2022 Annual Report
ogether to create a more just, mentally healthy community ecognize that our work takes his region’s first people, the ways 2022 represented the progressive community in nd as a broader Central Coast r, we partnered with many of and local activists to expand ght for racial justice, made ng in an environment of reme forces.
rtant transformative work alone. As a new generation of activists emerge from such pivotal moments in our history as the murder of George Floyd and the overturn of Roe v. Wade, The FUND holds seriously our responsibility to provide an environment that contributes to the empowerment of these community shakers in their fight against all forms of systemic oppression. Through the development of new partnerships, including with the County of Santa Barbara to provide funding to grassroots anti-racist groups through our Racial Equity Fund, as well as through collaboration with UCSB researchers, and other philanthropic partners through the Central Coast Regional Equity Initiative, together we are laying the groundwork for advancing equity and racial justice in our region for the long-haul.
y g
2022 was also an economically challenging year for The FUND, as well as for many of our nonprofit partners, due in large part to high violtility of financial markets This included a significant hit to The FUND’s small endowment
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A Note From Marcos:
Therefore, despite continued financial growth over the last several years, in 2022 The FUND experienced its first deficit in recent times. Fortunately, with continued support from our longtime donors and a growing number of monthly giving supporters, as well as new and long-time partnerships with sister foundations and now local government support, The FUND remains financially solid, with a very bright future ahead of us.
As we celebrate our successes in 2022, and reaffirm our commitment to our progressive social change mission, The FUND thanks you, our community of social change agents and supporters
Together we are unbeatable
!Si se puede!
In Solidarity,
Marcos Vargas, PhD Executive Director
Our Mission:
Advancing progressive change by strengthening movements for Economic, Environmental, Political, Racial, and Social Justice.
We advance our mission by employing these strategies:
Make Grants
to community groups and coalitions across the region supporting long-term movements and emerging needs
Build Capacity
of progressive organizations to help them be bold and effective
Nurture Coalitions
by being a hub for collaborative efforts and serving as a trusted table to convene people and groups for strategy, resource sharing, and inspiration
Influence Philanthropy to support community organizing and movement building
Develop Movement Leadership
so that social justice movements and the progressive philanthropy sector look like the communities we serve: diverse, intergenerational, and valuesdriven
We envision:
A region that is environmentally, economically, and politically interconnected — where we understand and appreciate our interdependencies, our differences, and our mutual responsibilities.
A region where power and resources are distributed equitably, empowering everyone to participate in making decisions that affect them.
A community free of exploitation and oppression — one marked by optimism, joyous struggle, a spirit of problem solving, and a sense of belonging.
A community that encourages risk and innovation in the service of justice.
A collection of communities each proud of its own identity and committed to sharing a common destiny.
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| 4 Table of Contents Youth Making Change 13 2022 By The Numbers 5 2022 Geographical Grant Distribution 6 Racial Equity Fund of the County of Santa Barbara 7 Mickey Flacks Social Housing Fund & National Philanthropy Day 8 Capacity Building Program 15 Grant Making at The FUND 9 Towards a Just and Equitable Central Coast 17 The Impact of Multi-Year Funding 11 Bread and Roses: Recognizing Visionary Leadership 19 Our Collaborations 16 Financial Summary 22 Our Partners 23 Our Team 24
49 Grants Awarded $600K+ Funding Distributed 500+ Individual Donors 300+ Groups Served Through Capacity Building Initiatives 11 Lunchtime Activist Group Meetings 21 Event/Action Sponsorships 24 Workshops Convened/ Co-convened | 5 2022 By The Numbers
2022 Geographical Grant Distribution
General Grant Cycle
Racial Equity Fund
Youth Making Change
Emerging Needs Grant Mickey Flacks Social Housing Fund
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Racial Equity Fund of the County Of Santa Barbara
The Racial Equity Fund of the County of Santa Barbara (REFCSB) is an initiative that came directly from grassroots organizing by Black Femme leaders who demanded that the County of Santa Barbara invest in the Black community in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the ongoing racial justice movement. Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis, made a commitment to racial justice and pledged $500,000 to begin to address equity issues in the county. Roughly half of the funds were allocated to internal/institutional County equity development with the remaining funds to be distributed through The FUND's participatory grant-making process.
