In a rare occurrence for the Women's Fund, a grantee has been unable to proceed with a funded project and, as a result, is returning the grant funds to the Women's Fund.

 As you may remember, last spring, our members voted to fund the installation of divider panels between beds in PATH’s women’s dormitory, providing increased privacy and quiet for the women staying temporarily in the shelter. PATH – People Assisting the Homeless – has been operating Santa Barbara’s largest homeless shelter at 816 Cacique Street since 2015. In August, PATH announced it would cease homeless service operations out of that facility because the shelter was operating at a deficit. In December, the City of Santa Barbara purchased the building and appointed an interim operator until the city can issue an RFP to select a permanent agency to manage the shelter.

 Since PATH did not use the Women’s Fund grant for the panels, the organization returned the $110,000 grant to the Women’s Fund. The Women’s Fund carefully screens grant applicants and then maintains contact with grantees as their projects are completed. If a grant purpose cannot be fulfilled on time or as agreed upon, the Women’s Fund Board works with the grantee and reviews options (extensions for construction delays, for example). In this case, PATH and our Board agreed the funds should be returned to the Women’s Fund, which the Board is placing in the grants pool.