Women's Fund | July 2024 Stay Connected Newsletter

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In the July 2024 issue…

Grantee of the Month: SB ACT Homeless Navigation Center
Membership Corner: Please Join Us for Fun and Learning
New Column: Ask the Researcher
Reflecting on 20 Years of Changing Lives
Learn About Grantees’ Success
Food From the Heart's New Van in Action!

Grantee of the Month: SB ACT Homeless Navigation Center

The chronic plight of unhoused people has long been identified as a critical need in our community. The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara is helping to address these needs by funding supplies and staff for a new, permanent Navigation Center, named the Faro Center (Faro is Spanish for lighthouse). The goal: bring together available services for homeless neighbors in one location.

Our grant will provide $200,000 over two years for the new center, which will replace popup centers that operated out of local parks usually in the afternoon or evening. The new daytime navigation center will be open six hours a day, five days a week, and allow people who are homeless to gather and receive services from a variety of agencies in a safe, welcoming space. Services will include basic needs, housing support and navigation, case management, behavioral health support, and medical care.

Our funds will pay for staff training for peer support staff, lockers, and other furnishings for the center. In addition to two full-time workers, the staff will include former unhoused people trained to greet clients, give peer support, and guide clients to services. The center will serve approximately 400 unhoused persons a year with a stated goal of moving 100 of those served to temporary or permanent housing. Since opening on June 25, the center has served 95 unduplicated people.

Partnering with other nonprofits and other government agencies, this center will provide opportunities for collaboration and cooperation between those providing services and will give clients better, more effective solutions.

As Rich Sanders, Executive Director of SB ACT said, the center “…is a beacon of hope for those in need. It is a reminder that when we come together as a community, there is no challenge too great to overcome.” We heartily agree, and are proud to partner in this effort to compassionately and effectively help unhoused people in our community receive the services they need.

For information about volunteering or site visits, please contact farocenter@sbact.org.

Membership Corner: Please Join Us for Fun and Learning

Are you a new member and ready to learn more about the Women’s Fund? Do you have friends to introduce to the Women’s’ Fund? If so, please join us at our New and Prospective Member Reception at Alpha Resource Center on Wednesday, August 27.

We will hear from three recent grantees about the impact of our collective giving and have a chance to see a grant in action by touring the Alpha facility.

This relaxed and informal social gathering is designed especially for new and potential members -- you’ll get answers to frequent questions, meet other amazing women, and enjoy delightful refreshments in Alpha Resource’s Serenity Garden.

Doors open at 5:15 for the Alpha Resources Site Tour.
Reception begins at 5:30.

Join us at this free event to deepen your understanding of the Women's Fund and meet our newest members. And don’t forget to bring a friend as a guest. We look forward to welcoming you all!

Members, please register here.

Register your GUESTS here.

Wednesday, August 27, 2023
5:15 – 7:00 pm
(Doors open at 5:15 for tour; reception begins at 5:30)

Alpha Resource Center
4501 Cathedral Oaks Rd, Santa Barbara

New Column: Ask the Researcher

In this issue of the Stay Connected newsletter, we introduce a new column – Ask the Researcher. Several times a year, we’ll feature a different question that the research team hears frequently. We hope this new column answers some of your questions!

Dear Researcher, how does the Women's Fund choose agencies to research each year?

The Women’s Fund maintains a database of nonprofit agencies that meet our mission -- addressing the critical needs of women, children, and families in south Santa Barbara County. These include:

Mental health including addiction recovery and counseling
Housing assistance including homelessness
Early childhood development
Health care including dental and preventative care
Food insecurity and nutrition
Family support services including childcare and parent education
Domestic violence prevention and response
Seniors including caregiving and transportation
Education including academic support, enrichment activities, and technology

Our database is regularly updated based on member recommendations, news reports, and suggestions from other funders and agencies themselves. You may suggest an agency by sending an email to research@womensfundsb.org. The research team will review the agency to make sure it aligns with our mission and meets our criteria for funding. Many suggested agencies are added to the database, but not all.

Each spring, all agencies in the database are invited to submit project ideas for consideration by the Research Committee. Using objective guidelines, researchers review submissions and select projects that best address current community needs. The agencies are reviewed by the Finance Committee and Board of Directors. Agencies that pass this initial review are invited to apply for a grant.

A more detailed description of this process is available on our website.

If you have questions about this or any other aspects of Research, please email research@womensfundsb.org.

Reflecting on 20 Years of Changing Lives

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, members, and past grantees share their thoughts and memories about the Women’s Fund through the years.

“Through the generous support and partnership of the Women’s Fund, Children’s Resource & Referral has expanded access to high-quality childcare in Santa Barbara. The investment for new and increased quality childcare spaces will render life-changing impacts to children and families for years to come.”

- Michelle L. Graham, CEO, Children’s Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County

“I am moved by the community impact of the Women’s Fund, impressed with the commitment of our volunteers, and absolutely in love with the philanthropic model that turns $275 donations into a million-dollar grants pool.”

- Lynn Karlson, Board Member and Individual Member

Learn About Grantees’ Success

Did you know that when a nonprofit is awarded a grant from the Women’s Fund, they commit to providing a mid-year and year-end report? Our grantee year ends on June 31, so the grantees’ year-end reports are complete. Click here (then click on "2022-2023 Grantee Year-End Report Summary" in the middle of the page) to review a summary of grantee reports to learn how agencies are progressing or have met their goals.

Food From the Heart’s New Van in Action!

Researcher Robin Masson shared this story: “Food From the Heart came in their beautiful brand-new electric van to harvest avocados and oranges from our yard. 260 pounds later, some hungry people will have nice fruit. They love the van - it is set up the way they need it with lots of room inside for their ladders, pickers, and fruit. It’s electric, and they just charge it overnight at the church where it parks. So much fun to see our grants in action!”

133 East De La Guerra Street, #15
Santa Barbara, CA 93101