Comité
$230K Awarded in Grants
$35,000
Support of the Guelaguetza Popular ceremonial cultural festival representing all 8 regions of Oaxaca to uplift cultural value dignity and autonomy of Oaxaqueños indigenous people in Santa Maria and the surrounding areas through traditional food dance music and Indigenous self-determination decolonizing workshops
Gateway Educational Services - Parent Empowerment for Equitable Education - $17,500 (Yr 1), $17,500 (Yr 2)
Funding to support an initiative to engage and empower Black/African American parents to advocate for equitable and just education in Santa Barbara County through webinars designed to activate Black/African American parent participation in local educational policy decisions
Healing Justice Santa Barbara - Preservation of Black Legacy; General Operations for Healing Justice SB - $50,000.00 (Yr1), $50,000 (Yr2)
Funding will support operating costs and salaries for lead organizers, to ensure the sustainability of their anti-racism through systems change work to uplift all Black/African-Americans to affirm safety, love, equity, respect and joy
Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara - MLKSB Jr. Racial Equity Initiative -
$20,600
Funding will support the hiring of an Executive Director and to carry out programs and events that exemplify the vision and legacy of Dr King to strengthen the organization’s presence in the community and effect the culture and policy for systemic change and increase racial equity
Martin Luther King Jr., Day Celebration Committee - A Community Multicultural Celebration - $4,800 (Yr1), $4,800 (Yr2), $4,800 (Yr3)
Funding will support the Martin Luther King Jr Day celebration promoting cultural/ethnic education and historical, civic, and health information to strengthen unity in the community and celebrate the life and contributions of Dr King
NAACP Santa Maria Lompoc 1072 - Juneteenth Celebration, Black History Celebration, Culturally Competent programming in Schools - $25,000
Funds will support NAACP’s mission to dismantle systems of racism, oppression, and discrimination by dismantling those systems that perpetuate racism, discrimination and hatred through Culturally competent programming that addresses inequities that exist in our County and an annual Juneteenth Celebration as well as a gathering celebrating Black History
Guelaguetza - Guelaguetza Popular Santa Maria, CA and Decolonial Workshops
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$9K Awarded inGrants
Mickey Flacks Social Housing Fund
The Mickey Flacks Social Housing Fund (MFSHF) commemorates the life and legacy of community activist and esteemed friend of The FUND, Mickey Flacks. During her 50 years in Santa Barbara, Mickey devoted herself to the advancement of social justice and democracy. She understood access to affordable housing and tenants' rights as foundational to achieving the betterment of her beloved community and eloquently argued for social housing—housing developed for people’s needs rather than for the market. In this spirit, The FUND for Santa Barbara is proud to carry on Mickey’s commitment to housing equity by way of the Mickey Flacks Social Housing Fund
Blue Sky Sustainable Living Center / Informe de Vivienda para Trabajadores del Valle de Cuyama –Support of the Guelaguetza Popular ceremonial cultural festival representing all 8 regions of Oaxaca to uplift cultural value, dignity, and autonomy of Oaxaqueños, indigenous people in Santa Maria, and the surrounding areas through traditional food, dance, music, and Indigenous self-determination decolonizing workshops
North Santa Barbara Manufactured Home Team (NSBMHT) / Rent Stabilization Project
$5,000 $4,000
Funding to support an initiative to engage and empower Black/African American parents to advocate for equitable and just education in Santa Barbara County through webinars designed to activate Black/African American parent participation in local educational policy decisions
National Philanthropy Day Awards 2022
We were honored to be awarded as the 2022 Philanthropist of the Year (Santa Barbara) from AFP Santa Barbara/Ventura County Chapters! We do this through education, networking, mentoring, advocacy, and recognition. National Philanthropy Day is a special day to recognize and pay tribute to the individuals, organizations and businesses who generously give their time, talents and resources for the enrichment and benefit of our communities. As a grassroots organization, we strive towards progressive social change and admire our partners within the community who do the same. Needless to say, we are deeply humbled and honored to receive this recognition. Our work would not be possible without the commitment of our incredible team!
