Towbes Foundation
The Towbes Foundation is a private family foundation established by Michael and Gail Towbes in 1980. Based in Santa Barbara, California, the foundation seeks to strengthen the communities of Santa Barbara County by partnering with local nonprofits through strategic grantmaking. Since its founding, the foundation has granted over $20 million to more than 400 organizations on the Central Coast.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$50.4M
+2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$952K
+3882.8% YoY
Grant Count
93
+9200.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-57.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Towbes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To strengthen the communities of Santa Barbara County.
The foundation has evolved from supporting a broad array of nonprofits to focusing on two primary areas:
Education — specifically early childhood, K-12th grade, and the transition to college, including basic education and educational equity programs as well as childcare, summer, and after-school enrichment services. Programs targeting educational opportunities in the arts, science/environment, and diversity/inclusion/access are considered. Grants to public school programs are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Mental Health — specifically direct services in behavioral health programs focused on children, youth, families, and adults. The foundation seeks nonprofit partners providing direct mental health and wellness services or programming with specific behavioral health outcomes.
The foundation also maintains a Michael Towbes Legacy fund available by invitation only, and previously established a Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts administered through the Santa Barbara Foundation.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $775,000.
Review Cycle
** The foundation operates three grant cycles per year (August, December, and April) to enable more meaningful impact with available resources.
How to Apply
** Applicants must review eligibility requirements, priority areas, grant cycles, and general guidelines before applying. Applications are submitted during designated grant cycles.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Santa Barbara County, California, with primary emphasis on local nonprofits in the region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2024:
- Total Assets: $50,434,397
- Total Revenues: $2,679,780
- Total Expenses: $1,660,291
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Sources: Since 2017, the foundation's funds have come through distributions from commercial real estate partnerships as well as traditional investment assets. These sources are subject to economic fluctuations including inflation and market conditions.
Investment Income (FY 2024): $1,104,471 Net Rental Income (FY 2024): $1,091,513
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $50,434,397 | $49,414,908 | $10,325,099 |
| Revenue | $2,679,780 | $40,632,435 | $3,957,496 |
| Expenses | $1,660,291 | $1,286,862 | $4,098,904 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,372,385 | $426,611 | $1,981,555 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,397,918 | $1,184,604 | $1,791,752 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,684,279 | $1,922,417 | $561,095 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Towbes Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Planned Parenthood Ca Central Coast ($33,500), Santa Barbara Education Foundation ($32,250), Santa Barbara Foundation ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AHA ATTITUDE HARMONY ACHIEVEMENT SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| ANGELS FOSTER CARE OF SANTA BARBARA SANTA BARBARA, CA | Family and Friends Together PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| BOYS GIRLS CLUB OF THE CENTRAL COAS SANTA MARIA, CA | The Building Blocks to Great Futures | $12,500 |
| CASA PACIFICA CENTERS FOR CHILDREN CAMARILLO, CA | Safe Alternatives Treating Youth Mobile Crisis Services | $7,500 |
| CASA SERENA INC SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| CHANNEL ISLANDS YMCA SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT - Runaway Homeless Youth programs | $16,125 |
| CHILD ABUSE LISTENING MEDIATION SANTA BARBARA, CA | Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder Treatment Program | $21,500 |
| CHILD ABUSE LISTENING MEDIATION SANTA BARBARA, CA | Community-Based Organization Coalition | $25,000 |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR YOUTHWELL LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| COUNCIL ON DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE SANTA BARBARA, CA | CADA MENTOR PROGRAM | $10,750 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Michael and Gail Towbes are the founders of the foundation. Carrie Towbes is mentioned in connection with the foundation's legacy.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHERIDAH GERARD | Director | 1 | $2,250 |
| LYNN C TOWBES | President | 10 | $2,250 |
| ROBERT L SKINNER | Vice President | 2 | $2,250 |
| PATRICIA MACFARLANE | Treasurer | 10 | — |
| KRISTEN SULLIVAN PHD | Executive Dir. | 40 | $163,248 |
| VIRGINIA SALAZAR | Director | 1 | — |
| ALLISON LEWIS-TOWBES | Director | 1 | $2,250 |
| AMBER ORTIZ | Director | 1 | — |
| PATRICIA MADRIGAL | Secretary | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation established the **Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts** through the Santa Barbara Foundation, which provides grants of $10,000 to $100,000 for performing arts nonprofit organizations. This fund prioritizes organizations that dismantle language, cultural, and other barriers preventing low-income and marginalized populations from accessing artistic, music, and dance programs in Santa Barbara County, and supports collaborative efforts to leverage community access to performing arts opportunities.
Nominations Open as the Search Begins for Santa Barbara's 83rd ...The foundation maintains tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization, with donations being tax-deductible. The organization is registered with the IRS under EIN 95-3519577, with tax-exempt status granted in November 1980.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Towbes Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To strengthen the communities of Santa Barbara County. The foundation has evolved from supporting a broad array of nonprofits to focusing on two primary areas: 1. **Education** — specifically early childhood, K-12th grade, and the transition to college, including basic education and educational equity programs as well as childcare, summer, and after-school enrichment services. Programs targeting educational opportunities in the arts, science/environment, and diversity/inclusion/acc…
How do I apply for a grant from Towbes Foundation?
**Grant Cycles:** The foundation operates three grant cycles per year (August, December, and April) to enable more meaningful impact with available resources. **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $775,000. **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Santa Barbara Education Foundation: $32,250 • UC Santa Barbara Foundation (EAOP, McEnroe Reading Clinic, and Healing Space General Operating Support): $31,250 • Santa Barbara Foundation (Towbes Foundation Donor Advised Fund): $30,000 • Total…
Where does Towbes Foundation make grants?
Santa Barbara County, California, with primary emphasis on local nonprofits in the region.
What size grants does Towbes Foundation award?
In 2024, Towbes Foundation awarded 93 grants totaling $952K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Towbes Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Towbes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Towbes Foundation's EIN?
Towbes Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3519577. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Towbes Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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