Each year the Rotary Club of Montecito Foundation awards community grants to qualifying Santa Barbara County non-profit organizations, with a particular focus on projects serving the Montecito area. To date our Foundation has awarded more than $95,000 in assistance to our community through the Community Grants Program.
The foundation welcomes submissions from all local non-profit organizations and encourages them to apply. In the past, individual grants have been approximately $1,000. The deadline for application is Monday, October 14, 2024.
Grant requirements
- The Annual Community Grants Program targets project or program specific requests.
- Priority is given to local organizations or projects that serve the Montecito area.
- The grants program does not fund capital projects or provide general operating support.
- The grants program only funds future projects, not projects that have already been completed.
Eligibility requirements
- Qualifying organizations must have a 501 (c)(3) IRS determination.
- A member of the Rotary Club of Montecito must sponsor each grant request and be personally engaged in some capacity with the organization, e.g. volunteer, member or donor, committee member or board member.
- A Rotarian may sponsor up to two grants per year.
- Grant preference is given to organizations that were not awarded a Community Grant in 2023.
- International organizations are ineligible for Community Grants.
Key dates for 2024 Community Grants Program
- September 8 - Application posted to Rotary Cub of Montecito website
- October 14 - Deadline to apply for funding in 2024.
- Late October - Foundation finalizes funding decisions and notifies applicants.
- November 19 - Awards presented at a Rotary lunch meeting.
Past Recipients of Community Grants
Among those awarded past grants:
- C.A.R.E.4Paws
- Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
- Friendship Center Adult Day Services
- Little Village Foundation
- Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County
- Hospice of Santa Barbara
- Montecito Trails Foundation
- Mission Scholars
- Santa Barbara Choral Society
- Nuclear Peace Foundation
- South Coast Youth Orchestra
- Teacher's Fund
The Rotary Club of Montecito is a proud member of Rotary International. Click here to learn more about Rotary International and to Support The Rotary Foundation.