The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara research process is one of the things that set us apart – it’s rigorous, thorough, and productive. This year, it’s also flexible. How are we working differently to meet the critical needs of women, children and families living in south Santa Barbara County? And where are we in the process?
What's new? We are listening, adapting, and broadening!
Listening: this year, at the start of the process, members of the Research Committee conducted Listening Tours with more than 40 community leaders and agencies to understand how the coronavirus was impacting people in our region. The goal – identify any emerging critical needs, and which nonprofits might be best positioned to meet those needs when we make our grants next spring.
Adapting: in a normal year, an agency that has received a grant in the previous two years is not eligible. We’re waiving that requirement this year so we can respond to the most critical needs.
Broadening: we’re tweaking the financial parameters we use in our conversations with local agencies.
Broadening: we're also broadening our scope to consider more operational and gap funding this year, in addition to our normal program and capital projects.
And how are we doing?
In two words – very well. Despite the extra research and the restrictions because of COVID, we're on track.
We've completed the Listening Tour
We've completed the initial vetting of our list of more than 200 local nonprofits
We are compiling our short list of agencies for consideration and are inviting them to apply for grants
From now to December: we are meeting twice a month to review the agencies and projects under consideration
From now to December: we are making site visits to agencies under consideration – in a virtual and coronavirus-safe way
From now to January: we will make final recommendations for the ballot
Early February: the ballot will be completed and approved by the WF board
March: Ballot Review Meeting – we will share information about the projects that members will be voting on this year
May: Celebration of Grants – we will share which projects will be funded!
A trip to the dentist is generally not anyone’s favorite activity; however, imagine what it would be like if you were confined to a wheelchair. Transferring to a dental chair is extremely difficult; sometimes even impossible. It is also physically challenging for a dentist to attempt to care for a patient in their wheelchair due to the fixed height and inability to adjust the for the best working angles.
In 2019, a Woman’s Fund grant of $70,000 purchased two compact wheelchair platforms for use in the Santa Barbara and Goleta Neighborhood Dental Clinics. The wheelchair is wheeled onto the platform which is then raised to the appropriate height and angle, preserving the comfort and dignity of the patient, and enhancing safety for both the patient and the dentist.
The platforms accommodate a standard dental chair when not needed for a wheelchair, so stay in use throughout the day, as seen in this photo.
The two clinics provided more than 21,000 service encounters from April 2019 to July 2020 in all their chairs. The wheelchair platforms are in continual use at both clinics – and staff and patients express their extreme gratitude to the Woman’s Fund.
This is the time of year when last year’s grantees report what they've accomplished with grants from the Women’s Fund. You can also read the 2018-2019 Grants – Year-End Report in the Library on our website. Learn how our combined contributions have made a tremendous impact on the vulnerable in south Santa Barbara County.
Please join the Membership Committee in welcoming a New Women’s Fund Group—Sustainer Sisterhood—and a total of 12 new Women’s Fund members since August: Pamela Bigelow, Cynthia Billings, Carrie Cooper Griffith, Katharine DeWitt, Kendra Epley, Mary Folsom, Kristen Johansen, Judith Milam, Anita R. O'Berg, Wanda Smith, Deborah Wells Ah-Tye, and Susanna Williams.
September has been a busy month...
First, more than 100 group captains, co-captains and Women’s Fund volunteers gathered for a virtual Group Captain meeting – one of the largest we’ve ever had! We heard the latest developments in the Women’s Fund and shared best practices. Captains were reminded that the sooner their group members renew, the sooner the Research Committee will know how large the grants pool will be, and the sooner we will know how big an impact Women’s Fund grants can have in 2021.
Then, our new members gathered for a virtual happy hour on September 17. We all brought our own beverage and snacks, and everyone pitched in to make the event informative and fun. After watching the Changing Lives Together video, we learned a little more about how the projects get on the ballot every year, and broke into small groups to ask questions and get to know our new members.
We’re all hoping for an in-person gathering in the not-too-distant future, but in the meantime, the Membership Committee hopes you will all stay healthy and Zoom on!
Thank you to the following members who have stepped forward to volunteer since June.
Susan Matsumoto, Communications Committee
Mary Beth Carty, Volunteer Engagement Committee
Annette Holdman, Volunteer Engagement Committee
Plus, these new volunteers are in conversations with various committees to find the right fit:
Kathryn Dinkin
Kate McGuinness
Janey Cohen
Judi Brooks
As our committees grow, our ability to serve our 1000-plus members and carry out the Women’s Fund mission becomes even more effective. We appreciate all the women who are willing to be part of “Changing Lives Together” – we’ve never been more needed in the community.
If you are interested in being a potential volunteer, please email Kathy Hollis, Volunteer Liaison, at volunteer@womensfundsb.org.
It's almost time for the first of our Grants in Action events highlighting our 2020 grantees. Grants in Action are designed to help us see first-hand the impact our grants are having on our neighbors
First up is a virtual Site Visit with SEE International on September 29 at 5:00 pm. You should have received the invitation already – if you missed it, you can register here.
Then, on October 20 at 5:00 pm, it’s two-for-one as we enjoy guided tours of the health and wellness programs provided by our grantees Showers of Blessing and Doctors without Walls-Santa Barbara Street Medicine. Invitations for that event will be out by October 1 – check your email
Our Grants in Action programs are supported by long-time generous Women’s Fund member Carole MacElhenny and our 2020 sponsors.
133 East De La Guerra Street, #15 Santa Barbara, CA93101
Listening: this year, at the start of the process, members of the Research Committee conducted Listening Tours with more than 40 community leaders and agencies to understand how the coronavirus was impacting people in our region. The goal – identify any emerging critical needs, and which nonprofits might be best positioned to meet those needs when we make our grants next spring.
In 2019, a Woman’s Fund grant of $70,000 purchased two compact wheelchair platforms for use in the Santa Barbara and Goleta Neighborhood Dental Clinics. The wheelchair is wheeled onto the platform which is then raised to the appropriate height and angle, preserving the comfort and dignity of the patient, and enhancing safety for both the patient and the dentist.
Then, our new members gathered for a virtual happy hour on September 17. We all brought our own beverage and snacks, and everyone pitched in to make the event informative and fun. After watching the 
Plus, these new volunteers are in conversations with various committees to find the right fit:
First up is a virtual Site Visit with SEE International on September 29 at 5:00 pm. You should have received the invitation already – if you missed it, you can 
