The Kirby-Jones Foundation concentrates its giving in the Santa Barbara region with a strong emphasis on environmental conservation and coastal/marine science, while also supporting local civic infrastructure such as libraries, hospice care, and community foundations. Its grants favor place-based park and land projects, university-led marine research (notably shark and ocean studies at UCSB), and major capital or program initiatives at established institutions.
The Kirby-Jones Foundation’s largest recent grant, $500,000 to Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Inc for The Backcountry Project, points to a clear pattern: place-based environmental giving rooted in Santa Barbara. The foundation repeatedly supports conservation, native habitat restoration, and coastal or marine science, with large awards to organizations working on land protection, ocean research, and long-running stewardship projects. University-linked science is a recurring thread. The Uc Santa Barbara Foundation received $100,000 for students and graduate students studying marine life and the natural environment with an emphasis on shark research, along with additional support in later years for open-space work and athletics facilities. The Nature Conservancy also appears in the recent-grants list through separate awards for its oceans program and coral reef restoration work. Beyond environmental work, the foundation funds civic and community institutions in Santa Barbara through support for a library foundation, hospice services, and other local nonprofits. The mix of conservation, research, and community infrastructure suggests a funder that favors established organizations and project-specific or program support rather than highly fragmented giving.
Environmental conservation is the clearest theme in the recent grants. The foundation gave $200,000 to Elings Park Foundation for Godric Grove and $50,000 in 2025 for the ongoing restoration of Godric Grove, showing continued support for a named habitat project. Marine and coastal work is another major lane. The Nature Conservancy received $100,000 in 2025 for its Oceans Program, and The Nature Conservancy of California received $100,000 in 2024 for Coral Reef Restoration fund led by Tom Dempsey. Education tied to the environment also appears in university and field-based programs. The Nature Conservancy of California received $25,000 in 2024 for an Environmental Education fund with NatureBridge at the Dangermond Preserve on Pt. Conception. The foundation also backs campus initiatives, including $75,000 in 2025 to the Uc Santa Barbara Foundation for Duncan's Challenge grant for the North Campus open space project run by Lisa Stratton.
The Kirby-Jones Foundation’s typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile, with several awards well above that range. Recent grants show both one-time project support and repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Inc, Elings Park Foundation, the Uc Santa Barbara Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The pattern in the recent grants list leans toward program support, general and unrestricted support, and capital or project-specific funding for established institutions.
$1.3M
$39M
$4.1M
$1.7M
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Relatively concentrated, high-dollar gifts to a small set of regional institutions; several repeat grantees and multi-grant support for environmental organizations and UCSB. Mix of program-specific funding (marine research, parks projects) and unrestricted/general support to established nonprofits.
Notable grantees: Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, UC Santa Barbara Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Elings Park Foundation, Santa Barbara Library Foundation
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in California, especially Santa Barbara. Recent grants also reach Pasadena, Los Angeles, Gaviota, and Sacramento, while Oregon appears through awards to Bend. The top state by grant count is Colorado, but the recent-grants sample here is concentrated in California and all listed recipients are in the United States. Within Santa Barbara alone, grants went to botanic, library, hospice, university, theater, and park-related organizations.
The recent grants point to environmental conservation, native habitat restoration, marine and shark research, coastal and ocean work, and place-based community institutions. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Inc, the Uc Santa Barbara Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and Elings Park Foundation all appear with purpose-specific support tied to those themes.
Yes. Several grantees appear in multiple years, including Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Inc, Elings Park Foundation, the Uc Santa Barbara Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy. That pattern suggests the foundation often returns to established partners rather than limiting its giving to one-off awards.
The typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes larger awards such as $500,000, $200,000, and several $100,000 grants.