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Grant Making at The FUND
In traditional philanthropic giving, the people who control the wealth almost always control the distribution of that wealth. Our non-traditional grant making process sets us apart from other foundations in that our Grant Making Committee, made up of community activists and leaders, determines the allocation of funding. Our GMC is a collection of individuals from different life experiences and perspectives, giving them a unique pulse on the needs of the community.
Spring General Cycle
805 UndocuFund - Advocacy for the Inclusion of Undocumented Immigrants in Long Term State and Local Government Funded Disaster Financial Relief and Resources –
Beyond Incarceration Greater Education - BIGE Club –
Blue Sky Sustainable Living Center - Cuyama Valley Victory Gardens –
C4 Lompoc Collective Cultures Creating Change - Heal the Hurt 2022 –
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Fall General Cycle Grants Awarded
10 Spring General Cycle Grants Awarded
Children & Family Resource Services - Santa Maria Women’s Health Equity Initiative: Promotores Network collaboration –Cultural and Creative Arts Center of the Santa Maria Valley (Corazón del Pueblo) - Arts for the People: Culture and Equity for the Santa Maria Valley –
El Centro SB - Staffing & Reimagining El Centro SB –Little House by the Park/The Guadalupe Community Changers - Fair Housing Mobilization Project “Adelante Guadalupe!” Phase II –Freedom 4 Youth (F4Y) - Advocacy led by Individuals Impacted by Criminal Legal Institutions –Los Amigos de Guadalupe - Nonprofit Collaboration Board –
One Community Action of Santa Maria Valley - One Community Action –SB County Immigrant Legal Defense Center (ILDC) - Access and Equity without Borders –
Fall General Cycle
Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, INC (CHCC) - Wisdom Keeper CircleFamily Service Agency of Santa Barbara County - Extendiendo Lazos de Liderazgo - Extending Leadership Bonds -
Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project - The Indigenous Youth and Farmworker empowerment projectNorth County - Food Resilience, Equity, Sustainability, and Action (FRESA) - FRESA Esta Presente! (FRESA is Present!) -
18 Grant Making Committee Members
~$311K Awarded in Grants
North Santa Barbara Manufactured Homeowners Team (NSBMHT) - Rent Stabilization ProjectPlanned Parenthood California Central Coast (PPCCC) - Santa Maria Patient Escort ProgramSanta Barbara Foundation (fiscal sponsor for HJSB) - Healing Justice Parenting FellowsSanta Barbara Response Network - SBRN’s Thriving Organizations, Thriving Staff (TOTS) for Systemic ChangeSanta Barbara Alliance for Community Transformation - Homelessness Lived Experience Leadership Project -
University of California, Santa Barbara - Undocumented Student ServicesWomen's March of Santa Maria Valley - Womens March of Santa Maria Valley -
Multi-Year Grants
Cultural and Creative Arts Center of the Santa Maria Valley - Corazon Del Pueblo - Equitable Access to Our Culture & Our Arts for Our Communities – (annually in 2020, 2021, 2022) Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) - Youth ARTS Alive - (annually in 2020, 2021, 2022)
The Pacific Pride Foundation, Inc - General Operating Support - (annually in 2020, 2021, 2022)
Emerging Needs
Central Coast Climate Justice Network - Extension of Network Manager Position
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Lompoc-Vandenberg Branch - Non-partisan Candidate Information and Candidate Forum
League of Women Voters of Santa Maria Valley - Election Cycle Forums and meetings Fall 2022
$5,000 $1,000
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$10,000 $7,000 $10,000 $7,750 $10,000 $1,250 $10,000 $8,500 $10,000 $8,000 $7,500 $10,000
$10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $5,200 $10,000 $10,000 $7,800 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
$30,000
$30,000 $30,000
–
–
–
