In the recent member survey, a majority of you said you’d like to learn more about the impact of Women’s Fund grants in our community. Grants in Action (GIA) events, being scheduled throughout the fall and winter of 2020 and 2021, are a great way to get more information. Attending a GIA event helps you learn how Women’s Fund grants impact the work of our grantees, expand your knowledge of our grantees’ work, and understand the critical issues affecting the lives of women, children and families in our community.
All events – whether a site visit or an educational forum – will be virtual this year, like our successful Celebration of Grants in May. There’s a robust list of seven different opportunities being planned. You don’t want to miss any of these great events. Learn what’s coming here.
Our mission has remained the same, but the number of members has grown significantly from 2004 when a group of women created the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara. The 12 founders grew into 67 contributors that first year – including three groups.
Jane Honikman, the captain of Caregivers, one of the three original groups, says the founders wanted to support local nonprofits that worked with women and children in the community; however, they wanted to forego the gala method of fundraising so popular at the time. Learn more about how Jane and her team have stayed together through the years.
This year is unlike any other in the history of the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara. So, the Research Committee is working differently to better understand this new landscape. And the team has the experience to make it a success – together, the 19 women on the committee have been members of the Women’s Fund for a total of 89 years! Learn more about the remarkable women from diverse backgrounds who will be putting together our ballot for 2020-2021.
An Expanded Approach
Each year, the research committee uses a rigorous and in-depth research process focused on organizations meeting the critical needs of women, children and families living in south Santa Barbara County. The committee continually updates its master list of more than 200 community agencies whose programs align with our mission.
This year, members of the research team are on a “listening tour” – contacting at least 45 local community experts, such as UCSB, Cottage Hospital, and community funders, to help understand current conditions in the community.
Research has also created subcommittees looking into specific community needs: healthcare; mental health; housing/homelessness; food insecurity; early childhood; seniors; and a new area, social justice.
Not surprisingly, these subcommittee are focused on many of the same areas that you told us were your priorities in the recent member survey. The areas that topped the list included healthcare, mental health, housing assistance and homelessness, early childhood development, and education. (Stay tuned for more results of the member survey in the August newsletter.)
What else is different? Because of current economic conditions, the team will review the financial viability of local nonprofits earlier in the research process. And for this grant cycle only, all local nonprofits that are aligned with our mission are eligible, even if they’ve received Women’s Fund grants in the past two years.
Let’s look forward to the information the committee will be sharing in the coming months.
The Women’s Fund continues to grow - we’ve added nine new members since May. Please join us in welcoming: Gunilla DeArkland, Emily Dietz, Suzi Johnston, Pam Kelly, Claire Montgomery, Katy Powers, Marcia Rickard, Jean McKibbon Smith and Marie Zondler.
Renewing your membership in the Women’s Fund is a great stay-at-home activity. Just click and join—no need to wear a mask! And what’s the best payment method? The simplest for both the donor and the Women’s Fund is to pay by credit card on the website.
The fact is that you should visit the website first, no matter how you intend to pay.
If you prefer to pay by check (personal or from a donor advised fund, IRA or foundation), there are three simple steps you should remember.
One - Visit the “Join Us” tab on the website, select Join/Renew Membership, and choose “Individual Member” or “Group Member” to tell us you are renewing.
Two - Click the button “I will pay by check” to let us know your payment is coming.
Three - Send your check, including the member’s name. (Instructions, including mailing address, are on the website.)
In other words: “Click before you check.” It’s that easy! Going to the website to renew before sending us a check helps us more easily (and accurately) connect your payment to your membership.
133 East De La Guerra Street, #15 Santa Barbara, CA93101
