The James S Bower Foundation concentrates its philanthropy in Santa Barbara-area health, environmental sustainability, and community-focused education/behavioral programs. Major gifts support local climate and food-systems work, advance care planning and patient/pediatric resiliency services, and university-led community initiatives and training. Grants are large and targeted, often funding program implementation, evaluation, and capacity-building for established local institutions.
The James S Bower Foundation’s most distinctive recent gift is a $400,000 grant to Community Environmental Council Inc for the Climate Change 50th Anniversary Campaign, a signal of how heavily the foundation leans into local environmental work with population-level goals. That same approach shows up in support for climate action, food systems, advance care planning, pediatric resilience, youth education, and community health initiatives across Santa Barbara County. Grants often back implementation, campaign work, and capacity-building rather than one-off event support. Several of the largest awards go to Santa Barbara institutions with long-running community roles. Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation received funding for advance care planning and pediatric resiliency work, while Hospice of Santa Barbara Inc was supported for advance care planning and patient care services. The foundation also funded university-community public health work through UC Santa Barbara Foundation for the PEAC Community Fellows Initiative and implementation and evaluation of TIPS training. In education, grants supported college access, mental health, and student support through the Santa Barbara Education Foundation. Environmental and community health priorities appear together in the foundation’s portfolio, with collaboration and systems change recurring across its grants.
Environmental work is a central thread. Community Environmental Council Inc received $312,500 for the Climate Change 50th Anniversary Campaign and Food Action Network, while Unite to Light was funded with $150,000 for piloting clean, reliable energy for global climate action. The foundation also supported conservation and land stewardship through The Land Trust for Santa Barbara for the purchase of Simon Ranch and White Buffalo Land Trust for the Jalama Canyon Ranch campaign. In health and care, the foundation backed Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation for the Cottage Advance Care Planning Program and Pediatric Resiliency Collaborative, and Hospice of Santa Barbara Inc for advance care planning and patient care services. Education and youth development also appear repeatedly: Santa Barbara Education Foundation received support for Mission Scholars, the Ollin Project, Innovate DP, and Kind Mind Program, while Carpinteria Children’s Project was funded for early childhood education and a family resource center. Community and civic initiatives include funding for The Voter Participation Center’s registration and voter mobilization work.
$3.2M
$89M
$2.7M
$4.5M
Most grants fall between $15K and $65K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$65K
About 90% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of local institutions; mix of repeat funding (e.g., Community Environmental Council) and multi-program support that emphasizes implementation and evaluation rather than seed grants.
Notable grantees: Community Environmental Council, Inc., Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation, Hospice of Santa Barbara, Inc., UC Santa Barbara Foundation
Typical grant size sits at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $65,000 at the 75th percentile, with some awards reaching $670,000 in the open cycle and end-of-life programs. The foundation gives through recurring annual open grant cycles and named program areas, and several organizations appear more than once across different years, including Community Environmental Council Inc, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation, Santa Barbara Education Foundation, and Carpinteria Children’s Project. It accepts unsolicited proposals through its website and online portal. The foundation funds individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Giving is highly local: 90% of grants go to recipients in California, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Most awards land in Santa Barbara, with additional grants in Carpinteria, Goleta, Summerland, and Ventura. A few grants go outside the immediate county footprint, including Washington, DC, for voter mobilization work and Seattle, WA, and Longmont, CO, for environmental and energy-related projects.
It runs an annual open grant cycle, and its website says initial proposals can be submitted through an online portal. The foundation also describes community priorities funding supported mostly through the open grant cycle in June.
The open cycles are for qualified public 501(c)(3) charities working on population-level change in Santa Barbara County and aligned with the foundation’s focus areas, including youth, health and education, environment, community priorities, and end-of-life care.
Its grant-size distribution centers on $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $65,000 at the 75th percentile. The open grant cycle and end-of-life programs also include awards up to $670,000.
