Banding Together for Big Impact 

Banding together to parlay small donations into large — and often transformational — grants for worthy causes, the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara “expects to award one million dollars or more in 2024, our largest grants pool ever,” shared Jamie Dufek, the all-volunteer board chair who leads this diverse “giving circle” of about 1,300 local women. Since its establishment in 2004, for the past 20 years, the Women’s Fund has been on a mission to educate and inspire women to engage in making lasting change in our community, and together they pool their…

Mayor Randy Rowse, Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Director Rob Fredericks and others cut the ribbon to the 28-unit Vera Cruz Village on Thursday, August 31, 2023. | Credit: Ryan P. Cruz

New Development Provides Permanent Housing for Low-Income, Disabled, and Formerly Homeless Residents

Twenty-eight individuals in desperate need of permanent housing now have a place to call home in downtown Santa Barbara.

On Thursday, August 31, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara hosted a grand opening of the Vera Cruz Village, a 28-unit affordable…

The project is part of a bigger plan to get people off the streets and into transitional housing with services, and then find them permanent homes.
 

Note: 

The Women's Fund was recognized from the podium at the grant opening of Vera Cruz Village and also in the program:

"Thanks to a generous grant from the Women's Fund to the Housing Authority's nonprofit affiliate 2nd Story Associates, all 28 Vera Cruz's studio units were completely furnished, including beds, side and dining tables, chairs and dressers."

KCLU…

On May 9, the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara awarded an impressive $925,000 to 10 local nonprofits. As always with these annual awards, the grants targeted critical needs of women, children, and families in south Santa Barbara County.

This year’s recipients were 2nd Story Associates, Alpha Resource Center, Alzheimer’s Association CA Central Coast Chapter, Family Service Agency, Food from the Heart, Hillside House, Independent Living Resource Center, Legal Aid Foundation of S.B. County, S.B. County Immigrant Legal Defense Center, and St. Vincent’s. Six grants are for programs, four…

The highlight of the year for the 1,200 members of the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara is when they reveal which local nonprofits their members have selected to receive transformational grants.

This year, on May 9, hundreds of attendees watched spellbound in the Marjorie Luke Theater as each recipient was announced. Inspiring stories of how these gifts will transform the incredible work of each organization gave deep meaning to the importance of this rare group of philanthropic women. The Women’s Fund is changing lives every day.  

Jamie Dufek, board chair of…

Hundreds of members of the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara gathered on May 9, 2023 to celebrate the positive impact of collective giving and to award 10 large grants to nonprofits located in south Santa Barbara County.

The annual Celebration of Grants event, held at Santa Barbara’s Marjorie Luke Theatre, included a lively welcome reception followed by the announcement of each grant recipient that will share in a pool of member contributions totaling a record-breaking $925,000.

The event marks the 19th year that the Women’s Fund has been…

Storyteller Children’s Center hosted its 9th annual Lunch with Love at the S.B. Woman’s Club for more than 200 supporters. There was a reception on the sunny patio and then lunch inside, where guests were welcomed by Board President Michael Wasserman. He recognized some of the many public officials present, including Mayor Randy Rowse, Police Chief Kelly Gordon, County Supervisor Laura Capps, and City Fire Chief Chris Mailes.

Executive Director Gabriella Garcia explained how Storyteller provides high quality early childhood education to children who have faced adverse circumstances…

Imagine a safe space in the heart of Santa Barbara where local teenagers gather to discuss books, host poetry slams, create videos or simply hang out, without parents watching over their shoulders.

It’s a place where they can be themselves, explore their passions and collaborate.

This is just one of the visions that the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation hopes to achieve, with ongoing support from the City of Santa Barbara and the community.

As the new Michael Towbes Library Plaza nears completion this fall outside the downtown library at 40 W. Anapamu St., the…

Former Chair Lynn Karlson speaking at 2022 Celebration of Grants with current Chair Jamie Dufek
 

Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara provides $925,000 in grants to local organizations

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the rising costs of living, housing crisis and more, the volunteers with the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara have made it their mission to rise from these challenges.

The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara is a volunteer-led donor organization that, according to their website “enables women to combine charitable dollars into significant grants…

Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara Board Chair Jamie Dufek and Commission for Women (First District) Commissioner Geordie Scully

The Board of Supervisors of Santa Barbara County has adopted a resolution recognizing the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara (WFSB) as the 2023 Commission for Women Service Award Recipient for the First District.

The Commission for Women promotes the equitable and equal status, and well-being of women in Santa Barbara County. First District Commissioner Geordie Scully presented the award to WFSB Chair Jamie Dufek. Das Williams, Chair of the…

The Women's Fund of Santa Barbara (WFSB) announced that its members will soon vote to distribute a record $925,000 grants pool to local nonprofits this year. This brings the collective giving organization’s total giving to more than $10.4 million since it was formed in 2004.

"We're delighted to be reaching this major milestone after another record-breaking year of generosity from our members," said WFSB Board Chair Jamie Dufek. "The needs in south Santa Barbara County are greater than ever, and as the Women's Fund heads into our 20th anniversary year in 2024, we do so with more…

The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara announces the election of its all-volunteer board of directors for 2023.  A giving circle that enables women to combine their charitable dollars into significant grants, the Women’s Fund has donated more than $9.56 million to local nonprofits since 2004. The grants address the critical needs of women, children, and families in south Santa Barbara County.

Elected to officer roles for the 1,100-member organization are Board Chair Jamie Dufek, Treasurer Kathy Dunlap, and Corporate Secretary Sabina White…