Santa Barbara County Grants for Nonprofits

About Us

The Coastal Fund is a student funded and student governed initiative at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Its mission is to connect people and the environment by allocating funds to programs that celebrate, explore, and protect the coastal ecosystems in and around the Santa Barbara area. As a funding organization, Coastal Fund seeks to acknowledge and lessen many of the inequities and power dynamics that have historically existed in the philanthropic sector and ensure that benefits are widely felt by the UCSB student body. We do this by lessening the barriers to apply for and receive funding, providing personalized guidance to applicants (including those who may have never written a grant before), ensuring that approved grants create equitably paid, accessible opportunities for students, and so on.

Our Mission

Coastal Fund connects people and the environment by allocating funds to programs that celebrate, explore, and protect the coastal ecosystems in and around the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Funding Guidelines

The Coastal Fund is bound by its mission to connect people and the environment by allocating funds to programs that celebrate, explore, and protect the coastal ecosystems in and around the University of California, Santa Barbara. We fund projects and programs that align with our core values of community, exploration, joy, opportunity, protection and trust. Applicants should demonstrate a strong connection between their proposal, the Coastal Fund mission statement and values, and our local coastal ecosystems.

Size of Award

While Coastal Fund does not set a limit on the amount of funding an applicant may request, applicants should note that we typically allocate approximately $180,000  amongst approximately 20 approved applications each quarter and most projects funded through our Major Grant program range from $3,000 to $15,000. We often provide partial funding so that we can support more programs.

Strategic Core/General Operating Support

Hutton Parker Foundation offers Core/General Operating Support to address the nonprofit sector’s need for strategic general operating support leading to increased organizational capacity and sustainability.

Core/General Operating Support is defined by Hutton Parker Foundation as unrestricted funding enabling an organization to carry out its mission. Funding awards are intended to underwrite administrative infrastructure, support increased agency capacity, assist with strategic financial and organizational capacity and/or help maintain core programs and essential staff.

Funds can be used at the discretion of the organization to cover day-to-day activities or ongoing expenses such as administrative salaries, utilities, office supplies, technology maintenance, etc., as well as for program costs, capital, technology purchases, and professional development. Funding and are designed as the working capital necessary to build robust organizations leading to greater impact in the Santa Barbara community. Hutton Parker Foundation considers a Core Support Grant an investment in an operationally strong nonprofit organization. Our goal is to have this investment help that organization to create and implement a targeted vision and mission driven business plan resulting in increased capacity and overall sustainability.

Primary Focus Areas

Hutton Parker Foundation primarily focuses on making grants to assist organizations that work in the areas of:

Cycle 1:

• Health & Human Services
  • Mental Health Care Programs
  • Health Care Services (disease research, alcohol & drug related programs)
  • Shelter & Residential Care (elder housing, homeless shelters, housing services, supportive housing)
  • Special Population Support (developmental disability services, homeless services, immigrant services, senior services, women’s services)
• Arts & Culture
  • Museums & Historical Preservations
  • Performing Arts (Dance, Music, Theater)
  • Performing Arts Education (Dance, Music, Theater)

Community Grant Programs

Community grants are grants the foundation makes in response to needs and requests from the nonprofits in our community. They are supported by the foundation’s endowment and donors, and are awarded through a rigorous process of research, planning, due diligence and evaluation. Foundation staff consult with community volunteers whose expertise ensures a balanced approach to the review process.

Food Grant Programs

Food Grants are available to support nonprofit organizations directly providing services in the areas of food.

Shelter & Safety Grant Programs

Shelter & Safety Grants are available to support nonprofit organizations directly providing services in the areas of shelter and safety.

In August 1997, Tri-Counties Blood Bank (TCBB), a nonprofit public benefit corporation, sold all of its assets to Haemonetics Corporation, a Massachusetts for-profit corporation. In accordance with the California Corporation Code, after payment of liabilities and expenses, the remaining TCBB funds were transferred to the Santa Barbara Foundation, the San Luis Obispo Community Health Foundation, and the Monterey Community Foundation.In July 1998, the Santa Barbara Foundation (the Foundation) entered into an agreement with TCBB to establish the Tri-Counties Blood Bank Fund (the Fund). Valued at nearly $5 million, it is now part of the Foundation’s restricted funds. Through an annual Request for Proposal (RFP) process, the Foundation will distribute the income generated from the Fund to qualified nonprofit organizations. The Fund is restricted to activities that support blood and blood-related products and services in accordance with the plan of disposition.The plan of disposition is divided into three distinct sections. This RFP covers the implementation of Indigent Care Grants, Education Grants, and Scholarships as prescribed by the plan.

