The Conservation, Environment and Public Trails Grant Program supports environmental projects across Santa Barbara County.
Donor Name: Santa Barbara Foundation
State: California
County: Santa Barbara County (CA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/07/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Focus
- Funding can be used for new or existing projects that meet demonstrated need.
- In summary, funded organizations will:
- Carry out projects to address conservation, environment and public trails.
- Be well-managed, financially viable, and operate effective projects.
- Have developed short-term and long-term strategies for addressing identified organizational needs.
Priorities
- Priority will be given to organizations that are engaged in one or more of the following:
- Preserving and ensuring equitable access to the region’s natural resources and trail systems;
- Community-based restoration projects in wetlands and streams, coastal areas, grasslands, woodlands and other natural areas;
- Early stage investigation such as appraisal fees, environmental due diligence, and title research, or closing costs for land conservation efforts;
- Piloting or expanding projects that demonstrate best practices in conservation.
- The strongest projects will:
- Create or expand partnerships, networks and collaborations for greater efficiencies, better delivery of programs, or fresh approaches to solve problems or address needs, gaps, or opportunities.
- Incorporate a community involvement, awareness or education element.
- Align with or be a part of a larger plan or strategy such as Santa Barbara County’s Conservation Blueprint, Food Action Plan, Santa Barbara Area Coastal Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment (SBA CEVA), Coastal Trail Alignment Study, etc.
Funding Information
The maximum award for Conservation, Environment and Public Trails grants is $25,000.
Grant Period
The grant period is up to one year from the award date.
Criteria by Type of Project
Projects must have clearly defined goals and outcomes and a strategy and timeline in place for achieving the stated goals. If the project is part of a larger or longer-term effort, the applicant must demonstrate how the project relates to future work, including a financial sustainability concept or strategy for scaling up the project. The applicant and/or project partners demonstrate the capacity to manage the scale and scope of the project. Matching or leveraged funding is recommended, but not required.
- Trails Access Project Criteria:
- Projects should provide ecological value, aesthetic improvements or appropriately placed public access (trails, pathways, etc.). This may include restoration of habitat for specific species or general habitat types, or for accommodation of passive recreation and education for people.
- Applications may include planning for new trails, new trail construction, trail restoration, trail head facilities, lease of heavy equipment, purchase of hand tools to construct/renovate trails, water trail facilities, and educational programs.
- Land acquisition for trail purposes must have (or be close to securing) all permits and landowner approvals/agreements, and be “shovel ready” within the one-year grant cycle beginning from date of award.
- Conservation Project Criteria:
- Projects should align with a conservation plan or strategy and be recognized as a valuable component of a longer-term plan or vision. This may include providing permanent (or long-term) protection for lands with high ecological or agriculture value, fulfilling a critical link for species, habitats or ecosystem function, or providing passive and educational access for people. Allowable projects include:
- Planning, feasibility, and study phases for new projects or emerging opportunities for early phases of land acquisition or easements. This may include good-faith deposits to begin landowner negotiations, appraisals, or other land use investigations.
- Closing or completion costs for land acquisition or easement purchase projects.
- Efforts to preserve critical habitats or species.
- Educational projects related to climate resilience, habitats, or threatened species conservation.
- Environmental Project Criteria:
- Project planning, implementation or investigation/research of best practices or innovative approaches must address a specific challenge or opportunity in achieving sustainable practices for land, forestry, or water management.
- Pilot implementation or facility improvement projects should serve as a model that can be replicated and/or scaled up in the future.
- Projects with collaborative partners will be most competitive for funding.
Eligibility Requirements
- Grants are available to organizations providing programming in Santa Barbara County
- Organizations must be certified as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or use a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) tax status. Applications that do not contain a valid EIN (tax ID) number will not be considered.
Grant Limitations
Grants in the Conservation, Environment and Public Trails Grant program areas are not intended for:
- Direct purchase of land or easements that have raised less than 90% of funds required
- Direct support to government agencies or private landowners (grantees must be a 501(c)(3) organization and serve as the primary project lead agency; public or private entities may be part of a collaboration)
- Endowment
- Advocacy and lobbying activities.
For more information, visit SBF.
