Fund for Santa Barbara Grants - Movement Building Grant

Fund for Santa Barbara Grants - Movement Building Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Fund for Santa Barbara
Amount: Up to US $10,000
Last Updated: February 10, 2026

Summary

The Fund for Santa Barbara Grants - Movement Building Grant aims to foster progressive change by empowering grassroots organizations in Santa Barbara County. By focusing on Economic, Environmental, Political, Racial, and Social Justice, the grant supports initiatives that dismantle systemic oppression. It prioritizes funding for groups that engage marginalized communities and promote self-determination. Eligible organizations must align with the FUND's mission and operational guidelines, ensuring impactful contributions to social change.

Overview

2025 Movement Building Grant Advancing progressive change by strengthening movements for Economic, Environmental, Political, Racial, and Social Justice.The FUND is committed to supporting grassroots community organizations at the forefront of combating inequities and dismantling systemic oppression. We prioritize funding groups and organizations leading movement-building efforts to create transformative, systemic social change within Santa Barbara County.The FUND believes that significant social changes require broad participation in and democratic control of all social, political, and economic institutions. We recognize that social conditions improve most significantly when those who have been denied power and justice take the lead in confronting, challenging, and changing the systems that have denied them access to equity and fairness.The FUND defines social change as change that addresses the root causes, not symptoms, of social (economic, environmental, political, and racial) inequities in an effort to alleviate those inequities but also dismantle the underlying conditions and circumstances that perpetuate and sustain them.​OBJECTIVES The MBG supports groups and organizations leading efforts to create systemic change through movement building. We are committed to funding partners whose work aligns with our mission to advance movements for Economic, Environmental, Political, Racial, and Social Change. GUIDELINES Actively support anti-discrimination based on race, sex/gender, age, religion, language spoken, or immigration status;Actively support communities marginalized by power structures to engage in dialogue and actions that seek to counter social injustice; Actively work to improve the rights of workers and their families whose living conditions have been marginalized;Promote the cultural life of underserved communities and support the activities of cultural workers;Promote self-determination and leadership development in low-income and disenfranchised communities;Promote Global peace and organize locally for just policies;Work on building coalitions to enhance improving environmental justice and address climate change, especially organizing a constituency usually without access to decision-makersEngage in collaborative action and coalition-building to strengthen movement ecosystems; Work against community violence and actively support recovery and restorative justice activities and initiatives;Operate in a democratic manner, responsive to and directed by the constituency being served.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Must meet the Funding Guidelines and PrioritiesMust have a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), a Federal Tax Identification Number; or use a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor’sMust have an organizational bank account; or use a fiscal sponsor’sBudget and planned activities must align with the funding timeframe specified in the proposal

Ineligibility

We Do Not Fund:Political campaigns that support a candidate or a political party; Private (vs. public) interests; Direct labor organizing; Projects providing direct services without a social change component; Direct support to individuals Building improvements; Capital ventures, i.e. office equipment, machines, or vehicles; Projects located outside of Santa Barbara County.