Funding Amounts and DurationThe proposal amount varies upon the nature of the request. The grant period is up to one year from the award date. A final report is required and due within 13 months of the grant award, preferably no later than 30 days following the project completion.

Types of Support

Section A: Indigent Care Grants

Purpose of Section A: To reimburse “qualified hospitals” for “un-reimbursed costs” directly related to providing blood or blood products to “qualified patients” within Santa Barbara County.

Section B: Education Grants and Scholarships

Education grants are intended for:

• Advanced education in medical technology or nursing related to blood banking. This supports any relevant training that could improve blood banking or the ability of hospital staff to work with the National Blood Foundation. It covers the full range of continuing education options, including in-service training.
• Physician education on techniques and development of transfusion medicine. This covers the full range of enrichment and continuing education options including in-service training.
• Community education on blood and blood diseases. This covers continuing education of medical practitioners as well as broad-based education targeting the general population. For example, community education might include the following: educating school-age children about blood and blood-borne diseases; conducting broad-based educational programs to reach the community-at-large in the event of a critical shortage of blood; the dissemination of new information to the community concerning a blood-borne disease.

Scholarships are intended for:

• Post-doctoral education in a non-medical discipline related to blood and blood banking. This program is only available to post-doctoral candidates enrolled at UCSB in departments such as, but not limited to, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology; Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
• Medical education in the specialties of hematology/oncology.

The Edwin and Jeanne Woods Family Foundation was formed in 2004 to help support charitable endeavors in Northern Santa Barbara and Southern San Luis Obispo counties, with an emphasis on cultural enrichment and educational programs, animal welfare, health care and assistance to the underserved.

Edwin and Jeanne Woods were native Californians, who lived in the Santa Maria Valley for over 60 years. Their foundation contributes to local programs and organizations that enhance the lives of the residents of this area.

The Coastal Fund shall provide funds to preserve, protect, and enhance the terrestrial and marine habitats associated with the shoreline of the University of California, Santa Barbara through preservation, education, open access, research, and restoration.

The Coastal Fund is bound by its mission to connect people and the environment by allocating funds to programs that celebrate, explore, and protect the coastal ecosystems in and around the University of California, Santa Barbara. We fund projects and programs that align with our core values of community, exploration, joy, opportunity, protection and trust. Applicants should demonstrate a strong connection between their proposal, the Coastal Fund mission statement and values, and our local coastal ecosystems.

Coastal Fund grant applications must be submitted in connection with a UCSB affiliated department, registered non-partisan nonprofit, or government agency. Registered UCSB student organizations may apply to Coastal Fund but cannot receive funding for stipends or student wages. 

While Coastal Fund does not set a limit on the amount of funding an applicant may request, applicants should note that we typically allocate approximately $200,000 amongst 25-30 approved applications each quarter. We often provide partial funding so that we can support more programs.

Centene Charitable Foundation

Successful corporate citizenship happens when companies invest in the local organizations that know their communities best. The Centene Foundation works with our local partners on initiatives that focus on inclusion, the whole person and community development.

Vision

Centene’s purpose is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. The Centene Foundation is an essential part of how we pursue this purpose. We achieve measurable impact for the communities we serve through partnerships and philanthropy efforts that invest in initiatives with holistic approaches to dismantling barriers to health.

Areas of Focus

Reflecting Centene’s commitment to the needs of those who rely on government-sponsored health care and to addressing social determinants of health and health equity, preference will be given to initiatives in three distinct areas of focus.

• Healthcare Access
• Social Services
• Education

What is the Small Capacity Building Grant Program?

The Small Capacity Building Grant Program awards grants with a short review period aimed at strengthening the organizational capacity and effectiveness of Santa Barbara County nonprofits. The Foundation believes organizations are more effective when they are equipped with thoughtful strategy, strong leadership, sound operations and compelling communication. It is our hope that this funding helps organizations strengthen these fundamentals in support of their mission and better programmatic outcomes. The Foundation may also consider funding small capital expenditures. To provide flexibility and assist applicants in their planning, the Foundation offers ten opportunities through November to apply. Organizations may submit one Small Capacity Building Grant application per calendar year.

Small Capacity Building Grants are very competitive. The Foundation receives many more requests than it can fund. Proposals with the best chance of being funded clearly state the need, readiness, and commitment to the project.

