In the June issue:

• Celebrating Our Collective Impact: Women’s Fund in the News
• Small Grants Pilot Program Application Period is Open!
• Membership Corner: Spotlight on a New Member
• Engaging, Connecting, and a Little Rosé
• Research Survey Says!

Members of the Women’s Fund know firsthand the transformative power of coming together to change lives. Our recent grant cycle, which awarded a record-breaking $1.275 million to 10 local nonprofits, has also captured the attention of our local media.

Regional news outlets such as the Santa Barbara Independent, the Montecito Journal, Noozhawk, edhat, and KEYT-TV highlighted how our collective contributions are directly addressing critical needs in our community. These include:

• Essential mental health therapy and youth counseling and mentorship
• Reproductive healthcare services for women, as well as meals and wellness checks for seniors
• Transportation services for foster children, and door-to-door assistance for seniors and adults with disabilities
• Logistical support, such as a truck to transport surplus food to nonprofits and a supportive dormitory for women struggling with addiction

The stories are a powerful testament to our endurance as an organization and ensure that the vital work of our grant recipients remains at the forefront of the public conversation. It is the generosity of our members that continues to make these headlines—and the impact of these grants in our community—possible.

Announcing a new grant type being offered by the Women’s Fund: small grants targeting smaller nonprofit agencies in south Santa Barbara County. Eligible nonprofit agencies are invited to complete an application on our website by June 30!

These agency grants -- in amounts of either $10,000 or $25,000 -- will be awarded to south county 501(c)3 agencies that align with our mission and have annual revenues of up to $500,000. The agency must focus on at least one of our nine identified community needs. 

Since 2004, our grants of $50,000 to $200,000 have had a major impact on Santa Barbara’s larger agencies. Yet smaller, often newer agencies also serve important community needs, and the new small grants pilot program will help support the mission of these agencies. The Women’s Fund board has set aside $100,000 for the pilot year.

In surveys conducted last year, our members expressed a desire to offer more flexible grants, and our research team, as well as community input, pointed to a need to support smaller agencies.  

A Women’s Fund Small Grants Committee will review applications, verify eligibility, and create a ballot. In the fall, every Women’s Fund member who contributed in 2025 will be invited to vote on the ballot. Unlike our traditional grants, there will be no group voting for small grants. In early November, we will announce the grantees of the Small Grants Pilot Program, and funds will be distributed in November.  

The grants will be awarded for a period of one year, after which the grantees will report on how the funds were used and how the agency and community benefitted from the grant.  

Our members can continue to be proud that our pooled resources help improve the lives of people in our community.

Reasons for joining the Women’s Fund are as varied as our 1,400+ members. Andrea Owens, one of our newer members, has made philanthropy part of her professional and her personal life.

Andrea moved to Santa Barbara in 2011 and began working at AppFolio after graduating from UCSB. No stranger to philanthropy, Andrea has been part of AppFolio’s Give Back Team since its inception in 2016. She now manages AppFolio's Give Back program, with the help of a dedicated team of Give Back enthusiasts around the company.

In 2025, a friend and colleague invited Andrea to join a newly formed Women’s Fund group called SistaFrens: a mixture of colleagues and mutual friends, long-time and new. Given her expanded Give Back role at the company, Andrea was eager to get involved, hoping to meet like-minded women and expand her community network. Her answer was an instant yes.

Andrea Owens (second from right) and members of SistaFrens at the New Member event.

Andrea attended her first Women’s Fund event in January, our new member reception at the Santa Barbara Public Library. She remarked on the palpable positive energy in the room, and was impressed by the high attendance—just a fraction of our ever-growing organization. Reflecting on the meeting, Andrea shared, “It was so inspiring to see multiple generations of women in one space, working together to achieve a common goal.”

The SistaFrens group consists of women in their 30’s, thriving in their respective careers, busy with friends and family, while still prioritizing time for service. SistaFrens emulates the Women’s Fund: women in the group are empowered to contribute in the ways that work best for them. Although our groups may vary, we collectively rejoice when the grantees are announced every May, taking pride in knowing that each one of us played a part. 

And while we welcome Andrea, we’d also like to welcome all the women who have joined since last October – it’s quite a list!

Submitted by Hannah Robinson

The Volunteer Engagement gathering at La Lieff Winery on May 28 proved two things: our members are deeply passionate about our community, and we all enjoy a glass of local wine.

The main goal of the evening? Connection. The Volunteer team and various Women’s Fund committee representatives mingled with a vibrant crowd of new and prospective members—many of whom arrived wondering, “Is there a place for me here beyond my membership check?”

The short answer? A resounding yes.

Take Heather Triplett (above right), for example. As a relatively new Women’s Fund member, Heather struck up a conversation with Wendy Arienzo (above left), Co-Chair of the Information Technology committee. By the end of the evening, they had mapped out a data entry role that fits perfectly around Heather’s full-time job. (Yes, you can change the world and keep your day job!)

When asked what lured her out to the event, Heather’s enthusiasm was palpable: “Attending one of the grantee events was incredibly impactful, and the Celebration of Grants made me feel deeply connected to our community. I decided I wanted to get more involved. And, I think that then I can share with other women just how accessible it is to give back to our community. I want to lead by example.”

Not only is Heather jumping into a tech role, but she has also decided to become a Captain and form a new Women’s Fund group.

Board Chair Carolyn Jabs summed up the spirit of volunteering with the Women’s Fund perfectly, reflecting on her own journey: “I used to think volunteering for Women’s Fund was about what I could give to the organization, but I now appreciate how much I’ve benefited from working with such caring, capable women. I’ve developed wonderful friendships. It’s deepened my understanding of our community and renewed my faith in the good that can be accomplished when we work together.

Running the largest women’s giving circle in the United States with volunteers is a challenge that requires a small army of brilliant women. Whether your interest lies with public relations, driving membership renewals, securing our future through endowment development, or handing out nametags with a welcoming smile—we have a spot for you. No matter your skills, we promise to put them to good use. Head to our Volunteer Page, check out our current needs, fill out the short survey and we will get in touch with you.

Submitted by Chris Silverstein

Thanks to all Women’s Fund members who responded to the Research Committee survey in April! Here’s an update on what we learned.

The April survey went to all 1,451 members and asked your thoughts/opinions/suggestions about the 2026 Ballot Narratives and the Ballot Review Meeting, as well as what you would like to know about grantees and local nonprofit agencies, as a whole.

Here are the essential takeaways:

• 15% responded to survey (215 members) 
• 79% of respondents had attended all/portion of the last two years of Ballot Review meetings
• 76% of respondents who attended this year (about 500 members) thought that 90 minutes was the appropriate amount of time
• 87% of respondents thought one page was the appropriate length for the ballot narratives.

In the category of “what else would you like to know?” many expressed a desire for more information regarding:

• Research process
• Results/Impact/Updates on past grantees
• Specific challenges facing nonprofits
• Volunteer opportunities
• Options to visit agencies

We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Our goal is to provide you with what you need – in the most efficient and effective format – to inform your voting decisions. More Research news and information will be coming your way!

By the way, let me introduce myself: I am Tish Lynn, the Communications Liaison for the Research Committee, on which I was privileged to serve for the 2025-2026 grant cycle.

You’ll be hearing about the committee’s work throughout the year via this newsletter. Our goal is to help you better understand the process and feel confident and informed about your important, annual voting opportunity.

Submitted by Tish Lynn

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