Pacific Pride Foundation - MPXV Education and VaccinationSanta Barbara County Food Action Network - Central Coast Food Policy Community of Practice$2,630 $5,000 $5,000
Grant Making at The FUND
The FUND's Grant Making Priorities:
The FUND believes that significant social changes ultimately require broad participation in and democratic control of all social, political and economic institutions Historically, social conditions improve most dramatically when people organize on their own behalf, form alliances with other like-minded people & organizations, and build coalitions to confront and change the conditions that have denied them access, equity, and justice The FUND gives preference to projects that address the root causes of social, economic, environmental, and political problems THE FUND provides seed grants to new grassroots projects; general support or project grants to small organizations; and targeted grants to larger, more established organizations
Our Philosophy of Grant Making:
What sets the Fund for Santa Barbara apart from other foundations? In traditional philanthropic giving, the people who control the wealth also control distribution In order to empower the community and the foundation, The FUND follows a different model of grantmaking The Board of Directors is responsible for securing the funding for the foundation through their own gifts and fundraising efforts The Grant-Making Committee, consisting of community activists, determines how funds should be distributed according to the needs of the community
Members of the Grant-Making Committee review the grant proposals each cycle, make site visits to prospective grantees and make decisions with respect to the granting of funds to carry out the mission of the foundation At the end of each grant cycle, the Grant-Making Committee Co-Chairs meet with the Board and describe each project which is being recommended for funding The Fund for Santa Barbara has a unique grantmaking process that truly sets us apart from other foundations in that the Board of Directors relies on the Grant-Making Committee to execute the process of distributing funds
The Fund for Santa Barbara believes that charity, while providing basic needs, does not challenge the root causes of inequitable societal conditions We support projects and organizations which seek to advocate, organize and educate We fund local organizations that work to end discrimination of every kind, advocate for the rights of workers, promote selfdetermination in low-income and disenfranchised portions of our community, or promote peace and responsible government We give preference to innovative grass-roots endeavors which are unlikely to receive funding from more traditional sources We also provide organizations with leadership training to ensure that their projects will succeed
Issue Area Summary
Constituency Summary
Low-income 113% Immigrants 102% Youth(12-24) 9.1% BIPOC 86% Parents 81% Non-profitOrganizations 65% Black/AfricanAmerican 5.9% LGBTQ+ 5.9% Farmworkers 5.4% Children(0-11) 43% Incarcerated/FormerlyIncarcerated 43% Seniors 43% Houseless 38% ProgramStaff 3.8% Disability 27% WorkingClass 05% Anti-discrimination 6% EducationalAccess/Equity 6% LanguageJustice 6% RacialInequity 5.5% EconomicJustice 49% CivicEngagement 44% CommunityHealth 4.4% RacialJustice 4.4% ClimateChange 38% Children(0-11) 33% CriminalJustice/JuvenileJustice 3.3% FoodJustice/FoodSovereignty 33% LGBTQ+Rights 33% MentalHealthandWellness 3.3% RestorativeJustice 3.3% PublicSafety 2.2% | 10
*IssueAreasandConstituencySummaryareself-identifiedbygrantees*
The Impact of Multi-Year funding
In 2020, The FUND awarded Santa Barbara Alternatives to Violence Leaderships (SBAVP) a $30,000 multi-year (10k annually for 3 years) grant that concluded in 2022. Executive Director, J.P. Herrada, shares the impact these funds had on the organization.
“Multi-Year Funding from The FUND gave us breathing room to gather ourselves and plan accordingly moving forward It also helped us by building relationships with The FUND’s staff, I often come in for advice, and their training is amazing!”
