During a time of economic uncertainty and lower trends in charitable giving, one longtime Santa Barbara philanthropist is leading the way and demonstrating her belief in the power of collective giving, through the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara.

Betty Elings Wells, a member of the Women’s Fund since 2005, has committed $250,000 in a 2-for-1 match for every dollar the Women’s Fund raises above $350,000 by December 1. As of May 1, Women’s Fund members…

Philanthropy pool unites 400 women and makes a $2.5 million difference in the nonprofit community.

“Low-key, yet high-impact” is an apt description for both the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara and its founder, Carol Palladini. Formed in 2004 around the idea that rather than spending their energy planning elaborate fundraisers, women could work together and pool their donations to help meet the community’s most critical needs, the group has already given more than $2.5 million to 33 nonprofit agencies in the Santa Barbara area.

The six-year-old Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara awarded a hefty total of $365,000 in grants to five local nonprofit agencies, focusing this year on organizations that provide shelter. In a ceremony at the El Paseo Restaurant on Monday, February 8, Casa Esperanza Homeless Shelter was awarded the largest grant, at $90,000; followed by Catholic Charities ($85,000); Domestic Violence Solutions ($75,000), St. Vincent’s of Santa Barbara ($75,000) and Sarah House, a hospice residence for low-income individuals ($40,000). Founding board chair Carol Palladini expressed gratitude to the Women’s Fund’…

Seeing the impact of their gifts in action was a gift in itself for more than 100 members of the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara, who toured local nonprofit agencies last week to see what their $725,000 in grants were doing to improve the community.

Future Leaders of America was the proud recipient of a coveted and competitive grant award from the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara this week. Fund representatives Tish Gainey and Parm Williams presented a $65,000 check at the nonprofit organization’s board meeting Monday. Representatives from all area high schools, SBCC, Future Leaders of America executive director Angeles Arroyo and board members were on hand for the ceremony.

A record $725,000 in grants is made by the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara to the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy and nine other organizations.

In a climate of economic uncertainty, the tendency is to stand pat rather than step forward. The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara didn’t get the message.

On Tuesday, more than 250 women — and a smattering of men — packed themselves in to El Paseo Restaurant to learn who got what when the fund’s 2008 grants were announced. The 5-year-old pooled investment organization has been growing steadily, from 79 members doling out $140,000…

The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara has announced its leadership for 2009. Rachael Ross Steidl and Fleurette Barsom-Janigian have been named co-chairwomen of the oversight committee, and Stina Hans and Tish Gainey have been named co-chairwomen of the research committee.

The Women's Fund received the Light of Hope Award from Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the children they serve at their November Forgotten Children event. The inscription reads: "We appreciate your vision, patience, and generosity for our casa at CASA." In 2006, the Women's Fund granted $180,000 for CASA's new headquarters, which are now completed.

At the annual Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Shining Star Luncheon in 2007, the Women's Fund of Santa Barbara received one of two "Shining Star" honors. The Women's Fund gift came at a critical time when the Center moved to new headquarters.

The old quarters were overcrowded and in extremely substandard condition. Finding a place was difficult because many landlords would not rent to this type of agency. Therefore, when the current location was found, SBRCC needed to immediately take the lease, with no funding for remodeling or furnishing for the interior spaces in place.

Our gift…

At the 2007 opening of the Twelve35 Teen Center, the Women's Fund was honored as "Best Executive Producer" for donating equipment and furnishings to the Santa Barbara Teen Center! The Library/Study Room is dedicated to Harriet Miller, WF member and former city mayor. We can feel good knowing that our gift is keeping many teens off the street and out of harm's way.