Foundation grants for nonprofits in Santa Barbara County
Private foundations gave $573 million to organizations in Santa Barbara County in tax years 2019 to 2025, according to their own IRS filings.
$573 million
given
15,589
grants
2,051
foundations
$5,166
typical grant
Foundations that give in Santa Barbara County
The 20 biggest givers here whose tax filings don't say they fund only groups they pick themselves. Check each foundation's own guidelines before you apply.
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The Wood-claeyssens Foundation
Based in Santa Barbara, CA
Gave $19 million in Santa Barbara County in 260 grants. Typical grant: $30,000.
- Health
- Education
- Human services
-
Swift Foundation
Based in Santa Barbara, CA
Gave $14 million in Santa Barbara County in 2 grants. Typical grant: $7.1 million.
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Gates Foundation
Based in Seattle, WA
Gave $11 million in Santa Barbara County in 10 grants. Typical grant: $1.0 million.
- Health
- Education
- International
-
Ann Jackson Family Foundation
Based in Santa Barbara, CA
Gave $9.8 million in Santa Barbara County in 479 grants. Typical grant: $10,000.
- Arts & culture
- Education
- Environment & animals
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Lilly Endowment Inc
Based in Indianapolis, IN
Gave $6.8 million in Santa Barbara County in 5 grants. Typical grant: $500,000.
- Education
- Religion
- International
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James S Bower Foundation
Based in Santa Barbara, CA
Gave $5.8 million in Santa Barbara County in 104 grants. Typical grant: $25,000.
- Education
- Health
- Environment & animals
-
Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable
Based in Dallas, TX
Gave $4.4 million in Santa Barbara County in 120 grants. Typical grant: $30,000.
- Arts & culture
- Environment & animals
- Health
-
Mosher Foundation
Based in Santa Barbara, CA
Gave $4.2 million in Santa Barbara County in 190 grants. Typical grant: $4,350.
- Health
- Arts & culture
- Food & nutrition
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Hutton Foundation
Based in Santa Barbara, CA
Gave $4.1 million in Santa Barbara County in 347 grants. Typical grant: $10,000.
- Arts & culture
- Human services
- Health
-
Bentson Foundation
Based in Wayzata, MN
Gave $4.1 million in Santa Barbara County in 17 grants. Typical grant: $15,000.
- Education
- Arts & culture
- Youth development
-
Wm Keck Foundation
Based in Los Angeles, CA
Gave $3.9 million in Santa Barbara County in 20 grants. Typical grant: $76,000.
- Education
- International
- Health
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Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation
Based in Santa Barbara, CA
Gave $3.4 million in Santa Barbara County in 79 grants. Typical grant: $40,000.
- Arts & culture
- Health
- Education
-
Gainey Foundation
Based in Milwaukee, WI
Gave $3.0 million in Santa Barbara County in 42 grants. Typical grant: $50,000.
- Health
- Education
- Arts & culture
-
The Ahmanson Foundation
Based in Beverly Hills, CA
Gave $2.5 million in Santa Barbara County in 14 grants. Typical grant: $88,300.
- Education
- Health
- Arts & culture
-
Towbes Foundation
Based in Santa Barbara, CA
Gave $2.4 million in Santa Barbara County in 183 grants. Typical grant: $10,000.
- Education
- Health
- Youth development
-
Conrad N Hilton Foundation
Based in Westlake Village, CA
Gave $2.3 million in Santa Barbara County in 21 grants. Typical grant: $15,000.
- Health
- International
- Community development
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Hillman Family Foundations
Based in Pittsburgh, PA
Gave $2.0 million in Santa Barbara County in 47 grants. Typical grant: $25,000.
- Arts & culture
- Education
- Human services
-
Williams-corbett Foundation
Based in Santa Barbara, CA
Gave $2.0 million in Santa Barbara County in 114 grants. Typical grant: $16,071.
- Education
- Health
- Arts & culture
-
The Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation
Based in San Rafael, CA
Gave $2.0 million in Santa Barbara County in 64 grants. Typical grant: $27,500.
- Education
- Youth development
- Human services
-
Mark and Dorothy Smith Family Foundation
Based in Santa Maria, CA
Gave $2.0 million in Santa Barbara County in 112 grants. Typical grant: $10,000.
- Youth development
- Food & nutrition
- Health
See all 2,051 foundations and how well each fits your organization
Giving by program area in Santa Barbara County
| Program area | Foundations | Given |
|---|---|---|
| Education | 685 | $222 million |
| Health | 416 | $64 million |
| International | 578 | $51 million |
| Environment & animals | 379 | $44 million |
| Arts & culture | 354 | $36 million |
| Youth development | 227 | $31 million |
| Human services | 293 | $25 million |
| Food & nutrition | 211 | $20 million |
| Religion | 172 | $14 million |
| Public safety & justice | 198 | $13 million |
| Housing & homelessness | 154 | $13 million |
| Mental & behavioral health | 109 | $8.4 million |
| Science & technology | 59 | $8.1 million |
| Community development | 81 | $5.2 million |
| Civil rights & advocacy | 94 | $3.5 million |
| Workforce & economic development | 25 | $1.0 million |
From the grants private foundations list in their IRS tax filings (Form 990-PF, tax years 2019 to 2025), as of Oct 31, 2026. Grants to individuals are left out. A grant counts for the county of the organization that received it, wherever the foundation is based. The typical grant is the middle one. Program areas come from each organization's IRS category and the stated purpose of the grant, so those figures are estimates. A foundation can ask to be left off this page by emailing contact@grantassembly.com.
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