Social Sector Leaders

Meet the corporations and other organizations that have baked social responsibility into their missions and visions.

A Community Philanthropic North Star

Jackie Carrera, President and CEO, Santa Barbara Foundation. (photo by Dean Zatkowsky) Santa Barbara Foundation’s latest report on the State of Nonprofits in Santa Barbara County, published in autumn of 2023, indicates that the total of such organizations has now soared past 2,000 – a significant number considering that the county’s total population is just a tad over 455,000. It might seem both difficult and daunting to navigate among nonprofits, given that there are multiple, often single-issue organizations, serving nearly every imaginable sector, all of which do important, impactful work.  That’s where the Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF) comes in, and [...more...]

The Female Lead: Montecito Bank & Trust Montecito Bank & Trust

Michael Towbes, who founded Montecito Bank & Trust (MB&T) in 1975, struck a different tone than most bankers when he […more…]

Stepping up Then and Now: Santa Barbara Foundation Santa Barbara Foundation

With nearly a century of experience serving the Central Coast, the Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF) has always been there when […more…]

CSUN Shines on the Central Coast California State University Northridge Foundation

George Leis has been a prominent business and civic leader in Santa Barbara for decades. But he readily admits he […more…]

A Career of Giving A Career of Giving

Deb Langford:Head of Black Wealth Initiatives,J.P. Morgan Private Bank Deb Langford was mindful of the impact of giving long before […more…]

Financial Security and Community Support Financial Security and Community Support

Ayla Kalani: Westlake Village and Santa Barbara Market Team Lead,J.P. Morgan Private Bank When Ayla Kalani joined J.P. Morgan Private […more…]

The Behavioral Science Behind Charitable Giving The Behavioral Science Behind Charitable Giving

Jeff Kreisler: Head of Behavioral Science, J.P. Morgan Private BankJamie Hackleman: Family Governance and Senior Philanthropy Advisor, J.P. Morgan Private […more…]

A Donor-Advised Fund in Action A Donor-Advised Fund in Action

Eva RhodesBanker for J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Santa Barbara A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) can be a great strategy for charitable […more…]

Santa Barbara Foundation Leads Our Philanthropic Community Through Thick and Thin Santa Barbara Foundation

There are an estimated 1,900 nonprofit organizations in Santa Barbara County, each dedicated to helping the community in some way. […more…]

Montecito Bank & Trust: A Bank that Embodies the Community Spirit Montecito Bank & Trust

Banks don’t usually spring to mind when one writes about beacons of community trust, good deeds, and hope. But even […more…]

A Commitment to the Central Coast KCRW

Santa Barbara is a proud community with an independent identity, and residents chafe at any hint that they live in […more…]

A Historic Mainstay, El Encanto’s Unbreakable Bond with Community Grows El Encanto

After 103 years, El Encanto Hotel, a Belmond Hotel is well-known for its majestic and breathtaking views of the South […more…]