Funding Amounts and Duration

The maximum award for Small Capacity Building Grant is $6,000. The grant period is up to one year from the award date. A final report is required and due within 13 months of the grant award, preferably no later than 30 days following the project completion.

Types of Support

The Santa Barbara Foundation has established the following guidelines for its Small Capacity Building grants in the following areas.

• Organizational development and capacity building (i.e. campaign feasibility studies, strategic planning, succession planning, program evaluation, exploratory strategic alliances, emergency/business continuity planning)
• Staff, board, or volunteer training and development as well as collaborative learning opportunities
• Small capital items and equipment that specifically allow your staff to serve clients and fulfill its mission
• Defined projects such as program design/piloting as well as strategic marketing, communications or development plans.

S. Mark Taper Foundation

The S. Mark Taper Foundation, founded in 1989, is a private family foundation dedicated to enhancing the quality of people's lives by supporting nonprofit organizations and their work in our communities.

Funding Areas

The S. Mark Taper Foundation is a responsive grantmaker that typically provides funding in the following areas:

• Arts
• Civic Affairs
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Social Services

Types of Grant Funding Provided

• General Operating Support (GOS): unrestricted, core operating support that bolsters an organization's overall mission and can be allocated as the organization sees fit.
• Program: funding is allocated to a specific program or project within the organization.
• Capital: funding is allocated to a physical project, such as the purchase of a building and/or land, renovating an existing building, constructing a new building, or purchasing equipment.
  • Capital funding is currently restricted to Los Angeles County-based nonprofit organizations and for capital projects based in and serving Los Angeles County only.

Grant Sizes

The S. Mark Taper Foundation has three size categories as follows:

These categories are meant to serve as a guide to assist organizations in determining an appropriate request amount. We encourage each organization to request an amount that is proportionate to the size of its past grants from other foundations and the size of its overall fundraising and budget.Due to the scope of the capital grant application process, the minimum request amount for a capital grant is  $100,000. If the planned request amount is under  $100,000, we recommend applying for General Operating or Program support. Category Grant Size Small Up to $50,000 Medium $50,001-$100,000 Large $100,001 and above

Background

The Santa Barbara Foundation believes that every child deserves safe and quality child care and education. The quality of child care is important as it directly impacts a child’s development, including the ability to learn and to build healthy relationships.

The demand for child care services exceeds the supply of available spots. This has led to an increased need for child care providers. However, if providers are unable to staff their centers adequately, they must limit the number of children they can care for, to assure compliance and quality, resulting in higher prices for the available spots. The limited supply of child care services can drive up costs for parents, who can find themselves spending over a third of their household income.

To increase organizational capacity amongst nonprofit child care providers and meet the critical needs of our communities’ youngest members, the Santa Barbara Foundation is offering a grants program in support of quality early care and education programs and the services that support and enable their success. This year’s grant cycle will support the Foundation’s Build Up Santa Barbara County Child Care Initiative by focusing funds on child care sector resiliency efforts that strengthen the childcare system in the County of Santa Barbara.

Child Care

The Santa Barbara Foundation offers Child Care grants of up to $15,000 to increase capacity among nonprofit child care providers in Santa Barbara County to meet the critical needs of young children and set the stage for lifelong learning success. This year’s grant will also focus on supporting providers in leadership and professional development, family engagement, and strategies that promote equitable access to quality child care. Grants will be awarded to nonprofit child care providers serving children 0-5 years of age.

Focus

The Santa Barbara Foundation’s intent in offering this funding is to support and strengthen child care providers (for children between birth and five years of age) and the integral direct service providers that support them. The proposal must address one or more of the following areas:

Childcare Workforce Pathway and Skill Development

• Increase the number of qualified infant and toddler workforce professionals in the County. Strategies may include:
  • developing or participating in coaching and mentoring programs to enhance skills;
  • increasing the number of staff seeking infant/toddler qualifications who enroll in Early Childhood Education units;
  • collaborating with other service providers or child care organizations (i.e., SBCEO Child Care Planning Council, Children’s Resource and Referral of SBC, etc.);

Supportive Organizational Business Model

• Building a supporting organizational climate may include:
  • through leadership professional development, facilitate the creation of new, licensed infant and toddler childcare spaces in Santa Barbara County.
  • increasing the ability to interpret data for goal setting for future program direction;
  • participating in technical assistance program that will support with facility grant applications, help in seuring lease or purchase agreements for operators, provide facility design recommendations, and help in navigating the planning and development system. participating in a sustainable technical assistance model that integrates business sustainability best practices;
  • assuring the successful day to day operation of a center; and
  • advocating for teachers.

