In this issue

• Fifteen years of Changing Lives Together
• Nine nonprofits share $585,000
• WF to become independent nonprofit in 2020
• Thank you to our sponsors and volunteers

Fifteen years of Changing Lives Together

On May 1, more than 450 Women’s Fund members and guests celebrated our newest grantees and—in honor of our 15th anniversary—looked back at our beginnings and ahead to a bright future. This year’s grants brought our total to more than $7.2 million donated since 2004 and a membership growth from 68 that first year to nearly 1,000 members today.

In addition to announcing the grantees who received $585,000 in grants, the May 1 event at the Hilton honored the Women’s Fund Founding Committee and premiered a moving video featuring stories from three past grantees. Steering Committee Chair Shelley Hurst also announced that the Women’s Fund will begin operating as an independent nonprofit in 2020. (See story below.)

Nine nonprofits share $585,000 in Women’s Fund grants

With heartfelt expressions of thanks, each of the new grant recipients touched us with stories of how $585,000 in Women’s Fund grants will make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in our community.

Alpha Resource Center - $65,000 to purchase a wheelchair accessible van for clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities to participate in off-campus community activities.

CALM - $55,000 to provide onsite counseling to low-income Carpinteria families and their children having Adverse Early Childhood Experiences.

Catholic Charities of Santa Barbara - $50,000 to replace a 50-year-old, leaking Thrift Store roof to protect income-producing inventory that supports programs for low-income clients.

Family Service Agency (FSA) - $65,000 to expand the Holistic Defense Program in the Santa Barbara Public Defenders office to help women stabilize their lives and reduce reoffending.

Isla Vista Youth Projects (IVYP) - $55,000 to expand Family Advocate program in Goleta Union School District, helping low-income parents receive services for basic needs for their family.

PATH – Santa Barbara - $50,000 to replace 50 bed-bug infested beds with new metal beds and bug resistant mattresses for the women’s quarters at the interim-housing shelter.

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) - $70,000 to purchase two compact wheelchair platforms to provide dental access for low-income special-needs patients at the dental clinics.

Sarah House - $95,000 for kitchen renovations including new appliances, plumbing, floors and cabinets at hospice home for homeless and low-income individuals with terminal illnesses.

Transition House - $80,000 to provide bridge funding for emergency shelter operations for homeless families with children while agency seeks to replace recently cut government funding.

For more information about the Celebration of Grants event, read The Independent article by Gail Arnold.

2018-19 Grantees (Pictured left to right: 2018-19 Grantees (pictured left to right): Lori Goodman, ED, Isla Vista Youth Projects; Kimberly Olson, ED, Alpha Resource Center; Alana Walczak, CEO, CALM; Kathleen Baushke, ED, Transition House; Dominic Calouri, Chief Dental Officer, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics; Lisa Brabro, ED, Family Service Agency; Susan Murray, ED, Sarah House; Yolanda Vasquez, Associate Program Director, Catholic Charities; Tessa Madden Storms, Regional Director, PATH-SB.    Photo by Stephen Robeck

Visit our photo gallery for more photos of our exciting event. 

Be inspired by our 15th Anniversary video: Why We Love the Women's Fund.

Learn more about our grantees, by visiting our website.

Women’s Fund announces plans to become independent nonprofit

As part of our strategic plan to leverage our growth and maximize our community impact, the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara has spent nearly two years researching the viability of becoming our own independent nonprofit organization. We studied the impact on our mission, organizational structure and costs. We looked at Women’s Fund models in other cities. We consulted experts in nonprofit law and operations. As a result, with support from the Santa Barbara Foundation, we have applied for our tax-exempt status and plan to begin operating as an independent nonprofit in January 2020.

Why are we doing this? As an independent nonprofit, we will have:

• Greater community impact
• Better positioning for growth
• A distinct, well-respected brand
• New revenue opportunities
• An independent governance structure
• Administrative and financial control
• Streamlined operating practices

Since 2004, the Women’s Fund has been a Field of Interest Fund of the Santa Barbara Foundation. Steering Chair Shelley Hurst said “The Santa Barbara Foundation gave us a home, guidance, financial support and more. We are grateful for the Foundation’s support throughout the years.”

For more information, please click here or contact us at info@womensfundsb.org.

Thanks to our sponsors and volunteers

We so appreciate the support of our sponsors who help us offset our costs so the maximum amount of members’ donations flow into the community as grants. The following members and local businesses helped make our 15th anniversary celebration a success AND financially responsible!

Event Sponsors
Allen Construction
Bryant & Sons
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery with Newport Brass
Stina Hans
Maryan Schall

Video Sponsors
Montecito Bank and Trust
Jackie Inskeep
Fran Adams and Barbara Hauter Woodward
Ginni Dreier and Stina Hans

Event Donors
MJ Baumgartner
Linda Stafford Burrows
Peter de Tagyos
 Jamie Dufek
Stephen Robeck
 Laurie Tumbler
Mary Wiemann

And thanks to our volunteers—led by the indefatigable Mary Wiemann and Linda Stafford Burrows—for their tireless efforts to make all aspects of our 15th anniversary a resounding success.