The Animal Charitable Foundation Santa Barbara County focuses on supporting local animal welfare in Santa Barbara County, providing targeted, mission-specific funding to humane societies and clinics. Their grants emphasize direct animal care (veterinary services and spay/neuter programs) and capital or program enhancements for shelter facilities and behavior/exercise spaces. They tend to make a small number of mid-sized grants and often repeat support to the same local organizations.
A recurring pattern of support for local animal welfare groups defines Animal Charitable Foundation Santa Barbara County Inc. Across the recent grants list, the foundation backs animal care, shelter operations, adoption programming, and facility improvements for organizations serving Santa Barbara County and nearby communities. One clear thread is direct support for hands-on care: Santa Barbara Humane Society received $20,000 in 2025 and $15,000 in 2024 for veterinary care to dogs and cats, while Care 4paws Inc. received $20,000 in 2025 for its spay and neuter clinic. The foundation also funds facility-focused work, including $22,500 to Woods Humane Society in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025 for enhancement to facilities behavior and exercise center. Other grants support veterinary clinic costs, medical care and food for animals, adoption programs, and refuge for abused or neglected horses. The mix points to a grantmaker centered on practical animal welfare services rather than broad, general-purpose philanthropy.
Veterinary care is a consistent theme. Santa Barbara Humane Society received $20,000 in 2025 and $15,000 in 2024 to provide veterinary care to dogs and cats, and Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society & Dawg received $15,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2023 for veterinary clinic costs. Spay and neuter work is another clear priority: Care 4paws Inc. was awarded $20,000 in both 2024 and 2025, plus $15,000 in 2023, for its spay and neuter clinic. The foundation also supports animal placement and adoption infrastructure, with grants to Animal Shelter Assistance Program for the adoption program and to Companion Animal Placement Assistance for enhancement of the animal placement facility. For equine welfare, Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 to provide refuge to abused or neglected horses.
The foundation’s typical grant size sits near the same level across its distribution: p25 is $9,750, median is $10,000, and p75 is $15,000. The recent record shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Woods Humane Society, Care 4paws Inc., Santa Barbara Humane Society, Resqcats, and Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary. That pattern suggests ongoing relationship-based grantmaking rather than one-time awards. It is a private foundation, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$126K
$2.1M
$33K
$273K
Most grants fall between $10K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Concentrated, local giving with a small number of mid-sized grants; multiple repeat grants to the same core grantees rather than one-off, widely distributed awards.
Notable grantees: Woods Humane Society, Santa Barbara Humane Society, Care 4Paws Inc
Grantmaking is entirely local within California, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The strongest clustering is in Santa Barbara and nearby Central Coast communities: Santa Barbara, Buellton, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Solvang, San Luis Obispo, and Nipomo all appear in the recent grants list. The foundation’s support stays within a narrow geographic radius, including county-serving animal groups and nearby shelters and rescue organizations.
The foundation backs veterinary care, spay and neuter services, adoption programming, shelter facility improvements, and refuge for abused or neglected horses. Recent grants include support for veterinary clinic costs, medical care and food for animals, and enhancement of facilities behavior and exercise centers.
Typical awards are clustered in the mid-thousands to low tens of thousands: p25 is $9,750, median is $10,000, and p75 is $15,000. Recent grants also show larger individual awards of $22,500 for facility enhancement work.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Woods Humane Society in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Care 4paws Inc. in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Santa Barbara Humane Society in 2024 and 2025; and Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The grants stay in California, and every grant in the recent list went to a recipient in the HQ state. Recipients are concentrated in Santa Barbara, Buellton, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Solvang, San Luis Obispo, and Nipomo.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments, so its activity is limited to organizational grantmaking.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOODS HUMANE SOCIETY | SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | $22,500 | 2025 | ENHANCEMENT TO FACILITIES BEHAVIOR AND EXERCISE CENTER |
| CARE 4PAWS INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE TOWARDS SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC |
| SANTA BARBARA HUMANE SOCIETY | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE VETERINARY CARE TO DOGS AND CATS |
| RESQCATS | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AND FOOD FOR THE ANIMALS |
| ANIMAL SHELTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE TOWARDS THE ADOPTION PROGRAM |
| COMPANION ANIMAL PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE | LOMPOC, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO BENEFIT THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE ANIMAL PLACEMENT FACILITY |
| HAPPY ENDINGS ANIMAL RESCUE SANCTUARY | SOLVANG, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE REFUGE TO ABUSED OR NEGLECTED HORSES |
| SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ANIMAL CARE FOUNDATION | SANTA MARIA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES NO KILL ACHIEVEMENT |
| SHADOWS FUND INC | LOMPOC, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE DOGS |
| VOLUNTEERS FOR INTER-VALLEY ANIMALS (VIVA) | SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO OPERATE A NO-KILL CAT SHELTER |
| WOODS HUMANE SOCIETY | SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | $22,500 | 2024 | ENHANCEMENT TO FACILITIES BEHAVIOR AND EXERCISE CENTER |
