Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation is a Form 990 (a public charity) based in Santa Barbara, California. It operates and maintains the Santa Barbara Bowl and supports music and performing arts events and education, including outreach for local students.
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation at a glance
In short: Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation gave $408K across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in California. 34% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $408,006
- +27.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 38
- +31.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $10,737
- -2.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $8,500
- Total assets
- $54,201,427
- +5.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (13 of 38, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Apply through the foundation’s application site for the relevant program. The website says the Instrument Fund accepts applications on a rolling basis. It also describes Flash Grants as support for short-term projects or immediate needs.
- Review Cycle
- The Fall Cycle deadline of September 17, 2026, is past. The High School Band Fund deadline of February 27, 2026, for the August 2026–May 2027 grant period is also past. The website says the 2026 Spring Cycle is closed.
- Deadline
- The Fall Cycle deadline of September 17, 2026, is past.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1122 North Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Phone: (805) 962-7411
Website: https://sbbowl.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation
Community Ticket Subsidy
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Fall Cycle
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Flash Grants
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara ($28K). Together the top 10 received $185K.
Grant Size Distribution
129 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 129 grants of 129 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s outreach programs support K–12 students and performing arts programs in Santa Barbara County. In filing-year 2024 grants, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 1% to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 38 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $9K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $173K (2021) to $408K (2024). In 2024 it made 38 grants totaling $408K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | Outreach Grant | $28,000 |
| Children's Creative Project Santa Barbara, CA | Outreach Grant | $27,300 |
| Carpinteria Unified School District Carpinteria, CA | Outreach Grant | $26,069 |
| The Turner Foundation - Since 1958 Santa Barbara, CA | Outreach Grant | $20,255 |
| Santa Barbara Education Foundation Santa Barbara, CA | Outreach Grant | $16,000 |
| Infinite Music Foundation Morro Bay, CA | Outreach Grant | $14,722 |
| Lompoc High School Lompoc, CA | Outreach Grant | $13,500 |
| Righetti High School Santa Maria, CA | Outreach Grant | $13,490 |
| Cabrillo High School Theater Lompoc, CA | Outreach Grant | $12,942 |
| Light's up Theater Company Santa Barbara, CA | Outreach Grant | $12,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
In 2024, the foundation reported 38 grants; it reported 29 in 2023 and 23 in 2022.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $54,201,427 | $9,455,185 | $7,525,194 | $408,006 | 38 | $810,387 |
| 2023 | $51,545,148 | $8,354,399 | $6,910,732 | $318,978 | 29 | $629,202 |
| 2022 | $49,384,542 | $6,951,038 | $6,463,064 | $281,333 | 23 | $374,307 |
| 2021 | $50,360,877 | $10,033,872 | $4,917,263 | $172,840 | 18 | $862,302 |
| 2020 | $45,351,353 | $2,991,318 | $3,334,296 | $220,001 | 21 | $266,807 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission, as stated on its website, is to enrich the community by fostering a passion for music through live performances and educational initiatives. Its 2024 filing also describes its mission as managing, maintaining, and renovating the Bowl; presenting music and performing arts in the community; promoting cultural and artistic awareness in Santa Barbara County; and presenting music and performing arts to local students.
The foundation’s outreach grant cycles support programs serving Santa Barbara County youth in grades K–12 that provide performing arts education. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions describe work in college and vocational scholarships, school arts experiences, youth theater training, and instrumental music education. For example, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara says it supports county students through information, advising, and scholarships; Lights Up! Theater says it provides performance training and opportunities to local youth; and Dos Pueblos Band Boosters says it provides financial assistance to improve its high school instrumental music program.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 38 grants totaling $408,006. Grant amounts ranged from $5,500 to $28,000, with a median of $8,500. The largest awards included $28,000 to the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, $27,300 to Children’s Creative Project, and $26,069 to Carpinteria Unified School District. Other notable awards were $20,255 to The Turner Foundation – Since 1958, $16,000 to Santa Barbara Education Foundation, and $14,722 to Infinite Music Foundation. The listed grant purposes were “outreach grant.”
The foundation’s website describes Spring and Fall grant cycles, an Instrument Fund, Flash Grants, and other outreach initiatives. Annual-cycle applicants must serve Santa Barbara youth in grades K–12 and provide performing arts education; programs must be underway or start after the application deadline. The cycle pages identify nonprofits, individual artists, and applicants with a registered 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor as eligible applicant types. The general application page also says organizations or programs should focus on performing arts education for students in grades K–high school, with exceptions discussed before applying, and that the Bowl supports programs within Santa Barbara County.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Karen Kerns as chair, Angel Martinez as vice chair, Graham Lyons as secretary, and Nicola Parr as treasurer. Directors listed are Michael Allen, Laurie Bentson Kauth, Tyler Duncan, Andrew Firestone, Tom Garcia, and Mike Mendoza.
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation is led by Richard Boller, Executive Director & CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 5 of 23 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard Boller
Executive Director & CEO
Executive Director → Executive Director & CEO, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$157K (2020) → $261K (2024)
Karen Kerns
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric L. Shiflett
Program Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$113K (2020) → $156K (2024)
Andrew Firestone
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carola Nicholson
Director
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Parker
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Bentson Kauth
Director
Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marianne Partridge
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Allen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Mendoza
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Stathis
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tyler Duncan
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Scott
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dawn Mitcham
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Derek Shue
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Garcia
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregg Wilson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Gardner
Business Manager
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$103K (2021) → $124K (2024)
Tucker Papac
Operations Manager
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$108K (2022) → $113K (2024)
Kori Soltz
Food & Beverage Manager
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$105K (2023) → $109K (2024)
Angel Martinez
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Graham Lyons
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicola Parr
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Charles T. Plough III (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Lori Kari (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: George Short (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Wendy Barels (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Brett Burkey (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Graham Farrar (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jeff Jacobs (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Greg Faulkner (2020) — Director
- Former: Richard Kelty (2020) — Director
- Former: Sandy Stahl (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $261K, to Richard Boller (Executive Director & CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation
How much does Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation give each year?
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation gave $408K across 38 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $319K across 29 grants.
What is Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation's typical grant size?
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $8,500, and its average grant was $10,737, across 38 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation give grants?
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation gives mostly in California: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (26 grants), Goleta, CA (3 grants), Lompoc, CA (2 grants) and Santa Maria, CA (2 grants).
Does Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 38 grants with a stated purpose on Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Outreach Grant" (38 grants).
Who are Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation's largest grantees?
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara ($28,000), Children's Creative Project ($27,300) and Carpinteria Unified School District ($26,069), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation?
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation reported $54.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.5M.
What does Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission, as stated on its website, is to enrich the community by fostering a passion for music through live performances and educational initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation?
Apply through the foundation’s application site for the relevant program. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation's EIN?
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3618955. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation funds
Recreation & Sports Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/santa-barbara-bowl-foundation-morg_4528a3fe56724ad592200f49af5bc771
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_953618955_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/santa-barbara-bowl-foundation-morg_4528a3fe56724ad592200f49af5bc771},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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