Its giving is primarily local, with 90% of grants to recipients in California. Most grants go to Santa Barbara County communities, but recent awards also reached Washington, DC, Seattle, and Longmont.
Recent awards emphasize environment, youth and education, health and end-of-life care, and community priorities. Examples include climate and food systems work, advance care planning, pediatric resilience, college access, mental health, and civic engagement.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $400,000 | 2025 | CLIMATE CHANGE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN |
| CARPINTERIA CHILDREN'S PROJECT | CARPINTERIA, CA | $290,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER |
| HOSPICE OF SANTA BARBARA INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $222,500 | 2025 | ADVANCE CARE PLANNING AND PATIENT CARE SERVICES |
| LEAP LEARN ENGAGE ADVOCATE PARTNER | GOLETA, CA | $175,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNITE TO LIGHT | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | PILOTING CLEAN, RELIABLE ENERGY FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION |
| CHILD ABUSE LISTENING MEDIATION INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | COALITION CONSULTANT REGARDING PAYMENT REFORM; INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE & EXCELLENCE |
| SANTA BARBARA EDUCATION FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $112,000 | 2025 | INNOVATE DP; MISSION SCHOLARS; OLLIN PROJECT; KIND MIND PROGRAM |
| CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE AT FAI | GOLETA, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | PHASE 1 OF THE CAMPAIGN TO REDESIGN AND REBUILD FAIRVIEW GARDENS FARM |
| SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH 4R FUND; ROOTED SANTA BARBARA; PARTNERSHIP FOR EXCELLENCE & NPRN |
| FUND FOR SANTA BARBARA INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | NPRN & CAPACITY BUILDING; SOCIAL JUSTICE ACADEMY |
| SANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL FOUN | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | COTTAGE/PEAC OUTREACH PROGRAM; GOALS OF CARE PROGRAM |
| NATURAL CAPITALISM SOLUTIONS | LONGMONT, CO | $60,000 | 2025 | CLEAN COALITION |
| LEGACY PHILANTHROPY WORKS | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $55,000 | 2025 | BRIDGES TO RESILIENCE CONFERENCE;VANDENBERG SENTINEL LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP |
| WORKMONEY FOUNDATION INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE VOTER PARTICIPATION CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | VOTER MOBILIZATION |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | AMERICA VOTES |
| DIGNITYMOVES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | INTERIM SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY |
| SANSUM CLINIC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | PALLIATIVE CARE & ADVANCED CARE PLANNING |
| GAVIOTA COAST CONSERVANCY | GOLETA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GAVIOTA COAST CONSERVANCY OPERATIONS |
| COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLISM DRUG ABUSE | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | THE COMMUNITY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| FUTURE LEADERS OF AMERICA | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | CORE OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SANTA BARBARA ALTERNATIVE TO VIOLEN | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | SBUSD PROGRAMMING AND CASE MANAGEMENT |
| STORYTELLER CHILDREN'S CENTER INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BLUE SKY SUSTAINABLE LIVING CENTER | NEW CUYAMA, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | RESILIENT CUYAMA VALLEY |
| SARAH HOUSE | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LOMPOC VALLEY COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE | LOMPOC, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | LOMPOC EQUITY PROJECT |
| WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY INITIATIVES | OAKLAND, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | CENTRAL COAST CLIMATE JUSTICE NETWORK |
| SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL ROYAL PRIDE | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | SAN MARCOS BUILDING COMMUNITY WELLNESS PROJECT |
| FREEDOM 4 YOUTH | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION & YOUTH SUPPORT PROGRAMMING EXPANSION |