Family Engagement

• Strategies should be cognizant of incorporating a family’s composition, language, and culture into their approach of collaborating with them. Applicants should clearly indentify a proven family engagement strategy to build relationships between themselves and families to maximize a child’s success. Strategies may include:
  • promoting partnerships with families;
  • fostering family leadership; and
  • building support and opportunities for families to foster their engagement in their child’s development and education.

Building Content Specific Areas of Leadership

• Strategies may include the following:
  • promoting fair and equitable access to child care opportunities;
  • systems thinking;
  • effective strategies for working with English language learners (ELL’s); and
  • working with special populations including special needs, homeless and foster children, or addressing other evident emerging needs.

Priorities

Priority will be given to organizations that:

• Increase Child Care Workforce Pathway and Skill Development; support career paths for early care and education professionals, foster leadership and ongoing professional development opportunities, and other strategies that will attract and retain high-quality educators;
• Foster an organizational business model to retain and support Child Care Workforce;
• Support child health, nutrition, and social-emotional well-being in a language-rich learning environment that respects diversity;
• Demonstrate adoption of, or progress toward the use of, best practices for parent engagement, such as Standard 7: Families in NAEYC Program Standards and/or the Protective Factors Framework;
• Demonstrate participation in, or a plan toward participating in, the Santa Barbara County’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) and/or the NAEYC Accreditation process; and
• Demonstrate engagement and or alignment with community-wide child development goals, i.e. CAPC, Child Care Planning Council, etc.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Our Mission

The McMillen Family built a very successful wholesale plumbing supply business consisting of nine highly respected facilities located in California and Nevada. That success was the result of hard work, honesty, integrity and a respect for both customers and employees.

Those same values will guide the McMillen Family Foundation in providing support to nonprofit groups and agencies dedicated to improving the lives of those in need. We will give priority in funding to those nonprofits with a proven track record that share our values and produce tangible and measurable results consistent with our mission.

The mission of the McMillen Family Foundation is to provide assistance to eligible groups in Southern California which are dedicated to helping people of all ages who have been impacted, directly or indirectly, by alcohol and/or drugs and to provide community outreach and education to prevent alcohol and/or drug addiction before it starts.

What We Do The McMillen Family Foundation is a grant-making Foundation which serves non-profit organizations in Southern California that assist people affected by drug and alcohol dependency through treatment, prevention, and education. The McMillen Family Foundation continually seeks out new avenues for making a difference in the lives of persons affected by substance use. Additionally, the McMillen Family Foundation supports its grantees with technical assistance, a grantee conference, trainings, and a web-portal solely to encourage and aid in collaboration amongst one another, and to provide beneficial news for those providing services.

Organization Classification

Please note Hutton Parker Foundation’s organization classifications as follows:

ARTS & CULTURE

• Museums & Historical Preservations
• Performing Arts (Dance, Music, Theater)
• Performing Arts Education (Dance, Music, Theater)

CIVIC & COMMUNITY

• Public Safety (abuse prevention/services, legal services, safety education, transportation)
• Community Recreation (camps, clubs, festivals, parks, playgrounds, libraries)
• Food Security (community food systems, food sovereignty)
• Environment (biodiversity, climate change, environmental education, public gardens)
• Animal Welfare (animal shelters & services, zoos)

Strategic Core/General Operating Support

Hutton Parker Foundation offers Core/General Operating Support to address the nonprofit sector’s need for strategic general operating support leading to increased organizational capacity and sustainability.

Core/General Operating Support is defined by Hutton Parker Foundation as unrestricted funding enabling an organization to carry out its mission. Funding awards are intended to underwrite administrative infrastructure, support increased agency capacity, assist with strategic financial and organizational capacity and/or help maintain core programs and essential staff.

Funds can be used at the discretion of the organization to cover day-to-day activities or ongoing expenses such as administrative salaries, utilities, office supplies, technology maintenance, etc., as well as for program costs, capital, technology purchases, and professional development. Funding and are designed as the working capital necessary to build robust organizations leading to greater impact in the Santa Barbara community. Hutton Parker Foundation considers a Core Support Grant an investment in an operationally strong nonprofit organization. Our goal is to have this investment help that organization to create and implement a targeted vision and mission driven business plan resulting in increased capacity and overall sustainability.