For a newer and smaller organization like SBAVP, Multi-Year Funding from The FUND empowered the organization to shift their focus from finding consistent funding for the Alternatives to Violence Leadership Takes to the Streets program and allow them to focus on strengthening the organization in other ways. In addition to the flexibility the grant funding provides, it gave SBAVP credibility among other foundations and allowed them to apply for additional grant dollars
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Explore SBAVP's community work: www.sbavp.org
The Impact of Multi-Year funding
In 2020 The FUND awarded Independent Living Resource Center (ILRC) a $30,000 Multi-Year ($10,000 annually for 3 years) grant that concluded in 2022 System Change Coordinator, Jacob Lesner-Buxton, shares the impact these funds had on the organization
“Being able to get Multi-Year Funding for our advocacy group (AKA The Rapid Response Committee) allows ILRC to plan the project more thoroughly People on the committee are excited because they can suggest projects to work on for the next year or two ”
Multi-Year Funding allows an organization like ILRC to plan (with the committee) their projects and goals for the years ahead without worrying about where future funding may come from to support the project. At the height of the pandemic, the ILRC Rapid Response Committee shifted its focus from meeting with policymakers in person to informing and educating the community on issues important to people with disabilities “The committee has hosted four webinars on accessible/affordable housing, disability pride, intersectionality, being an entrepreneur, and accessible cooking in the two years since we received the grant. We also created a PSA about accessible housing that aired on KEYT and met and met with Congressman Salud Carbajal’s office on two different occasions about the needed improvements to Social Security benefits for people with disabilities. This year, our 6 person committee hopes to travel to Sacramento to meet with lawmakers ”
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Explore ILRC's community work: www.ilrc-trico.org
There are two YMC Boards one meets in Santa Maria and the other in Santa Barbara and both are led by teens, ages 13-19. Each board gives out $15,000 per year in grants to youth-led projects that impact young people in Santa Barbara County. They create and conduct an entire grant cycle and then share with their communities what they learned as grant-makers and philanthropists. Since 2008, YMC has awarded more than $350,000 to over 165 youth-led groups throughout Santa Barbara County.
"I have been a part of Youth Making Change for the past three years as a board member and I have absolutely loved it I have experienced an immense amount of personal growth Not only my collaboration and problem-solving skills, but also in time management and organization as well I knew that being a facilitator would increase the skills I already possessed from YMC by ten-fold I am forever grateful for YMC and how it has positively impacted me as a human being"
10 Grants Awarded
16 Youth Making Change North Board Members
"I stumbled upon YMC freshman year After being board member for a year, I applied to be facilitator While I was a new, young board member, I really looked up to the facilitators One of my goals for the future is to be on the leadership team for community nonprofits which was inspired by YMC I’ve also appreciated how being facilitator has allowed me to learn more about social change and adopt a more hands-on approach for promoting social change
"My freshman year of high school, my AVID teacher introduced Youth Making Change to me and I was super intrigued I applied to be a board member I didnt think I was good enough to get on the board but I still tried A while later, I was notified that they wanted to interview me I was filled with joy, soon after I became a board member I got to experience my first year on zoom, the way the facilitators bonded with the board and the way the were leaders truly revealed what I wanted to become 3 year member"
19 Youth Making Change South Board Members
$24,158 Awarded in Grants
"Being a YMC board member was a life changing experience, I learned so much about philanthropy and social justice and felt inspired to become more actively involved in the board; my facilitators were excellent role models for me and I wanted to apply my own leadership skills to help new board members feel comfortable in our YMC family and inspired to create social change"
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- Demarie Diel, North County Facilitator
- Carlos Gonzalez, North County Facilitator
- Margherita Scussat, South County Facilitator
- Kavya Suresh, South County Facilitator
Youth Making Change - South County
Arts Mentorship Program - Inclusion Coalition -
Cops Off Campus SB Youth Coalition - Community not Cops -
Future Leaders of America - Bridge the Divide Workshop -
Isla Vista Compost Collective - New compost pile and operation expansion -
Misendero - Spring Student Workshop and Website Development -
Youth Leadership Council - CAN DO! (Change Agent Network for Dismantling Oppression) -
Youth Making Change - North County
Chicano/Latino Studies Students at SMHS - Ethnic Studies/POC Film Festival -
Dream Club - Cinco de Mayo, Diversity Day, and ASBG Collaborations (Black History Month and International
Women’s Day) -
$3,000 $2,850
Lompoc Valley Black Student Union, Lompoc and Cabrillo High Schools / Mural titled “Unify Lompoc Valley –We’re in this together” -
Pioneer Valley High School Science and Engineering Club / Learn About Climate Change and Build Your Own
Solar-Powered Vehicle -
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$3,000
$2,000 $2,400 $2,800
$2,500 $3,000
$2,700 $3,000
Capacity Building Program
The FUND believes that non-monetary resources often have an equal or greater value than cash grants, especially to small grassroots organizations. The FUND commits considerable staff and volunteer time to support community-based organizations with skill-building opportunities, convenings, informational resources, and free tailored consulting and facilitation services through its Capacity Building Program.