No. Environmental work is prominent, but the foundation also supports civic and community services. Recent grants include Hospice of Santa Barbara Inc for general and unrestricted support, Santa Barbara Library Foundation for program support, and Planned Parenthood California Central Coast for general and unrestricted support.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOSPICE OF SANTA BARBARA INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY | SACRAMENTO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | Oceans Program |
| UC SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | Duncan's Challenge grant for the North Campus open space project run by Lisa Stratton |
| ELINGS PARK FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | the ongoing restoration of Godric Grove |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CASA DEL HERRERO | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $27,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THINK WILD | BEND, OR | $25,000 | 2025 | operations support and beaver and otter pond construction |
| UC SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | the Rob Rebstock Endowed Scholars Fund |
| UC SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | the North Campus Open Space (NCOS) Endowment |
| COASTAL RANCHES CONSERVANCY | GAVIOTA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | the Hollister Ranch Conservancy |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF CALIFORNIA | SACRAMENTO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | the Education Program on the Dangermond Preserve with natures bridge |
| CATE SCHOOL | CARPINTERIA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | the Frank Griffen classroom |
| SANTA BARBARA CHANNELKEEPER | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF PASADENA | PASADENA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| SANTA BARBARA AGRICULTURE AND FARM EDUCATION FOUND | SUMMERLAND, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Building a deer fence to increase productivity of Sweet Wheel Summerland Farm |
| CHANNEL ISLANDS YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION | CARPINTERIA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Montecito Family YMCA |
| SANTA BARBARA COMMUNITY YOUTH PERFORMING ARTS CENT | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| MONTECITO RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| MONTECITO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NEWPORT AQUATIC CENTER | NEWPORT BEACH, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Cancer Ocean Adventure Camps |
| CANCER FOUNDATION OF SANTA BARBARA | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CREATIVE NETWERK | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| APPLES TO ZUCCHINI COOKING SCHOOL | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| FRIENDSHIP ADULT DAY CARE CENTER INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY | SACRAMENTO, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Santa Cruz Island Fund |
| FOODBANK OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY | GOLETA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HENRY E HUNTINGTON LIBRARY & ART GALLERY | SAN MARINO, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | a bench in the name of Tyrena Jones in the garden |
| SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| SANTA BARBARA EDUCATION FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Mission Scholars |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY | SACRAMENTO, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Rising River Fund |
| SANTA BARBARA DANCE INSTITUTE | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| AGRARIAN INSTITUTE | CARLSBAD, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| OREGON DESERT LAND TRUST | BEND, OR | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT INCORPORATED | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| RIVER NEWE | POCATELLO, ID | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| DESCHUTES RIVER ALLIANCE | PORTLAND, OR | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE LAND TRUST FOR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| FORMATIVE FOUNDATION | GOLETA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| DESCHUTES BASIN LAND TRUST | BEND, OR | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| SANTA BARBARA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NBCC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE FRIENDSHIP PADDLE | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| SHELTER BOX USA | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| LOBERO THEATRE FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HEAL THE OCEAN | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| DYSLEXIA PROJECT | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CENTRAL OREGON LANDWATCH | BEND, OR | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| STORYTELLER CHILDRENS CENTER INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CATE SCHOOL | CARPINTERIA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
NATURE CONSERVANCY
$100,000Oceans Program
Duncan's Challenge grant for the North Campus open space project run by Lisa Stratton
COASTAL RANCHES CONSERVANCY
$25,000the Hollister Ranch Conservancy
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF CALIFORNIA
$25,000the Education Program on the Dangermond Preserve with natures bridge
CATE SCHOOL
$25,000the Frank Griffen classroom
SANTA BARBARA AGRICULTURE AND FARM EDUCATION FOUND
$20,000Building a deer fence to increase productivity of Sweet Wheel Summerland Farm
SANTA BARBARA COMMUNITY YOUTH PERFORMING ARTS CENT
$20,000General & Unrestricted
MONTECITO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$20,000General & Unrestricted
NEWPORT AQUATIC CENTER
$20,000Cancer Ocean Adventure Camps
CREATIVE NETWERK
$20,000General & Unrestricted
APPLES TO ZUCCHINI COOKING SCHOOL
$20,000General & Unrestricted
NATURE CONSERVANCY
$20,000Santa Cruz Island Fund
a bench in the name of Tyrena Jones in the garden
SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
$15,000General & Unrestricted
NATURE CONSERVANCY
$15,000Rising River Fund
SANTA BARBARA DANCE INSTITUTE
$15,000General & Unrestricted
AGRARIAN INSTITUTE
$15,000General & Unrestricted
RIVER NEWE
$15,000General & Unrestricted
DESCHUTES RIVER ALLIANCE
$15,000General & Unrestricted
FORMATIVE FOUNDATION
$15,000General & Unrestricted
NBCC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
DYSLEXIA PROJECT
$10,000General & Unrestricted
CATE SCHOOL
$10,000General & Unrestricted