Funding

Applicants seeking Core/General Support are advised that grant awards range for a minimum $5,000 to a maximum $25,000 and not to exceed 10% of an applicant’s annual operating budget.

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation Vision

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation, "A Foundation for All", was established in 2002. It was begun in order to give a clear voice for those who wish to be a part of the many, worthy, forces for change in our world.

We are a foundation whose purpose is to look ahead towards the future, giving the past its due by remembering where we came from, and how much we can all accomplish together. We aim to make the critical difference on our planet by recognizing and having respect for our ever changing world. We respect all Life, the Environment, and all People, no matter who they are.

The William & Lottie Daniel Fund Child Care Scholarship (Daniel Fund) is administered under the Foundation’s Child Care focus area for licensed nonprofit child care facilities that align with both the donor’s intent, and other community initiatives for child development.

Access to quality child care continues to be a critical need in our community. The high cost of care is prohibitive for many working families who earn just above the income eligibility threshold. In Santa Barbara County, the median household income varies significantly by region. If a family has an annual median income of $84,356 and has an infant and a preschooler in center-based care, they may need to spend up to 40% of their income on child care. In an effort to address this disparity, California updated the eligibility criteria to qualify for subsidized programs from 70% of the State Median Income (SMI) to 85% of the SMI. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges around the expense of care for parents and providers and the need for subsidized care far outweighs the availability

The Santa Barbara Foundation believes that every individual deserves an equal opportunity to achieve their potential and for working families to thrive in Santa Barbara County. To make this possible many working families need access to affordable and accessible quality child care. As part of the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan, the Santa Barbara Foundation has prioritized increasing affordable and accessible quality child care in Santa Barbara County. This grant program also emphasizes program quality, which has a big impact on children’s ability to thrive and be successful in school and in life, thus quality improvement efforts have been a longstanding priority for the Foundation.

Focus

Quality child care programs provide children with healthy and safe environments, caring relationships, social-emotional stimulation, and age-appropriate activities that enrich learning. Research shows that children get their best start in life when they have environments that foster their development through stable, nurturing and stimulating environments.[2] These kinds of high-quality early learning opportunities lead to improved academic and life success. Child care scholarships are intended for year-round child care facilities that can demonstrate an alignment with the priorities below. Scholarships will be awarded to licensed nonprofit child care centers serving children 0-5 years of age and school-age children (grades TK-6). Priority will be given to organizations serving 0-5 years of age.

The Daniel Fund guidelines specify that families selected to receive funds must –

• be Santa Barbara County residents;
• be working parent(s)/guardian;
• contribute some portion of the tuition costs; and
• have a child enrolled in the program on a full-time basis.

Funding Amounts and Duration

Funding amounts vary by the age of the child served. The maximum award for Daniel is $50,000. The grant period is up to one year from the award date. A final report using the SmartSimple platform is required and is due within 13 months of the grant award, preferably no later than 30 days following program completion.

The In-N-Out Burger Foundation’s mission is to assist children and youth who have been victims of child abuse and neglect, and to prevent others from suffering a similar fate. The Foundation will only consider requests from organizations that closely align with our mission and that serve communities where In-N-Out Burger does business.

The In-N-Out Burger Foundation is happy to consider the following types of grants:

Traditional Grants: Grant awards range from $5,000 - $25,000.

Program: Restricted funding to support the development, expansion, or enhancement of programs within an existing organization.

General Operating Support: Unrestricted funding to support the overall operations and sustainability of your nonprofit. Applicants must present a strong case on how this funding will help sustain the organization’s mission and provide benefits to the children in their care. *Please note that all of your organization’s programs must align with our mission to be considered for this type of support.

Capital Grants: Grant awards range from $5,000 - $50,000.

Capital Campaign: Restricted funding for the construction of new facilities, renovations or upgrades to existing buildings, and other special projects that will enhance the organization’s mission.

Capital Purchase: Restricted funding to purchase equipment, furnishings, or any other major material purchases that will enhance the organization’s mission.

Capital grants are awarded on a very limited basis each year. The Foundation will only consider requests from organizations that meet all other funding criteria and who already have an established long-term funding relationship with the Foundation (minimum of 2 years).

Please carefully review the Capital Grant Guidelines above to ensure that your organization meets the requirements to apply. Capital Grants are invitation-only. Please contact us to set a 30-minute meeting to discuss your project and be prepared to send a draft summary of the project for review beforehand. 