| GATEWAY EDUCATIONAL SERVICES | GOLETA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | LIFT EVERY STUDENT |
| TRANSITION HOUSE | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | MOM'S INFANT CARE CENTER |
| LOMPOC TEEN CENTER | LOMPOC, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | YES I CAN/SI SE PUEDE, LOMPOC TEEN CENTER |
| LOS PADRES FOREST WATCH INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | ROOM TO ROAM PROJECT |
| SANTA BARBARA PARTNERS IN EDUCATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM EVALUATION PROJECT PHASE II |
| UNITED WAY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT PARTNERSHIP |
| KINGDOM CAUSES LONG BEACH | LONG BEACH, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | LOMPOC HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION PILOT |
| AT STILL UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIEN | KIRKSVILLE, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS IN SOCIAL WORK |
| SAVIE HEALTH CORP | LOMPOC, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | SAVIE HEALTH CLINIC IN LOMPOC |
| LEADING FROM WITHIN | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | IMPLEMENTING SHIFTS IN OUR SOCIAL SECTOR |
| WORLD TELEHEALTH INITIATIVE | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | VOLUNTEERISM TO ALLEVIATE PROVIDER BURNOUT |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE CENTER | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION PROJECT |
| GIRLS INC OF CARPINTERIA | CARPINTERIA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | CORE PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| OPENMINDS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT TRAINING PROGRAM |
| SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | BIODIVERSITY IMPACT & ADVOCACY INITIATIVE |
| COASTAL RANCHES CONSERVANCY | GAVIOTA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | GAVIOTA COAST TASK FORCE PROJECT |
| ALL SAINTS-BY-THE-SEA | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | JIM BOWER GOLF TOURNAMENT FORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| GIRLS INC OF GREATER SANTA BARBARA | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | SBUSD LUNCHTIME PROGRAM |
| AHA ATTITUDE HARMONY ACHIEVMENT | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | AHA! PEACE BUILDERS: LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOR TEENS |
| FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY OF SANTA BARB | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | LOMPOC COMMUNITY CHANGERS PROGRAM |
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL INC
$400,000CLIMATE CHANGE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN
CARPINTERIA CHILDREN'S PROJECT
$290,000EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
HOSPICE OF SANTA BARBARA INC
$222,500ADVANCE CARE PLANNING AND PATIENT CARE SERVICES
LEAP LEARN ENGAGE ADVOCATE PARTNER
$175,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
UNITE TO LIGHT
$150,000PILOTING CLEAN, RELIABLE ENERGY FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION
CHILD ABUSE LISTENING MEDIATION INC
$150,000Current and upcoming funding from James S Bower Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in good standing; may fund projects housed within other organizations if management and financial roles are clear.
Deadline: Initial proposals accepted June 1 through June 30 each year (next cycle: 2026-06-01 to 2026-06-30).
COALITION CONSULTANT REGARDING PAYMENT REFORM; INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE & EXCELLENCE
SANTA BARBARA EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$112,000INNOVATE DP; MISSION SCHOLARS; OLLIN PROJECT; KIND MIND PROGRAM
CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE AT FAI
$100,000PHASE 1 OF THE CAMPAIGN TO REDESIGN AND REBUILD FAIRVIEW GARDENS FARM
SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION
$80,000YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH 4R FUND; ROOTED SANTA BARBARA; PARTNERSHIP FOR EXCELLENCE & NPRN
FUND FOR SANTA BARBARA INC
$80,000NPRN & CAPACITY BUILDING; SOCIAL JUSTICE ACADEMY
SANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL FOUN
$80,000COTTAGE/PEAC OUTREACH PROGRAM; GOALS OF CARE PROGRAM
NATURAL CAPITALISM SOLUTIONS
$60,000CLEAN COALITION
LEGACY PHILANTHROPY WORKS
$55,000BRIDGES TO RESILIENCE CONFERENCE;VANDENBERG SENTINEL LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP
WORKMONEY FOUNDATION INC
