in business administration and then worked at Cabrillo Junior High School as a teacher in Ventura County.

Parker in 2020 was named Man of the Year by the Santa Barbara Foundation. He served on many nonprofit boards and committees over the years, including the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the Foundation Roundtable, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, La Casa de La Raza, and the UCSB Economic Forecast Project.

At the time of the award, Santa Barbara philanthropist Joni Meisel said: “What is known of Tom’s activities is his philanthropic support. That’s the surface. Underneath is his passion to serve this community – ‘his community.’ In doing so, we have seen a long history of volunteerism through his organizing efforts that bring desired and needed changes in our countywide community.” 

Parker helped form the Carpinteria Children’s Project and was key to helping Domestic Violence Solutions convert its apartments into Permanent Project Based Section 8 housing for domestic-violence survivors.

In 2020, Parker created a COVID-19 coalition that raised over $10 million for Santa Barbara County’s community needs.

“Tom is one of the most collaborative, forward-thinking, positive people I have ever known,” Anne Towbes said in 2020. “He is a mentor to many, and his can-do attitude is infectious.”

Parker was a member of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club and raced sailboats since age 7. As an adult, he owned boats and raced them throughout Southern California.

Former Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider said Parker’s innovative way of investing in local real estate rather than the stock market created huge wins for Santa Barbara’s nonprofit community: agencies received below market rents for their office space and then those funds were redirected back to them via annual grants. 

“I am particularly grateful that Tom asked for my advice as Mayor about focusing on local arts organizations when he purchased the building on the corner of State and Sola Streets,” Schneider said. “The collaboration and energy that this space continues to bring supporting Santa Barbara’s cultural vibrancy and as a regional arts destination is a lasting tribute and legacy to Tom and his love of our community.”

He is survived by wife Karla Parker; sons, Jess and Chris and their wives Robyn and Marisa; grandchildren, Paisley, 9, Skye, 6, Jack, 4, and Lilly, 2; sister Becky Pusateri; former wife Susan Parker; and many other family members.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation to a local charity that speaks to your heart.