Focus

The Santa Barbara Foundation is committed to strengthening nonprofit organizations and building the capacity of the arts social sector through the support of Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts. Grants will be available to nonprofit organizations seeking to further their mission of providing quality performing art opportunities. The Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts seeks to invest in, nurture, and grow the arts sector by offering support for performances of a higher caliber.

In response to the COVID-19 crisis and to support organizations that have been affected by the pandemic, funding from the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts has shifted and will be available to qualifying performing arts nonprofit organizations for general operating support.

Types of Support

Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts Grants are available for a variety of activities in the following areas:

• Expansion of existing programs
• Pilot Programs
• Organizations that seek to produce, present and preserve exceptional works from a variety of artistic traditions, and ensure opportunities for participation that reflect the demographic diversity of Santa Barbara County
• Collaborative efforts to leverage community access to performing arts opportunities
• General operating support

Funding Amounts and Duration

The maximum award for the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts is $15,000. An organization can apply once per calendar year. Due to the increasingly competitive nature of the grant program, partial funding is likely to be awarded. The grant period is up to one year from the award. A final report is required and is due within 13 months of the grant award, preferably no later than 30 days following the project completion.

Eide Bailly Resourcefullness Award

Our nonprofit industry advisory group is thrilled to offer this opportunity for nonprofit organizations who develop outstanding initiatives to support their communities. Our Resourcefullness Award program was established in 2013 and each year we receive an abundance of wonderful applications. It’s hard choosing a winner!

Ultimately, we are passionate about helping our clients (and non-clients) thrive and succeed. This award program allows us to showcase nonprofit organizations that stand out and in turn, we are able to offer education around revenue generating trends, ideas and campaign strategies.

Eide Bailly’s Resourcefullness Award is our way to support the financial health of the nonprofit sector while recognizing and celebrating nonprofits across the nation for their creative and sustainable revenue-generating initiatives. Through a short application process, three judges from outside of the firm will select one 501(c)(3) organization as the Award winner, receiving a $50,000 prize.

Criteria for Evaluation

Our Resourcefullness Award judges will reference the following criteria when evaluating application submissions:

• Sustainability
• Creativity
• Financial Impact
• Overall Impression
• Implementation

Ameriprise Financial Grantmaking

At Ameriprise Financial, giving back is deeply rooted in our culture. We’ve initiated positive change in the communities where we live and work for more than 120 years. We believe our community involvement enables us to actively live our values. Through grant making, volunteerism and employee and financial advisor gift matching programs, we support a diverse group of over 6,000 nonprofits across the country.

Focus Areas

Awarding grant dollars to nonprofits is one way we strengthen our communities and help individuals on a path to financial independence. To ensure we're meeting the needs of our communities and making an even greater collective impact, we focus on three key giving areas when awarding grants.

Volunteer engagement is a priority across all focus areas:

The engagement of Ameriprise employees and financial advisors is a critical component of our philanthropy. Whether it’s serving on a nonprofit board, engaging friends, clients and community members in volunteering or providing skills-based support, our relationships with nonprofits go deep. For this reason, we give priority across all focus areas to applications where there is active volunteer engagement of Ameriprise advisors and employees. 

Meeting Basic Needs

At Ameriprise Financial, we help clients achieve financial security and peace of mind. That’s satisfying, meaningful work. We also help the people in our neighborhoods who struggle to meet basic needs such as where their next meal comes from, where they’ll sleep tonight or how they’ll find a higher wage job. We’re here to help them through the three platforms of our Meeting Basic Needs focus area.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Hunger
• Food banks, food shelves and food pantries, daily meal programs or meal services for the homebound
• Hunger-relief programs targeted to meet the special needs of children, ethnic populations or veterans
• Food programs run by nonprofits where hunger is not their sole focus, for example a youth meal program at the YWCA or a backpack program run by a Boys & Girls Club
• Shelter
• Emergency shelter, including youth homelessness
• Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and efforts to end chronic homelessness
• Housing-first models (programs quickly providing housing and then addressing needed services)
• Achieving and maintaining home ownership, repair and maintenance efforts helping keep seniors, veterans and other populations in their homes 
• Adult Self-Sufficiency: Programs serving adults age 21 and older that help address the following areas:
• Basic hard and soft skills that help adults achieve economic and family stability
• Basic financial and budgeting skills
• Increase employability and wages, including work readiness and job transitions
• Employment of disabled adults

