Christine Looney, Deputy Director of Ford Foundation's massive program-related investment portfolio. The American tax code favors the generous by offering significant financial benefit to those that give to charity. On the very tip of the curve are individuals or families whose living gifts and bequests grow into mighty charitable foundations. Individuals like Edsel Ford, son of [...more...]
New Festival Team Revealed! First Time in Goleta at Fairview Theatre and Return to Los Olivos! Submissions Open Now - Calling for Nature-Centric Films! Celebrating the return of the beloved NatureTrack Film Festival (NTFF) for [...more...]
Giving List Matching Challenges
Youth Development
In Santa Barbara County, vulnerable youth face an invisible crossroads every day. Some are on the verge of dropping out […more…]
On Ellwood Mesa, a second grader watched dolphins crest the waves and whispered, “Pinch me so I know I’m not […more…]
Homelessness
A man in his 40s with tears in his eyes walked into Santa Barbara’s New Beginnings Counseling Center late one […more…]
Villa Majella is SB County’s only maternity home, providing safe shelter, 24/7 support, transportation, warm meals, and access to vital services. […more…]
In the shadows of Santa Barbara’s picturesque coastline, where million-dollar homes overlook pristine beaches, a different economic reality exists among […more…]
Health & Wellness
Despite Santa Barbara’s seemingly vibrant, prosperous community, some of its youngest residents face invisible barriers to health and wellness that […more…]
A dam was just 23 when he suffered a stroke that nearly took his life. He spent two weeks in […more…]
In a world where anxiety and stress affect children at unprecedented rates, one Santa Barbara organization is teaching our youngest […more…]
For the Environment
The Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education (AEOE), in partnership with Ten Strands and the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI), […more…]
24 to 26 March 2026 | Free global virtual summit Justice doesn’t just happen by accident. It’s fought for, defended, […more…]
A healthy planet is rooted in healthy working lands. The Community Environmental Council (CEC) works alongside farmers, ranchers, and land stewards […more…]
For the Children
On a recent afternoon at the Santa Barbara Zoo, a third-grader sat motionless before her untouched burger, politely declining offers […more…]
In the face of a devastating diagnosis that would break most spirits, 13-year-old Ava Decker chose to fight not just […more…]
Thirty-seven years after its founding in the parking lot at Transition House – where the goal was simply to create […more…]
For the Arts
Nestled in the heart of Montecito, Casa del Herrero stands as one of Santa Barbara County’s most extraordinary yet underappreciated […more…]
When Amada Cruz took over as Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s new Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Director and CEO about […more…]
A cool breeze blows as a group of students walk through the Carpinteria salt marsh and down to the beach. […more…]
For the Animals
Return to Freedom’s Founder Neda DeMayo has had horse sense since her earliest memories. “Horse was my first word,” DeMayo […more…]
“My goal was always to change the world. You know, nothing too dramatic,” Dr. Sam Dover, co-founder and director of […more…]
Emergency Services
For nearly 80 years, Direct Relief has stood ready to meet the cascading challenges of global disasters, delivering life-saving medicines, […more…]
Thirty years ago this coming April, FEMA-Certified Canine Search Specialist Wilma Melville and her black lab Murphy spent a week […more…]
Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) was ready when an experienced paraglider had an issue with equipment and was […more…]
Education
The Central City East neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles goes by another moniker – one familiar to the public and […more…]
Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus in Santa Barbara County provides a safe place for young survivors of sex trafficking to […more…]
The first five years of a child’s life lay the foundation for how they’ll do in school and beyond – […more…]
Community Resilience
State Street has long been the beating heart of Santa Barbara. Like many downtown corridors across America, it has faced […more…]
In an era where technology dominates our daily lives, you might wonder if public libraries still matter. According to Lauren […more…]
A hiker in Santa Barbara’s wilderness hasn’t returned home, a biker crashes off the trail, a runner collapses from dehydration, or […more…]
Advocacy
When disasters strike the Central Coast, not everyone has equal access to help. For those in the 805 community who […more…]
Hillside’s 8th Annual Shining Light on Abilities kicks off on Saturday, December 7th and runs through December 31st at 1235 Veronica Springs Road in Santa Barbara. […more…]
In perhaps one of the most challenging times for undocumented immigrants in American history, the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa […more…]