| CARE 4PAWS INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE TOWARDS SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC |
| SANTA YNEZ VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY & DAWG | BUELLTON, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | TO PAY FOR VETERINARY CLINIC COSTS |
| RESQCATS | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AND FOOD FOR THE ANIMALS |
| SANTA BARBARA HUMANE SOCIETY | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE VETERINARY CARE TO DOGS AND CATS |
| SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ANIMAL CARE FOUNDATION | SANTA MARIA, CA | $11,575 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES NO KILL ACHIEVEMENT |
| SHADOWS FUND INC | LOMPOC, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE DOGS |
| COMPANION ANIMAL PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE | LOMPOC, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO BENEFIT THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE ANIMAL PLACEMENT FACILITY |
| ANIMAL SHELTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE TOWARDS THE ADOPTION PROGRAM |
| HAPPY ENDINGS ANIMAL RESCUE SANCTUARY | SOLVANG, CA | $6,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE REFUGE TO ABUSED OR NEGLECTED HORSES |
| VOLUNTEERS FOR INTER-VALLEY ANIMALS (VIVA) | SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | TO OPERATE A NO-KILL CAT SHELTER |
| WOODS HUMANE SOCIETY | SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | $22,500 | 2023 | ENHANCEMENT TO FACILITIES BEHAVIOR AND EXERCISE CENTER |
| SANTA BARBARA HUMANE SOCIETY | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE VETERINARY CARE TO DOGS AND CATS |
| CARE 4PAWS INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE TOWARDS SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC |
| SHADOWS FUND INC | LOMPOC, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE DOGS |
| RESQCATS | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AND FOOD FOR THE ANIMALS |
| ANIMAL SHELTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE TOWARDS THE ADOPTION PROGRAM |
| SANTA YNEZ VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY & DAWG | BUELLTON, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | TO PAY FOR VETERINARY CLINIC COSTS |
| SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ANIMAL CARE FOUNDATION | SANTA MARIA, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES NO KILL ACHIEVEMENT |
| COMPANION ANIMAL PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE | LOMPOC, CA | $9,500 | 2023 | TO BENEFIT THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE ANIMAL PLACEMENT FACILITY |
| HAPPY ENDINGS ANIMAL RESCUE SANCTUARY | SOLVANG, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE REFUGE TO ABUSED OR NEGLECTED HORSES |
| VOLUNTEERS FOR INTER-VALLEY ANIMALS (VIVA) | SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | TO OPERATE A NO-KILL CAT SHELTER |
| ANIMAL IN NEED FUND | NIPOMO, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE FOOD AND VETERINARY CARE TO DOGS AND CATS |
WOODS HUMANE SOCIETY
$22,500ENHANCEMENT TO FACILITIES BEHAVIOR AND EXERCISE CENTER
CARE 4PAWS INC
$20,000TO PROVIDE TOWARDS SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC
SANTA BARBARA HUMANE SOCIETY
$20,000TO PROVIDE VETERINARY CARE TO DOGS AND CATS
RESQCATS
$15,000TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AND FOOD FOR THE ANIMALS
ANIMAL SHELTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
$15,000TO PROVIDE TOWARDS THE ADOPTION PROGRAM
COMPANION ANIMAL PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE
$10,000TO BENEFIT THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE ANIMAL PLACEMENT FACILITY
HAPPY ENDINGS ANIMAL RESCUE SANCTUARY
$8,000TO PROVIDE REFUGE TO ABUSED OR NEGLECTED HORSES
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ANIMAL CARE FOUNDATION
$5,000TO SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES NO KILL ACHIEVEMENT
SHADOWS FUND INC
$5,000TO SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE DOGS
VOLUNTEERS FOR INTER-VALLEY ANIMALS (VIVA)
$5,000TO OPERATE A NO-KILL CAT SHELTER
WOODS HUMANE SOCIETY
$22,500ENHANCEMENT TO FACILITIES BEHAVIOR AND EXERCISE CENTER
CARE 4PAWS INC
$20,000TO PROVIDE TOWARDS SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY & DAWG
$15,000TO PAY FOR VETERINARY CLINIC COSTS
RESQCATS
$15,000TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AND FOOD FOR THE ANIMALS
SANTA BARBARA HUMANE SOCIETY
$15,000TO PROVIDE VETERINARY CARE TO DOGS AND CATS
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ANIMAL CARE FOUNDATION
$11,575TO SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES NO KILL ACHIEVEMENT
SHADOWS FUND INC
$10,000TO SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE DOGS
COMPANION ANIMAL PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE
$10,000TO BENEFIT THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE ANIMAL PLACEMENT FACILITY
ANIMAL SHELTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
$10,000TO PROVIDE TOWARDS THE ADOPTION PROGRAM
HAPPY ENDINGS ANIMAL RESCUE SANCTUARY
$6,000TO PROVIDE REFUGE TO ABUSED OR NEGLECTED HORSES
VOLUNTEERS FOR INTER-VALLEY ANIMALS (VIVA)
$5,000TO OPERATE A NO-KILL CAT SHELTER
WOODS HUMANE SOCIETY
$22,500ENHANCEMENT TO FACILITIES BEHAVIOR AND EXERCISE CENTER
SANTA BARBARA HUMANE SOCIETY
$20,000TO PROVIDE VETERINARY CARE TO DOGS AND CATS
CARE 4PAWS INC
$15,000TO PROVIDE TOWARDS SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC
SHADOWS FUND INC
$10,000TO SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE DOGS
RESQCATS
$10,000TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AND FOOD FOR THE ANIMALS
ANIMAL SHELTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
$10,000TO PROVIDE TOWARDS THE ADOPTION PROGRAM
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY & DAWG
$10,000TO PAY FOR VETERINARY CLINIC COSTS
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ANIMAL CARE FOUNDATION
$10,000TO SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES NO KILL ACHIEVEMENT
COMPANION ANIMAL PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE
$9,500TO BENEFIT THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE ANIMAL PLACEMENT FACILITY
HAPPY ENDINGS ANIMAL RESCUE SANCTUARY
$5,000TO PROVIDE REFUGE TO ABUSED OR NEGLECTED HORSES
VOLUNTEERS FOR INTER-VALLEY ANIMALS (VIVA)
$5,000TO OPERATE A NO-KILL CAT SHELTER
ANIMAL IN NEED FUND
$5,000TO PROVIDE FOOD AND VETERINARY CARE TO DOGS AND CATS