Supporting Community Vitality

We believe communities should be strong, healthy and resilient. We want livable places for all, where neighbors look out for one another, cultural events are well-attended and people pull together in times of crisis and joy. We work to create economic vitality and cultural enrichment through the following areas of focus.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Community Development
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Economic development
• Strengthening and supporting small businesses and nonprofits through technical expertise
• Cultural Enrichment
• Arts education
• Access for underserved populations
• Diverse artists and performances that spark topical community conversations 

Volunteer Driven Causes: Ameriprise employees and financial advisors are outstanding volunteers who serve in teams and also as individuals bringing personal skill-sets to nonprofits. Volunteering is part of the culture at Ameriprise and we are proud to support communities through contributions of both service and financial resources. 

Funding for Volunteer-Driven Causes is determined by current Ameriprise volunteerism. In general, funding is in proportion to the size of the Ameriprise volunteer team supporting a nonprofit. A team may include employees, financial advisors and/or staff or a combination of any Ameriprise volunteers. 

About The Foundation

The Change Happens Foundation is dedicated to allocating our resources to charitable activities and programs that are aligned with our pillars and fall within our budgetary constraints. Organizations whose projects do not satisfy our eligibility standards or match to our focus areas are encouraged not to proceed with an LOI. For those seeking foundations with interests aligned to their work, the Foundation Center offers a valuable resource—a searchable database designed to assist nonprofits in identifying potential funding opportunities.

The Change Happens Foundation is dedicated to supporting charitable activities that align with our pillars areas, strictly adhering to the guidelines of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations. We are committed to the effective use of our grants, which are monitored through comprehensive financial and performance reporting by our grantees.

Our Pillars

Environmental Science

Systemic Change

Fostering a future where innovation intersects with environmental stewardship, we are committed to strategically investing in forward-thinking programs that catalyze systemic and sustainable solutions. Our dedication lies in addressing and overcoming the critical environmental challenges that confront our planet. Through these targeted investments, we aim not just to contribute, but to set in motion a ripple effect of change, driving progress towards a healthier, more resilient, and greener world for generations to come.

Education

Creating Opportunities

At the heart of our mission is a steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a strong focus on early education and STEM learning. We are dedicated to empowering women and underrepresented communities, breaking down barriers to education and access in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics from the earliest stages of learning. By fostering opportunities that ignite curiosity, fuel aspirations, and open doors, we are laying the groundwork for lifelong learning and innovation. Our investment in these communities is an investment in a future where transformative change is not only envisioned but realized, shaping a society that celebrates diversity, practices equity, and embraces inclusion at every level.

Human Services

Nutrition & Support

Our approach to combatting food insecurity and bolstering community health is rooted in thoughtful and strategic funding initiatives that delve deep into the underlying causes of these pervasive issues. We are unwavering in our commitment to support and scale up programs that do more than just provide – they empower. By ensuring access to wholesome, nutritious food and comprehensive healthcare services, we are actively bridging gaps for those in dire need. Our mission transcends mere assistance; it's about nurturing a robust infrastructure that fosters long-term resilience and well-being, affirming our belief that everyone deserves the fundamental right to health and nutrition.

Community Grant Programs

Behavioral Health/Health Care Grant Program are available to support nonprofit organizations directly providing services in the areas of behavioral health and health care.

Grant Max Amount: $30,000 for up to two years.

Our Mission

The Tony Robbins Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of people often forgotten.

We’re dedicated to creating positive changes in the lives of youth, seniors, the hungry, homeless and the imprisoned population, all who need a boost envisioning a happier and deeply satisfying way of life. Our passionate staff, generous donors and caring group of international volunteers provide the vision, inspiration, and resources needed to empower these important members of our society.

Grants

Dedicated to meeting challenges within the global community, creating solutions and taking action, The Tony Robbins Foundation provides monetary donations to various organizations around the world. Funding requests are evaluated on an ongoing basis. We look for organizations that align with our mission to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of those often forgotten.

Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award recognizes outstanding nonprofit organizations in the United States that have shown exemplary leadership by facilitating partnerships with public, private or social sector leaders who are working together as equal partners, not as donors and recipients, to build a cohesive community that serves as a model for collaborating with others for the greater good.

Each year, the Mutual of America Foundation sponsors a national competition in which hundreds of organizations demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues.

Six organizations are selected by an independent committee to receive the Community Partnership Award.