During 2022, The FUND's Capacity Building Program facilitated or sponsored these technical and information training initiatives:
January
“A Community Conversation with an Icon: How America Can ChangeAngela Davis” in partnership with Fielding Institute
Lunchtime Activists Group
February
Spring Cycle Grant Application Workshop #1
Spring Cycle Grant Application Workshop #2
Spring Cycle Grant Application Workshop #3
Lunchtime Activists Group
March
Lunchtime Activists Group
April
A Call to Action: Documenting Santa Barbara’s Act and Activism with UCSB Library (Sponsored by The FUND)
Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying 101 with Alliance for Justice
Lunchtime Activists Group
May
Building Language Justice Into Your Budget/Incorporando la Justicia de Lenguaje en su Presupuesto with Center for Nonprofit Leadership
Lunchtime Activists Group
June
Making Movements: Changemakers, Nonprofits and Action – Showing Up for Racial Justice
Ask an Able Bodied Person with Independent Living Resource Center
Lunchtime Activists Group
Making Movements: Changemakers, Nonprofits and Action – Celebrating
Difference
Lunchtime Activists Group
July August
Making Movements: Changemakers, Nonprofits and Action – Breaking Binaries
Fall Cycle Grant Application Workshop #1
Fall Cycle Grant Application Workshop #2
Fall Cycle Grant Application Workshop #3
Lunchtime Activists Group
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Our Collaborations
To achieve significant and lasting progress, it is essential for multiple organizations to join forces and work in tandem towards a common goal. In 2022, The FUND spearheaded and actively engaged in numerous collaborative initiatives as part of our comprehensive movement building strategy. These efforts included:
Central Coast Immigration Network (COIN)
Central Coast Civic Engagement Table
Central Coast Climate Justice Network
Central Coast Regional Equity Initiative
EDs of Color
Foothills Forever
Latinx & Indigenous Migrant COVID-19 Response Task Force
Nonprofit Resource Network (NPRN)
North County Coalition
Racial Equity Fund of Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara Foundation Roundtable
Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties Funders Forum
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Towards a Just and Equitable Central Coast
The Central Coast Regional Equity Initiative aims to deepen our understanding of regional disparities, facilitate a region-wide multi-sectoral conversation, and advance social, health, environmental, and economic equity through a community and research-informed action framework.
A collaborative partnership between The Fund for Santa Barbara and the UCSB Blum Center on Poverty, Inequality, and Democracy, the Initiative's first report, "Towards and Just and Equitable Central Coast," was produced with support from USC Equity Research Institute in December 2021 and uses rigorous, community engaged research both to bring socioeconomic inequities — and the price we pay for them — to light, and to establish concrete guideposts for regional equity.
