| A Message from SBF's VP of Programs | |
Dear Friends,
As we welcome 2026, I find myself reflecting on a word that has always held special meaning for me: public.
It's a word that speaks to what we share—our public lands where families hike, our public parks where neighbors gather, our public schools where young minds grow, our public libraries that serve as quiet sanctuaries, and our public health systems that care for us in moments of greatest need. The beauty of "public" is that it belongs to all of us, a reminder that we are stronger together than we could ever be alone.
This is where your work of the nonprofit sector comes into focus. You are the champions of the public good. Each day, you create spaces where people feel welcomed and valued. You provide supports that help families access food, housing, healthcare, education, enrichment, and pathways out of crisis. You strengthen the fabric that holds our communities together.
The Santa Barbara Foundation is honored to walk alongside you. As we move through 2026 together, please know that we celebrate you—and we are deeply grateful for all you do to ensure that "public" continues to mean a thriving community for all.
With gratitude and partnership,
Liz Thasiah
Vice President of Programs
Santa Barbara Foundation
| | |
The Santa Barbara Foundation actively supports frontline organizations who provide resources and support to community members in need of access to immigration resources, supplies, and mental health support. Here is our Donor Guide on Immigration for those who would like to do the same.
StrongNonprofits.org is a free toolkit that provides customizable financial management tools, templates, and expert guidance to help nonprofits become "fiscally fit" and better fulfill their mission.
Nonprofit Financial Commons resources page is a comprehensive library offering nonprofits tools, webinars, courses, and guidance on financial management topics including budgeting, cash flow, audits, governance, equity, and business models, with content designed to help organizations of all sizes strengthen their financial practices and navigate challenges.
Jewish Free Loan Association is a nonprofit lending organization, offering zero-interest, zero-fee loans to individuals, families, students, small businesses, and nonprofits in Santa Barbara County. They make loans to people of all faiths and backgrounds. No collateral needed, just a source of income and qualified guarantors to sign onto the loan.
Santa Barbara City College's School of Extended Learning: Career Skills Nonprofit certificate programs offer many FREE noncredit courses:
SBF's Collaboration for Social Impact is dedicated to supporting nonprofits serving Santa Barbara County. This includes continuously identifying and sharing resources such as those above as well as professional development training opportunities for nonprofit leaders and staff. This year's topics included contingency planning, fundraising, and leveraging technology such as social media to achieve your organization's goals. You can check our resource library as well as sign up to be notified about specific topics here.
| | 2026 Compensation & Benefits Survey | | Submit your organization’s responses by February 13 to help strengthen fair and competitive pay across our region. No need to purchase the report—the Santa Barbara Foundation will have a hard copy available in our office libraries for all nonprofits to access at no cost. | |
Introducing the Santa Barbara County Community Wellbeing Dashboard
Santa Barbara County residents now have an even better way to understand and improve community wellbeing: The Community Wellbeing Dashboard, a tool created with input from local voices.
Built on the principle of “for the community, by the community,” the Dashboard brings together data and lived experience to shine a light on progress, highlight areas of need, and inspire collective action.
Since early 2025, more than 90 partners from 66 organizations have come together to shape this tool—sharing ideas, data, and expertise through months of collaboration. The first two focus areas, Housing and Economic Security, are now live in a public prototype: Santa Barbara County Community Wellbeing Dashboard.
In 2026, two more focus areas will be added: Healthcare & Behavioral Health and Food Access. With these additions, the Dashboard will tell a more complete story of wellbeing—emphasizing access, equity, resilience, and affordability.
Want to be part of this effort? Community members and organizations are invited to join upcoming development phases. To learn more, contact melissa@legacyworksgroup.com.
| |
The Santa Barbara Foundation is changing how it collects demographic information! Instead of submitting this data via your Smart Simple Org Profile, we are switching to a platform called 'Candid'. This initiative is meant to foster greater transparency and equity within the nonprofit sector. To learn more about set up and the benefits of the Candid, keep reading.
| | |
How SBF's Community Disaster Relief Fund Supports Santa Barbara County in Times of Crisis
Photo: Quail Springs/Doug Ellis
If your organization sustained damage due to a recent disaster, we encourage you to reach out. The Santa Barbara Foundation's Disaster Relief Fund is a rolling fund that is accessible during times of local disaster, and nonprofits are considered on a case-by-case basis... Keep reading about the Community Disaster Relief Fund.
| |
-
January 30–Building Strong Foundations: Revising & Revisiting your Nonprofit Bylaws Nonprofit bylaws are not only necessary under California Nonprofit Law, but also essential to obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status... keep reading.
|
-
February 10–Transitioning your Nonprofit to a Sustainable, Diversified, Annual Funding Plan This hands-on workshop is designed to help nonprofits strengthen financial resilience and build sustainable funding... keep reading.
|
-
February 13–Stewardship: Igniting Trust-Based Engagement and Giving Effective stewardship demonstrates to donors that you value their individual support and see them as an integral part of your community, growing their loyalty and trust in your nonprofit over time... keep reading.
|
-
February 25–Leading in Uncertain Times: Strategic & Scenario Planning for Nonprofit Leaders Uncertainty is inevitable—but strategic action is a choice. Nonprofit leadership today requires navigating a world of constant change—shifting funding streams, political pressures, rising community needs and managing agile teams... keep reading.
|
-
February 26–Executive Briefing: AI Readiness for Nonprofits In partnership with the Santa Barbara Foundation, Coastal Intelligence is offering a focused introduction to AI and change management for nonprofit executives. This free Thursday morning session is designed for senior leaders seeking a clear, practical understanding of why AI matters for their organization–and how to approach adoption responsibly. Register for Free!
Organizations who are ready to go deeper can apply for the full two-day workshop (Thursday-Friday) to build an actionable, organization-wide AI readiness roadmap. Over two days, Coastal Intelligence provides hands-on support to help nonprofits maximize resources and integrate AI into team culture. Sessions focus on key areas of nonprofit work—including development, communications, executive leadership, and operations—with the flexibility for team members to rotate based on their roles. To express interest in the Full 2-Day Workshop, enter your information.
| | Nonprofit Sector Policy Highlights | | | | |
On August 25, The Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF) sent a letter of support for California Senate Bill (SB) 363, which aims to prevent wrongful denials of medically necessary care and reduce unexpected out-of-pocket costs for insured patients. The bill remains stalled in the Assembly.
| | | | | |
On September 16, SBF submitted a public comment through the Federal Register opposing the Department of Education’s proposed regulatory changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, citing concerns that the changes would restrict eligibility and undermine nonprofit workforce sustainability in high-cost regions such as Santa Barbara County. Despite this opposition, the PSLF rule was finalized in October.
| | | | | |
On September 19, SBF submitted a pre-written public comment to the U.S. Forest Service opposing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposal to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which, if finalized, could open 653,000 acres in Los Padres National Forest to road building, logging, and other industrial activities. The proposed rescission remains under agency review.
| | | |
If this email was forwarded to you, you can sign up to receive our emails. | Our Company | Contact Us | FAQs | Privacy Policy |
| | | |
