The Santa Barbara Foundation is dedicated to strengthening nonprofit organizations and building the capacity of the arts social sector through the support of Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts.
Donor Name: Santa Barbara Foundation
State: California
County: Santa Barbara County (CA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/13/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Grants will be available to nonprofit organizations seeking to further their mission of providing quality performing art opportunities. Funding from the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts has shifted and will be available to qualifying performing arts nonprofit organizations for general operating or programmatic support.
Priorities
Priority will be given to organizations that:
- Demonstrate that their programming responds to a sustained and/or increased need for accessible and diverse performing arts experiences in Santa Barbara County.
- Are taking clear steps to sustain or expand organizational capacity in order to meet need for quality performing arts opportunities.
- Demonstrate awareness of the local performing arts landscape and take steps to align, coordinate, or differentiate their work to avoid unnecessary duplication of services.
- Demonstrate cultural competence among volunteers, staff, and board members in ways that reflect and engage the communities served.
- Seek to dismantle language, cultural, financial, and other barriers that prevent low-income and marginalized populations from accessing performing arts opportunities.
Types of Support
Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts Grants are available for a variety of activities in the following areas:
- Program Support
- Expansion of existing Programs
- Pilot Programs
- Organizations that seek to produce, present and preserve exceptional works from a variety of artistic traditions, and ensure opportunities for participation that reflect the demographic diversity of Santa Barbara County
- Collaborative efforts to leverage community access to performing arts opportunities
- General operating support
Funding Information
The maximum award for the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts is $15,000.
Grant Period
The grant period is up to one year from the award.
Eligibility Requirements
- The Towbes Fund for Performing Arts Grant are available to organizations serving all regions of 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.
For more information, visit Santa Barbara Foundation.