Over the past year our work has been guided by our transformative vision, one rooted in equity, sustainability, and justice. In the spirit of “building from our victories,” we elevate that this collective “our” refers to all of us, and speaks to the community power that strengthens our region and our struggle for equity
Our collective success so far couldn't have happened without the broad community support we've received for the Initiative from the philanthropic sector, government, and community-based organizations and leaders
In 2023, we are continuing to deepen cross-sector relationships built on trust, acknowledging power and privilege, practicing a spirit of reciprocity, and sustaining our efforts and energies This work is guided by our three-year Strategic Action Plan, facilitated by Evolve Equity and The Fund
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Central Coast Regional Equity Initiative Community Resources
The first version of the Initiative’s website is home to many community resources, including:
The "Executive Summary" and "Resumen Ejecutivo," which provide an insight into key inequities from the full report
A resource library of nine issue-area specific mini-reports, to make the data from the full report more easily accessible and serve as tools for community groups
A collection of issue-area infographics, which provide visuals and text that can be posted to social media to circulate information on inequity
A growing online resource library, which provides links to the data sources used for the report and additional equity tools
Recordings of various community engagement events, which provide context to the Initiative and in-depth, meaningful discussions with community members
Explore the Central Coast Regional Equity Initiative's website: www.centralcoastequity.org
Disparities in Connectivity
Youth Experience | 18
Environmental Justice Participatory Democracy Housing Equity Health Equity Carceral Justice Economic Equity Immigrant Experience
Bread & Roses 2022: Recognizing
Visionary Leadership
Founder's Award: Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt
Lyons-Pruitt moved to Santa Maria in 1973 after graduating from high school in rural Mississippi, where she experienced segregation firsthand. Lyons-Pruitt's aunt and uncle were educators one at Righetti and one at Santa Maria High School and their guidance, along with her grandfather's, pushed her to continue her education She would go on to receive a degree in criminology from Cal State Long Beach Her professional career was spent as an investigator for the Santa Barbara County Public Defender's Office, becoming the first Black woman in California to earn the title of chief investigator before retiring in 2016 Lyons-Pruitt has been president of the Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP chapter for more than 14 years, during which time she has emphasized the importance of remembering Black history
Firebrand Award: Kavya Shuresh
Kavya Suresh has always been someone who is always looking for an organizing opportunity at every one of our YMC meeting by trying to engage the board in participating in school board meetings and supporting just policies like getting cops off campus Kavya's care and love for her community is palpable in the way she always brings up issues to the forefront
As an active member of her community, Kavya has mentored her peers as a facilitator of YMC to take further interest in their community outside of grant giving by encouraging them to engage in volunteer work with other organizations She is always making sure that every board member feels heard she cultivates a safe and inclusive space for her peers to explore topics of social justice with a critical lense
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"Celebrating the work & spirit of "Celebrating the work & spirit of our progressive community" our progressive community"
“Money is like water; it's precious, lifechanging resource. Money should be a tool of love that facilitates relationships and helps us thrive, rather than something that hurts and divides us. If we use it for sacred, life-giving, restorative purposes, it can be medicine.”
- Edgar
Author and Founder of the Decolonizing Wealth Project
Villanueva
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2022 Financial Summary
Revenue:
Foundation Grants/Partnerships: $943,155
Fundraising Events: $175,368
Individual Donors: $324,998
Government Contracts: $266,995
Total: $1,710,516
Expenses:
Administration: $213,368
Fundraising & Development: $132,330
Grants and Sponsorships: $623,454
Programs: $831,216
Total: $1,800,368
*The numbers presented as part of this report are pre-audit and subject to change This is not an official statement of financial activities
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We don’t do this work alone. Our work is made possible by a broad coalition of supporters, community partners, and co-conspirators.
