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Conservation, Environment, and Public Trails: Building Resilience by Protecting Nature and Ensuring Access for All

Only two percent of charitable giving supports environmental conservation, though nature serves humans by promoting physical and mental well-being, thriving economies, a strong food system, and climate resilience.

Created with a generous legacy gift from a former SBF Board Chair who has a strong conservation focus and expertise, SBF’s Conservation, Environment, and Public Trails (CEPT) fund supports preservation, restoration, and increased access to wild spaces on the south coast.

Subject matter experts from our nonprofit sector joined government leaders and other funders to develop the decision-making process and make grant selections for this fund.

“With a substantial gift to launch and undergird the CEPT fund, along with additional gifts in 2022 and beyond, SBF will be well-positioned to ensure current residents and future generations can benefit from the beautiful natural world we live in,” explained Jenny Kearns, SBF Director of Grantmaking.

“Additional contributions to the fund will support more and longer-lasting work to conserve and protect our cherished local environment for the good of everyone in our community.”

Funding and grants provided by CEPT nearly doubled over the course of two grant cycles since the fund was established in 2021. (See graph at left).

A wide array of proposals received funding to support the following projects:

• Conduct land purchase studies on the Gaviota coast;

• Build capacity to guard endangered condor nesting sites;

• Cultivate a volunteer coastal cleanup corps;

• Develop outdoor children’s programs;

• Create a brand new hike-and-bike trail in Lompoc;

• Identify locations for and develop regenerative grazing projects;

• Construct, repair, and improve public trails to ensure access for all to outdoor spaces; and more.

Grantees ranged from The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County and Gaviota Coast Conservancy to Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens, Los Padres Forest Association, Community Environmental Council, Inc., Channel Islands Restoration, Wilderness Youth Project, and more.