Towbes Foundation
The Towbes Foundation is a private foundation based in Santa Barbara, California. Established by Michael and Gail Towbes in 1980, it seeks to strengthen the communities of Santa Barbara County through partnerships with local nonprofits, with a current focus on education and mental health.
Key facts about Towbes Foundation
In short: Towbes Foundation gave $1.5M across 96 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 95-3519577
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,475,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 96
- Average grant
- $15,365
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $51,363,550
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Eligible organizations can use the online application portal during the relevant grant cycle after reviewing the eligibility requirements and application guidelines. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- For the 2026 mental health cycle, the portal is open August 1–30; the foundation encourages applying by August 15.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$51.4M
+1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+55.0% YoY
Grant Count
96
+3.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+50.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Towbes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Towbes Foundation gives
- 76% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 41% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is “to strengthen the communities of Santa Barbara County.” Its primary areas are education and mental health. Education funding may support basic education, educational equity, childcare, summer and after-school enrichment, and opportunities in areas such as arts, science and environment, and diversity, inclusion, and access. Public school programs are considered case by case; high school academies are no longer eligible. Mental health grants are intended for direct services or programming with specific behavioral health outcomes.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate these areas. The Santa Barbara Education Foundation says it supports programs enriching students’ academic, artistic, and personal development in the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Storyteller Children’s Center describes its work as early childhood education and family support for homeless and at-risk children. OpenMinds Foundation describes providing accessible mental health services for adolescents, families, and young adults. The Santa Barbara School of Squash says it helps underserved students through squash, education, and mentoring.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported **96 grants totaling $1,475,000 in 2025**, compared with 93 grants totaling $951,900 in 2024 and one grant totaling $23,900 in 2023. In the 2025 itemized grants, awards ranged from $1,000 to $170,575, with a median of $10,000. A separate grant-program description gives an award range of $1,000–$20,000.
Review Cycle
for education and mental health are held in August, December, and April. The application page states that the mental health portal will be open August 1–30, 2026, and encourages submission by August 15 to allow time for clarification requests. Applicants are asked to review eligibility requirements and application guidelines before applying. The foundation says it supports general operating costs, generally does not sponsor individual organizational events, and that funding from the foundation and other Towbes-family funding sources will typically preclude additional funding from those sources except by invitation. Community Priorities and Additional Community Investments are limited and by invitation only.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Towbes Foundation
Ready to take the next step with Towbes Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it currently supports local organizations based within Santa Barbara County. Its 2025 reported grant dollars went entirely to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 96 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
360 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION Santa Barbara, CA | Towbes Foundation Donor Advised Fund | $170,575 |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR YOUTHWELL Santa Barbara, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT & WELLNESS CENTER/HUB | $65,000 |
| SANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL FND Santa Barbara, CA | PEDIATRIC RESILIENCY COLLABORATIVE (PERC) | $50,000 |
| SANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL FND Santa Barbara, CA | MIND THRIVE PILOT | $50,000 |
| SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION Santa Barbara, CA | Recruit, Retain, Rest & Recuperation (4R) Grant Program | $50,000 |
| UC SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION Santa Barbara, CA | EAOP, McEnroe Reading Clinic, AND HEALING SPACE general operating support | $48,250 |
| SANTA BARBARA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATIO Santa Barbara, CA | Annual Funding-34,000 for Scholarships/6,000 for GOS | $40,000 |
| CHANNEL ISLANDS YMCA Carpinteria, CA | My Home at Lyons House & Runaway Homeless Youth programs | $38,250 |
| LEAP LEARNENGAGEADVOCATEPARTNER Goleta, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT & CHILDREN'S CENTER IN LOMPOC | $35,000 |
| SANTA BARBARA EDUCATION FOUNDATION Santa Barbara, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT & MISSION SCHOLARS COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM | $30,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants reported | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,475,000 | 96 |
| 2024 | $951,900 | 93 |
| 2023 | $23,900 | 1 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $51,363,550 | $50,434,397 | $49,414,908 |
| Revenue | $3,236,078 | $2,679,780 | $40,632,435 |
| Expenses | $2,306,925 | $1,660,291 | $1,286,862 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,034,972 | $1,372,385 | $426,611 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,971,175 | $2,397,918 | $1,184,604 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,953,346 | $3,684,279 | $1,922,417 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 22, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lynn C. Towbes as President; Robert L. Skinner as Vice President; Patricia Macfarlane as Treasurer; Patricia Madrigal as Secretary; and Kristen Sullivan, Ph.D., as Executive Director. Directors listed are Sheridah Gerard, Kiah Jordan, Allison Lewis-Towbes, Amber Ortiz, and Ernesto Paredes.
Towbes Foundation is led by Kristen Sullivan PhD, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 7 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kristen Sullivan PhD
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$141K (2021) → $170K (2025)
Lynn C. Towbes
President
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Allison Lewis-Towbes
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Sheridah Gerard
Director
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Ernesto Paredes
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$2K (2025)
Kiah Jordan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$2K (2025)
Amber Ortiz
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert L. Skinner
Vice President
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Patricia Macfarlane
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Madrigal
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Virginia Salazar (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Ron Werft (2021–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
Contact
Application contact: Towbes Foundation
Mailing address: 33 E Carrillo Street Suite 201, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (805) 690-4603
Website: https://towbesfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Towbes Foundation
How much does Towbes Foundation give each year?
Towbes Foundation gave $1.5M across 96 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $952K across 93 grants.
What is Towbes Foundation's typical grant size?
Towbes Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,365, across 96 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Towbes Foundation give grants?
Towbes Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (74 grants), Goleta, CA (6 grants), Santa Maria, CA (4 grants) and Carpinteria, CA (3 grants).
Does Towbes Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 54% of Towbes Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (52 of 96) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Towbes Foundation's largest grantees?
Towbes Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Santa Barbara Foundation ($241,325 across 6 grants), Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Fnd ($100,000 across 2 grants) and Community Partners for Youthwell ($65,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Towbes Foundation?
Towbes Foundation reported $51.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Towbes Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is “to strengthen the communities of Santa Barbara County.” Its primary areas are education and mental health. Education funding may support basic education, educational equity, childcare, summer and after-school enrichment, and opportunities in areas such as arts, science and environment, and diversity, inclusion, and access. Public school programs are considered case by case; high school academies are no longer eligible. Mental health grants are intended for direct se…
How do I apply for a grant from Towbes Foundation?
Eligible organizations can use the online application portal during the relevant grant cycle after reviewing the eligibility requirements and application guidelines. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Towbes Foundation by hand.
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