Funding Partners Corporate Partners
Atterbury Foundation
Blue Shield Foundation
El Gato Channel Foundation
Energy Foundation
Hutton Parker Foundation
James Bower Foundation
James Irvine Foundation
Kautz Family Foundation
McCune Foundation
Mott Foundation
Natalie Orfalea Foundation
Patricia & Paul Bragg Foundation
Santa Barbara City College Foundation
Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara Foundation
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation
The California Endowment
The California Wellness Foundation
The Towbes Foundation
The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation
Ventura County Community Foundation
Weingart Foundation
Boston Trust Walden
Cottage Health
Cox Communications
KCRW
Law Office of Renee M Fairbanks LOACOM
MacFarlane Faletti & Co LLP
Mechanics Bank
Mullen & Henzell, LLP
Pacific Premier Bank
SAGE Publications Inc
Santa Barbara Independent
Collegiate Partners
Allan Hancock College
Cal Lutheran University
CSU Channel Island
Fielding Graduate University
Pacifica Graduate Institute
Santa Barbara City College
UC Santa Barbara
University of Southern California
Ventura County Community College District
Labor Union Partners
LiUna Local 220
SEIU Local 620
SEIU Local 721
UFCW 770
United Domestic Workers
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Board of Directors:
Rev Julia Hamilton President
David Landecker
Vice President
Gloria Soto
Vice President
Andrew Oman
Secretary
Susan Wax Liaison to GMC
Ruth Ackerman
Eric Cárdenas
Dr Anna Everett
Diane Fujino
Eder Gaona-Macedo
Jennifer Hooten
Chelsea Lancaster
Erica Reyes
Ted Rhodes
Cuco Rodriguez
Mahil Senathirajah
John Steed
Our Team Our Team
Grant Making Committee:
Feliciano Aguilar
Co-Chair
Rachel Johnson Co-Chair
Maria Garcia-Cacique
Liaison to Board
Suzanne Valery
Liaison to Board
Dr. Leonie H. Mattison
Bailey Needham
Bob Thiel
Chuy Valle
Jennifer Navarro
JP Herrada
Juliana Neel
Lupita Cervantes
Lyiam Galo
Rich Sanders
Vickey Smith
Wendi Pacheco
Staff:
Marcos Vargas
Executive Director
Patricia Solorio
Associate Director
Andrés Armenta
Office Mgr /Exec Assistant
Alina Rey Keswani
Dev & Comms Manager
Kathleen Knight
Capacity Building Manager
David Melendrez
YMC Coordinator
Alex Murkison
Development Associate
Tania Reyes
Grant Programs Manager
Brian Arizmendi Villanueva Program Associate
YMC - North County
Demarie Diel Facilitator
Carlos Gonzalez Facilitator
Andrea Cuevas
Anya Gallardo
Brandon Aguirre
Cesar Vasquez
Denise Delgado
Jade Espinoza
Jamielynne Lomibao
Jesus Cayetano
Karen Olvera
Marisol Hernandez
Mickayla Piñon
Sarah Cabiles
Susana Espinoza
Zimin He
YMC - South County
Clare Schneider Facilitator
Margherita Scussat Facilitator
Anesu Chikowero
Kaitlyn Marden
Natasha Huey
Selena Valencia
Chelsea Miao
Kiela Luke
Natalie Aldapa Hernandez
Marshall Graham
Orchid Gillespie
Naomi Walsh
Noelle Cabrera
Gabriele Scussat
Allegra Cullen
Joselyn Pacheco Morales
Kimberly Mendoza
Lorenzo Lara
Tatiana Leyva
Honorary Board:
Nancy Alexander, Founder
Kate Adams (in Memoriam)
Susan Bower (in Memoriam)
Carnzu Clark (in Memoriam)
Sevren Coon
Nancy Franco
Susan Jørgensen
Don Olson
Katy Peake (in Memoriam)
David Peri
Susan Rose
Selma Rubin (in Memoriam)
Naomi Schwartz (in Memoriam)
Sarah Shoresman (in Memoriam)
Herman Warsh (in Memoriam)
Nancy Weiss
2022 Interns:
Nancy Avoce
Peyton Bivona
Angela de la Vega
Sam Gilman
Naz Haidarian
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The Fund for Santa Barbara relies on the commitment of progressive donors committed to social change.
"We appreciate that The FUND not only provides critical funding and tools to local progressive organizations that do the heavy lifting, they demonstrate an understanding of intersectionality and model personal and organizational integrity through their processes. The FUND for Santa Barbara truly walks their talk. We value and continue to support The FUND because of their powerful, challenging, relentless drive to make ours a more just, equitable and inclusive community. "
– Harriet Eckstein &
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Alan Irwin
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fundforsantabarbara.org Stay connected: 1219 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
PO Box 90710 Santa Barbara, CA 93190-0710 120 E. Jones Street, Suite 110, Santa Maria, CA 93454 Santa Barbara: 805-962-9164 | Santa Maria: 805-922-1707
Mailing: