Our Mission

Our Mission

The Women's Fund of Santa Barbara is a volunteer-led collective donor group that enables women to combine our charitable dollars, providing significant grants focused on the critical needs of women, children and families in south Santa Barbara County.

The Women's Fund is committed to building a large community of educated, strategic givers who are inspired to make lasting change in our community through the impact of collective giving.

The Women's Fund remains committed to the simplicity of the original model: members pool their charitable donations, research critical community needs and then vote on which agencies will receive funds collected during the year.

Our Structure

The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara is an independent tax-exempt nonprofit organization that makes significant, well-researched, annual grants to local nonprofits from a pool of funds created by Women’s Fund member donations. The Women’s Fund is governed by an all-volunteer board that focuses on setting policy for the organization, overseeing that goals are met, and assuring the financial stability of the organization. In addition to their governance responsibilities, the board manages the day-to-day operations of the Women’s Fund with the help of selected contractors and many dedicated volunteers.

The Women's Fund board is comprised of a board chair, corporate secretary, treasurer and chairs of the following committees. Read more about our current leadership.

Communications
Creates Women's Fund messages, monthly e-newsletter, print materials (including annual report); manages website content, media relations and posts to social media

Send email to committee chair
Events
Plans, coordinates and manages all aspects of three annual educational events: Ballot Review Meeting (spring), Celebration of Grants (spring) and Grants in Action forums and site visits (fall).

Send email to committee chair
Finance
Oversees all financial operations of the organization

Send email to committee chair
Information Technology
Provides technological support and manages: website, database, telephone, electronic mailings distribution, RSVP and survey process

Send email to committee chair
Membership
Coordinates contacts and relationships with new and renewing members; manages four annual membership events; manages membership records

Send email to committee chair
Mission Impact
Analyzes past grants and monitors current grantees; monitors success of community building activities

Send email to committee chair
Nominating
Provides succession planning for leadership and supports member interests in volunteering within the organization

Send email to committee chair
Research
Conducts in-depth research on local agencies, prepares ballot and background information for member voting

Send email to committee chair