In the April 2025 issue…

• It’s Time to Celebrate Another Year of Changing Lives!
• Members Learn How We’re Helping Behavioral Health Agencies
• Introducing a New UCSB Panhellenic Group; Welcome New Members
• Being a Researcher Is Rewarding!

The math is impressive: another record-breaking grants pool of $1.25 million plus another year of record growth with 1,400+ members.

And the votes are in! Do you want to be among the first to know which deserving nonprofits will receive a grant this year? If so, join us on May 20 for our 21^st Celebration of Grants when we celebrate another year of changing lives together.

Where: Lobero Theatre
33 East Canon Perdido
Santa Barbara

When: Tuesday, May 20

• Doors open at 4:15
• Program starts at 5:00
• Reception follows at 6:15

And remember to follow us on social media! We’ll be live-streaming the event on Instagram. Our social media handle is @womensfundsb, so be sure to tag us in your posts and stories!

Engage with us using our signature hashtags:

 #changinglivestogether (our most commonly used hashtag)
 #collectivephilanthropy
 #womenhelpingwomen
 #collectivegiving

Lobero Theatre photo courtesy of Patrick Price.

“We need to remove barriers. It should be as easy to get mental health care as it is to see a dentist,” said Shawna Morris, CEO of Casa Pacifica, at the April 3 Women’s Fund Grants In Action Forum. But south Santa Barbara County continues to lack adequate therapeutic programs and residential treatment centers to serve people who need behavioral health services.

The Women’s Fund is helping. Representatives of three agencies that provide behavioral health services explained to more than 50 of our members the programs they offer and how our grants impacted their clients.

• A $100,000 grant to the Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse (CADA) funded the purchase of three SUVs that transport clients in three programs to various appointments.
• A $90,000 grant enabled Casa Pacifica to hire a counselor for the crisis response team.
• Our grant of $105,000 to PathPoint paid for showers that were installed in the agency’s affordable housing units and adult residential treatment facilities.

Bill Cirone, former Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools, moderated the conversation with Victoria Rightmire, Executive Director of CADA, Harry Bruell, President and CEO of PathPoint, and Shawna Morris, CEO of Casa Pacifica, along with staff members. The group discussed broad, important questions about challenges that the agencies and their clients face.

• One major challenge is hiring staff and creating ways that employees can learn and grow. The high cost of living in the area makes it even more difficult to attract good therapists and other staff.
• While seeking help for mental health issues is seen more positively than it was in the past, there is still a stigma that people must overcome, often delaying treatment until the issues are serious.
• There are still misconceptions about addiction, with clients and family members thinking their problems are not serious.

In visualizing the future, the panelists said that help needs to be easier to access, with an easing of the divide between public funds (Medicaid and other dollars earmarked specifically for client care) and private funds (donations from individuals and agencies that can be used for facilities, quality care, and more). “Funding is influencing many decisions, influencing the availability of care,” added Morris of Casa Pacifica. After the panel discussion, attendees divided into three areas to have direct conversations with the agency representatives, to ask questions and delve deeper into the issues. 

The forum was presented in a new format which was developed based on what members said they wanted – to be more directly connected with grantees. “We designed tonight’s program as a conversation, not a formal panel discussion,” said Committee Member Linda Stafford Burrows, “because we want to look at the big questions and connect directly with the grantees. It is amazing to hear directly from experts in the field.”

The Women’s Fund found an enthusiastic group of supporters in Isla Vista thanks in part to the efforts of Board Member Katya Armistead. As Associate Vice Chancellor of student life at UCSB, Katya supports the sorority population on campus and has gotten to know many emerging leaders in the growing Panhellenic organization.

As a new group captain, Katya assembled the potential UCSB Panhellenic group, composed of leaders and philanthropy chairs from each sorority chapter. When Katya shared our mission and accomplishments, the students discovered an excellent match in interests and values. Katya noted these young women are service-oriented and deeply involved on campus, and many are looking for meaningful ways to engage with the Santa Barbara community outside of the university.

Many members of the new group attended our orientation and look forward to discovering more opportunities to get involved and connect with other members.

To prepare for the all-important annual vote for Women’s Fund grant recipients, Katya walked the UCSB Panhellenic group through the voting process and answered their questions. She said the group was truly engaged and excited to cast their first ballot and that some members plan to participate in the Celebration of Grants.

Katya anticipates that this group will help forge a connection between the campus and the broader Santa Barbara community. The UCSB Panhellenic Council didn’t hesitate to approve formation of a campus-based Women’s Fund group, describing it as “a beautiful moment of alignment and excitement.”

And We Have 16 Additional New Members to Begin 2025!

We're excited to welcome these new members to the Women's Fund: Elisa Atwill, Susan Crosby, Christina Davis, Joanne Deck, Lani Duke, Loree Fahy, Kristin Frascella, Peggy Grossman, Jacqueline Hall, Norma Mesa, Kate Mitchell, Mona Motte Wilds, Lauren Schneider, Stephanie Stark, Melissa Trimble, and Haoyue (Gia) Xu.

Becoming a Women’s Fund researcher is one of the most rewarding volunteer opportunities available to our members.

• Researchers become more knowledgeable about critical issues that face vulnerable people in our community and the agencies that address them.
• Committee members work together and often form close friendships.  
• Good researchers are inquisitive, feel comfortable writing and presenting information to a group, and enjoy working as a team.

What's Involved?

Most of the committee’s work is done from June to early November.  

• Researchers evaluate and select potential projects for further investigation from ideas submitted by local nonprofits.  
• Researchers are assigned to projects, request a full application from the agency, and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.  
• Researchers conduct virtual site visits for each project so that they hear first-hand why the project is compelling.   

The Research Committee recommends projects to the Board of Directors to include on the ballot.

• Researchers draft the narrative included in the Ballot Information Packet and prepare the oral presentation for the Ballot Review meeting.
• Researchers whose projects receive grants have the privilege of escorting their agencies at the Celebration of Grants in May.  

“Being part of the Research Committee is tremendously rewarding,” says long-time researcher Sabina White. “You have the satisfaction of knowing that every agency that makes it to the Women’s Fund ballot truly deserves to be there!”  

For more information about becoming a researcher, please contact the Research Committee. 

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