Banding Together for Big Impact 

Banding together to parlay small donations into large — and often transformational — grants for worthy causes, the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara “expects to award one million dollars or more in 2024, our largest grants pool ever,” shared Jamie Dufek, the all-volunteer board chair who leads this diverse “giving circle” of about 1,300 local women. Since its establishment in 2004, for the past 20 years, the Women’s Fund has been on a mission to educate and inspire women to engage in making lasting change in our community, and together they pool their charitable dollars to create a significant impact on the lives of women, children, and families in South Santa Barbara County.

It all started when Carol Palladini gathered with 11 other philanthropically inclined women who were tired of the traditional fundraising grind of organizing events and spending lots of money to raise money. “The women founders had a really amazing idea,” said Dufek. “I think the fact that we’re looking at a million-dollar grants pool shows kind of the growth and the evolution of the way that women in our community think about philanthropy.”

The heart of the organization is its simplicity. Membership is open to all women who are willing to make an annual minimum contribution. Individual members contribute $2,750 or more and get one vote on where they would like the grants pool to go. Group members (minimum $275 donation) combine their funds to cast a vote on what to fund. The combined money allows members to transform their small donations into substantial grants for impactful projects that address critical needs in our community.

They’ve granted nearly $10.5 million to local nonprofits thus far, and they’re just getting started. “Having a big impact is an area that’s very near to our hearts,” said Dufek.