New Program Opens Door for Santa Barbara’s Smallest Non-Profits

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - A new funding opportunity is expanding access to flexible support for small non-profit organizations across Santa Barbara County.

The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara is launching a Small Grants pilot program aimed at organizations with annual budgets under $500,000. Beginning June 1, 2026, eligible non-profits can apply for unrestricted grants of $10,000 or $25,000.

The application window runs through June 30, 2026, with grant recipients expected to be announced in November.

The funding is designed to be flexible, allowing organizations to use the money for programming, operations, capacity-building, or capital needs. Program leaders emphasize the goal is to reduce administrative barriers and allow smaller nonprofits to focus more directly on service delivery.

The initiative was shaped by feedback from Women’s Fund members and is part of a broader effort to align grant making with community needs. While the organization continues its larger grant program for established nonprofits with higher budgets, this new pilot specifically targets smaller agencies that often face challenges accessing competitive funding streams.

Additional details and the application portal will be available beginning June 1 at http://www.womensfundsb.org.

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