• The Thomas J. Moran Award is given to the national award-winning program and includes $100,000 and a documentary video about the program.
• The Frances R. Hesselbein Award is given to a partnership that is addressing social challenges in more than one community, or which demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other communities. This recipient receives $75,000.
• Four other organizations are named Honorable Mention recipients for their programs, and each receives $50,000.

Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 262 partnerships from cities and towns across America. Like so many of our clients working in the nonprofit community, Mutual of America is dedicated to having a direct, positive impact on society.

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

Annual Grant Focus

Each year, we seek to partner with and support non-profit organizations making an impact in the focus areas listed here. 

The focus area for this year is Wildlife Conservation. We believe it's our duty to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. We envision a world where everyone works in harmony to protect what is important so that all life on this planet can thrive.

We have strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country that are working to advance economic mobility and social progress in low- and moderate-income communities. Our focus areas include basic needs like food and housing, workforce development and education, and community development. In addition to our philanthropic investments, we also encourage our employees to make a difference by offering robust employee giving and volunteering programs, including the opportunity to direct funds to organizations they support through volunteer efforts, and a matching gifts program that doubles their individual giving to causes they care about. Last year, we invested $350 million in the communities we serve, and employees contributed more than 1 million volunteer hours and directed $65 million through individual giving and matching gifts to support nonprofits.Through our regional U.S. sponsorships, we support the economic, social and cultural life of the places we live and work. We provide an extensive program of arts and sports sponsorships to help maintain vibrant, healthy communities.Sponsorships supporting communitiesBank of America welcomes your sponsorship proposal for opportunities that make our communities a better place to live and work. We are particularly interested in providing support to address needs vital to the health of our communities through a focus on:

• preserving neighborhoods;
• educating the workforce for 21st century jobs;
• addressing critical needs such as hunger and emergency shelter;
• arts and culture;
• the environment; and
• diversity and inclusion programs.

Grants are made at the Foundation’s discretion based on our current funding strategies focused on housing, jobs and hunger. 

Conservation, Environment, and Public Trails Grant Program

The Santa Barbara Foundation is excited to announce the second year of the Conservation, Environment, and Public Trails Grant Program. This grant program will support conservation, environment, and public trails projects across Santa Barbara County, with a preference given to those on the South Coast of Santa Barbara County from Point Conception to the Ventura County line and the Santa Ynez Valley.

The South Coast of Santa Barbara County has a long history of improving the environment, and cherishing and preserving the scenic beauty of the area for future generations. Beginning with one of the most formative events in the modern environmental movement, the blowout at Union Oil’s Platform A in the Santa Barbara Channel on January 28, 1969, and the fouling of the ocean and coastline that occurred as a result, the community and its nonprofits have been at the forefront of conservation and environment protection.

In recent years, the Santa Barbara Foundation’s investments in the environment have included development of a countywide Food Action Plan and Network, Conservation Blueprint, funding to preserve places such as the Point Sal Reserve and North Campus Open Space, and capacity building for nonprofit organizations. With our funding partners, the Foundation is offering grants to increase environmental sustainability, land conservation, habitat restoration, public trails, and ecosystem health.

Focus

Funding can be used for new or existing projects that meet demonstrated need.

In summary, funded organizations will:

• carry out projects to address conservation, environment and public trails.
• be well-managed, financially viable, and operate effective projects.
• have developed short-term and long-term strategies for addressing identified organizational needs.

Funding Amounts and Duration

The maximum award for Conservation, Environment and Public Trails grants is $25,000. The grant review panel may reduce or increase award amounts at its discretion. The grant period is up to one year from the award date.

Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation

The Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation funds capital projects for youth, education, health, community, recreation and the arts on Santa Barbara’s South Coast—from Carpinteria, Summerland and Montecito in the east, to the City of Santa Barbara, the City of Goleta and Isla Vista in the west.

We look for nonprofits with impactful missions and strong leadership, grounded in sound management practices.

What We Fund

The Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation makes about 35 grants a year totaling approximately $1.5 million to $2 million.

• Arts - Funding to enrich our communities with cultural heritage and artistic expression.

• Community & Recreation - Funding to enhance the community we value in South Santa Barbara County.

• Health - Funding to advance the physical and mental health resources available to our residents.

• Youth & Education - Funding to invest in future generations; empowering our youth towards success.

Funding

We fund projects ranging from $10,000-$100,000, with an average annual grant of around $40,000. For large capital projects, we’ve made multi-year grants  up to $1 million.