On May 7, 2024, amidst its 20th-anniversary celebration at the iconic Lobero Theatre, the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara announced a record-breaking $1.125 million grants pool to benefit 10 local nonprofit organizations. The milestone marked two decades of transformative philanthropy, with over $11.6 million in grants awarded since 2004.
A Legacy Built on Collective Giving
Founded by 12 local women in 2004, the Women’s Fund operates through a tightly-knit, all-volunteer model dedicated to maximizing donor impact. This year’s grants were selected through a rigorous, members-driven research and voting process — ensuring transparency and community alignment across every step.
A Snapshot of This Year’s Grantee Projects
The 2023–2024 grant recipients are addressing urgent local needs—from housing and mental health to youth outreach and childcare:
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CADA (Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse) – $100,000 for vehicles to transport clients to substance use disorder services.
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Casa Pacifica – $90,000 to expand mobile youth crisis response services.
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City Net – $100,000 to launch a mobile safe space for unsheltered women.
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DignityMoves – $125,000 to establish a child-care center within a family village.
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Doctors Without Walls – $100,000 over two years for intensive case management for people experiencing homelessness.
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LEAP (Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner.) – $120,000 in gap funding for a bilingual childcare center.
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PathPoint – $105,000 for shower installations at behavioral health facilities.
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SB ACT (Santa Barbara Alliance for Community Transformation) – $200,000 over two years for a permanent homelessness navigation center.
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Santa Barbara Police Activities League – $110,000 to renovate a teen center.
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Unity Shoppe – $75,000 to purchase and equip refrigeration units.
Celebrating Milestones, Inspiring Action
The grants ceremony did more than announce funding—it spotlighted two decades of sustained impact and the ongoing potential of collective giving. A retrospective video featured founding members like Anne Towbes, Joanne Rapp, and Perri Harcourt, reflecting on how far the organization has come.