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE VOTER PARTICIPATION CENTER
$50,000VOTER MOBILIZATION
NEW VENTURE FUND
$50,000AMERICA VOTES
DIGNITYMOVES
$50,000INTERIM SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
SANSUM CLINIC
$50,000PALLIATIVE CARE & ADVANCED CARE PLANNING
GAVIOTA COAST CONSERVANCY
$50,000GAVIOTA COAST CONSERVANCY OPERATIONS
COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLISM DRUG ABUSE
$50,000THE COMMUNITY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
FUTURE LEADERS OF AMERICA
$50,000CORE OPERATING SUPPORT
SANTA BARBARA ALTERNATIVE TO VIOLEN
$40,000SBUSD PROGRAMMING AND CASE MANAGEMENT
STORYTELLER CHILDREN'S CENTER INC
$40,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BLUE SKY SUSTAINABLE LIVING CENTER
$30,000RESILIENT CUYAMA VALLEY
SARAH HOUSE
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LOMPOC VALLEY COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE
$30,000LOMPOC EQUITY PROJECT
WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
$30,000CENTRAL COAST CLIMATE JUSTICE NETWORK
SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL ROYAL PRIDE
$30,000SAN MARCOS BUILDING COMMUNITY WELLNESS PROJECT
FREEDOM 4 YOUTH
$30,000EDUCATION & YOUTH SUPPORT PROGRAMMING EXPANSION
GATEWAY EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
$25,000LIFT EVERY STUDENT
TRANSITION HOUSE
$25,000MOM'S INFANT CARE CENTER
LOMPOC TEEN CENTER
$25,000YES I CAN/SI SE PUEDE, LOMPOC TEEN CENTER
LOS PADRES FOREST WATCH INC
$25,000ROOM TO ROAM PROJECT
SANTA BARBARA PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
$25,000PROGRAM EVALUATION PROJECT PHASE II
UNITED WAY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
$25,000ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT PARTNERSHIP
KINGDOM CAUSES LONG BEACH
$25,000LOMPOC HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION PILOT
AT STILL UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIEN
$25,000BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS IN SOCIAL WORK
SAVIE HEALTH CORP
$25,000SAVIE HEALTH CLINIC IN LOMPOC
LEADING FROM WITHIN
$20,000IMPLEMENTING SHIFTS IN OUR SOCIAL SECTOR
WORLD TELEHEALTH INITIATIVE
$20,000VOLUNTEERISM TO ALLEVIATE PROVIDER BURNOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE CENTER
$20,000SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION PROJECT
GIRLS INC OF CARPINTERIA
$20,000CORE PROGRAM SUPPORT
OPENMINDS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
$20,000PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT TRAINING PROGRAM
SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN INC
$20,000BIODIVERSITY IMPACT & ADVOCACY INITIATIVE
COASTAL RANCHES CONSERVANCY
$20,000GAVIOTA COAST TASK FORCE PROJECT
ALL SAINTS-BY-THE-SEA
$20,000JIM BOWER GOLF TOURNAMENT FORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH
GIRLS INC OF GREATER SANTA BARBARA
$15,000SBUSD LUNCHTIME PROGRAM
AHA ATTITUDE HARMONY ACHIEVMENT
$15,000AHA! PEACE BUILDERS: LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOR TEENS
FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY OF SANTA BARB
$15,000LOMPOC COMMUNITY CHANGERS PROGRAM
Who can apply: Qualified public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in good standing; projects should fit the foundation's mission and generally serve the Santa Barbara South Coast.
Deadline: One funding cycle in 2026; initial proposals accepted June 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026.
Who can apply: Qualified public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in good standing; projects should align with the foundation's end-of-life funding strategies and generally be located within the Santa Barbara South Coast.
Deadline: One funding cycle in 2026; initial proposals accepted June 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026.
Who can apply: Public 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving youth/education/health within the foundation's geographic focus; alignment with foundation priorities is required.
Deadline: Accepted during the foundation's annual June open cycle (e.g., June 1–30, 2026).
Who can apply: Qualified public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in good standing; projects should fit the foundation's mission and generally serve the Santa Barbara South Coast.
Deadline: One funding cycle in 2026; initial proposals accepted June 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026.
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