Funding Opportunities

To be eligible to apply for funding, your organization must meet the following requirements. Your organization should be:

• Primarily located in Santa Barbara County.
• A tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Focused on mental health for youth and families in Santa Barbara County, specifically early intervention and prevention, access to mental health services, and effective treatment. Only organizations that are wholly mission-aligned are eligible to apply. See our Areas of Interest for more information.
• Only one grant will be awarded per organization per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). Umbrella organizations or fiscal sponsors may receive multiple grants per fiscal year, provided they are not duplicative.

The following entities are NOT eligible to apply:

• Newly formed organizations and/or newly starting programs should not apply unless by invitation.
• Organizations whose mission and/or programs fall outside our targeted funding domains of mental health, including early intervention and prevention, access to mental health services, and effective treatment.
• Organizations that receive funding within the same year from other Towbes-family funding sources (i.e., Michael Towbes Donor Advised Fund, the Lewis – Towbes Family Donor Advised Fund, or the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts) except by invitation.
• Grants to public school programs are on a case-by-case basis and are limited to one per school, per fiscal year. Grants are no longer made to the High School Academies in Santa Barbara Unified School District.
• Sponsorships for individual organizations
• Private/Religious/Independent schools
• Individuals

Getting Started

• Organizations that are new to the Foundation should contact us prior to applying to determine fit within our refined priority areas.
• Organizations with established relationships with the Foundation, that know they are eligible to apply should apply to during their typical application cycle or contact us to discuss changing cycles.
• Organizations with established relationships with the Foundation that are unsure whether they fit within our mental health priority areas should contact us prior to applying.

Application Process

• Organizations need to submit a completed online grant application using the grant application link once the cycle opens; unless otherwise communicated or requested.
• Applications must be completed and submitted by the application deadline.
• If you submit by the 15th of the application month, we will have time to request clarifying information if necessary.
• Interviews, site visits, and/or additional data may be requested to further guide decision-making prior to funding decisions. This may, at times, delay funding decisions.

Grant Awards

• Grant applicants will be notified of the award decision during the notification window.
• Mental Health grant cycle awards will typically range from $7,500-$20,000, with the majority of awards between $10,000-$12,500.
• Due to the available funds and the increasing number of qualified applicants, the grant selection process is more selective than in previous years.
• Previous funding does not guarantee future funding.
• If funded, the amount may change from year to year.

Grantee Expectations

• We are big on communication. Our goal is to provide a supportive funder-grantee relationship through communication, openness, and transparency. In turn, we expect that you will communicate any changes or challenges with us throughout the life of a grant.
• We are grateful to our board members, and the guidance they provide us. Please do not contact our board members directly about your grant applications.
• We appreciate flexibility.

The Towbes Foundation seeks to strengthen the communities of Santa Barbara County by focusing on locally-based, 501(c)(3) organizations whose objectives are in alignment with our goal that children, youth, and families in Santa Barbara County thrive through meaningful connections, emotional resilience, and psychological well-being. This goal is operationalized through three funding areas of mental health: (1) Prevention & Early Intervention, (2) Expanded Access, and (3) Effective Treatment.

We are particularly excited about collaborative partnerships, organizations that utilize systematic evaluation processes to understand and inform their programs/services, as well as organizations that support traditionally underserved or marginalized communities in the following areas.

Redefining our Intention in Education

For those organizations that have applied to us previously (FY21–FY26), please be aware that we have redefined our intentions in the area we previously referred to as “Education.” After a comprehensive learning journey and a period of self-examination, culminating in strategic planning and the development of a theory of change, we recognized that the vast majority of the funding we provided under the umbrella of “education” reflected our commitment to the prevention and early intervention of mental health challenges. These grants served a preventative function by providing access to opportunities that bolster psychological well-being. In response to this shift in thinking, we have realigned our areas of focus to be transparent about our intentions. We are no longer using the term “education.” Rather, we are now funding programs and organizations that have a direct early intervention or prevention impact that enhances mental well-being. These efforts either intervene early in the development of mental health challenges or prevent such challenges from arising in child, youth, and family populations that are vulnerable or at heightened risk. Please refer to the section below on “Prevention and Early Intervention.”

Three Focus Areas within Mental Health

Prevention & Early Intervention

Children, youth, and families in vulnerable circumstances are identified early and supported with authentic connections, enriching opportunities, and the resources they need to overcome life’s challenges.

Objectives:

• Identify children, youth, and families in vulnerable circumstances as early as possible.
• Provide supportive resources promptly to children, youth, and families in vulnerable circumstances.
• Ensure access to enriching opportunities that foster meaningful connections and belonging, within and beyond the family, to help children and families thrive.

Expanded Access

Children, youth, and families are able to access the mental health services they need.

Objectives:

• Barriers related to commercial and private insurance coverage for mental health services are identified and addressed to expand access
• Navigation services help families identify, enroll in, and engage with mental health services through accessible and culturally responsive support.
• Cultural, linguistic, and geographic barriers to accessing mental health services are addressed to ensure equitable access for diverse children, youth, and families.
• Innovative strategies are explored and piloted to address mental health workforce shortages and increase service availability.

Effective Treatment

Children, youth, and families facing mental wellness challenges are engaged in high-quality, direct therapeutic services that measurably reduce distress and/or improve well-being.

Objectives:

• Services are provided by qualified practitioners who have appropriate education, training, experience, and/or licensure to provide treatment.
• Clients receive the appropriate level of care based on assessed needs, spanning the full continuum of treatment.
• Outcomes are meaningfully measured to demonstrate client progress and inform ongoing program improvement.

Michael Towbes Legacy

These awards are limited and by invitation only. Organizations that are eligible for these limited awards are broadly defined as organizations that improve the lives of those living in Santa Barbara County, and that also hold a place that is near and dear to the heart of Michael Towbes and the Towbes Family.

Do not contact us regarding eligibility for these grants. These organizations will be contacted directly to apply during our April grant cycle each year, if funds are available.

James S. Bower Foundation – Towbes Foundation Collaborative Granting

These awards are limited and will be considered when proposals align with the Bower – Towbes shared focus on strengthening the overall youth mental health ecosystem in Santa Barbara County. We are prioritizing systems-level efforts that improve coordination among providers, expand access to care, and address the root causes that impact young people’s well-being. The funds will be reserved for initiatives that create broader, sustainable impact across the system of care.

Community Priorities

These awards are limited and by invitation only. We are open to investing in emergent/critical needs for the long-term benefit of Santa Barbara County, including collaborations, multi-funder partnerships, and public/private ventures.

Do not contact us regarding eligibility for these grants. Organizations will be identified and contacted directly to apply.

Additional Community Investments

These awards are limited and by invitation only. We are open to alternative types of charitable investments or larger grant opportunities that are identified by the Foundation.

Do not contact us regarding eligibility for these grants. Organizations will be identified and contacted directly to apply.