Grant Making at The FUND 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