The Supreme Court ruling that reversed the half-century old landmark Roe v. Wade decision had been handed down only hours before, but The Fund for Santa Barbara was already scrambling to respond in the wake of the decision. “It’s a national issue, but there’s actually so much that could be done at the local level [...more...]
Wander and play along the gardens while enjoying an afternoon of drink and food at LotusFest, Saturday, Sept. 16 Cue the fanfare! LotusFest is coming back to Lotusland, the spectacular public gardens nestled in the [...more...]
Giving List Matching Challenges
Youth Development
On Ellwood Mesa, a second grader watched dolphins crest the waves and whispered, “Pinch me so I know I’m not […more…]
The I Madonnari Street Painting Festival, much-beloved mainstay of Memorial Day weekend for many decades, is more than two months […more…]
Santa Barbara is hardly a winter wonderland where people gather on a frozen lake to frolic on ice skates during […more…]
Homelessness
Founded in 1968 as a small community counseling center, New Beginnings has evolved into a powerful agency with four core […more…]
In the shadows of Santa Barbara’s picturesque coastline, where million-dollar homes overlook pristine beaches, a different economic reality exists among […more…]
Housing Works has always been on the front lines of Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis, doing whatever it takes for as […more…]
Health & Wellness
Cottage Health is entering a new era of innovation while staying true to its mission of providing exceptional, compassionate care. […more…]
A dam was just 23 when he suffered a stroke that nearly took his life. He spent two weeks in […more…]
Despite Santa Barbara’s seemingly vibrant, prosperous community, some of its youngest residents face invisible barriers to health and wellness that […more…]
For the Environment
It’s a pleasure to address the Giving List Community during Earth Month. It is a time when we celebrate our […more…]
Attention all seniors in North County High Schools. Submissions for next year’s opportunity to earn the $5,000 NatureTrack Foundation’s Nancy […more…]
Heal the Ocean began back in August 1998 shortly after Hillary Hauser published an editorial in the Santa Barbara News-Press […more…]
For the Children
Storyteller has the humble “once upon a time” origins that befits its fairytale-like journey for the families and children it […more…]
On a recent afternoon at the Santa Barbara Zoo, a third-grader sat motionless before her untouched burger, politely declining offers […more…]
In the face of a devastating diagnosis that would break most spirits, 13-year-old Ava Decker chose to fight not just […more…]
For the Arts
Miller McCune Executive Director of UCSB Arts & Lectures Meghan Bush recently replaced Celesta Billeci, who had spent 25 years […more…]
At age 17, Grace Fisher was a budding musician, a creative spirit on the cusp of adulthood. Her world was […more…]
Executive Director Greg Gorga has been part of the staff of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) for nearly 19 […more…]
For the Animals
In the sun-drenched expanses of Santa Barbara County, where coastal breezes carry whispers of isolation, a white cat named Snow […more…]
“When you have a passion or a calling, that is what you do. You don’t have a choice.” That reality […more…]
Wilma Melville founded the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation in 1996, a year after witnessing the dearth of rescue dogs […more…]
Emergency Services
Four-Star Rating for 15th Consecutive Year Highlights Operational Excellence and Humanitarian Impact Charity Navigator, America’s top independent nonprofit evaluator, has […more…]
Thirty years ago this coming April, FEMA-Certified Canine Search Specialist Wilma Melville and her black lab Murphy spent a week […more…]
Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) was ready when an experienced paraglider had an issue with equipment and was […more…]
Education
Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus in Santa Barbara County provides a safe place for young survivors of sex trafficking to […more…]
The Central City East neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles goes by another moniker – one familiar to the public and […more…]
The first five years of a child’s life lay the foundation for how they’ll do in school and beyond – […more…]
Community Resilience
State Street has long been the beating heart of Santa Barbara. Like many downtown corridors across America, it has faced […more…]
On May 20, 2025, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors officially proclaimed the month of May as Search and Rescue Month, honoring the […more…]
Most of us take light for granted. We flip a switch, the light comes on. But for an estimated 700 […more…]
Advocacy
For the first time in six years, Chowderfest, the much-cherished annual fundraiser for the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara […more…]
Hillside is already in the works planning two exciting events scheduled for later this year! The Santa Barbara nonprofit couldn’t […more…]
In a small corner office of the Shoreline Community Church, immigrants can find a much welcome pathway to the American […more…]