Racial Equity Grant

The Racial Equity Grant, administered by The Fund for Santa Barbara, supports organizations in Santa Barbara County that focus on addressing systemic racism. The fund aims to strengthen the capacity of historically marginalized organizations, promote civic participation, and develop leadership within these communities. With objectives including cultural change and policy advocacy, this initiative seeks to reverse the impacts of racism and enhance equity in the region.

This program is funded and supported by the County of Santa Barbara and administered in collaboration with the Fund for Santa Barbara. The Board of Supervisors has allocated funding to support the current cycle.
Mission: To invest in and strengthen organizations that address anti-racism through systems change strategies in Santa Barbara County. This fund aims to effect the culture, policy, and systems change necessary to advance racial equity and justice, and reverse the legacy of slavery and effects of racism in Santa Barbara County.
Objectives: This fund aims to provide organizational capacity assistance to:

• Strengthen the ecosystem of diverse, anti-racism organizations in the community that share a common goal to address cultural and systemic effects of racism.
• Increase active participation of historically marginalized communities to influence civic matters that impact our community at large.
• Develop the pipeline to uplift historically marginalized leaders to positions of decision-making and influence.
• Increase and sustain investment to strengthen organizations led by historically marginalized who have lacked access to capital.

Addressing and working to change systemic negative narratives about the legacy of slavery in the communityEstablish and advance organizational capacity in organizations historically marginalized in the following areas: Leadership development;  Advocacy, policy change, legal analysis, and research; Strategic communications; Alliance and coalition building; Organizational development; Community engagement and organizing; Innovation and continuous learning; Develop organizational and programmatic objectives, conduct evaluations, and assess outcomes.

Eligibility

Must be a historically marginalized organization in Santa Barbara County (i.e. Must serve community members directly harmed by the racist policies and marginalized by systemic racism)
Must include as a core mission the goal of addressing systemic racism
Work must be ongoing; new initiatives will not be consideredProjects must take place in the County of Santa BarbaraHave a Tax ID Number, Employer Identification Number (EIN), or a fiscal sponsorHave an organizational bank account (or a fiscal sponsor's)

Ineligibility

REG funding cannot be used for lobbying, legal strategy or 501(c)4 work