Nonprofit Resources

In order to provide nonprofit organizations with additional tools for continued excellence and success, the Foundation has gathered a variety of resources ranging from the local to national level, including social media and web tools, and online publications.

• Local Resources

  Foundation Roundtable 2011 Membership Profiles

  In addition to membership profiles, this document also provides contact and grant opportunity information for nearly 45 private and community foundations making grants in Santa Barbara County.

  Foundation Roundtable 2012 Common Grant Application

  The Common Grant Application is used by many foundations in Santa Barbara County. Please see the Foundation Roundtable Membership Profiles above for each foundation's grant application guidelines.

  The Fund For Santa Barbara

  The Fund For Santa Barbara is a nonprofit community foundation that supports grassroots organziations working for social, economic, environmental, and political change in Santa Barbara County. They provide technical assistance and also host a popular community calendar.

  Noozhawk Nonprofit Job Board

  A daily listing of Santa Barbara County nonprofit job opportunities.

  Partnership for Excellence Conference

  An annual one-day conference held in Santa Barbara with the purpose of breaking down barriers and facilitating communication between funders and nonprofits - educating, energizing, motivating, and expanding the thinking of all participants, while also inspiring cooperation and collaboration around community issues. The event is sponsored by The Foundation Roundtable.

  Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara

  The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara supports Santa Barbara County students in their pursuit of college, graduate school, or vocational education. The Foundation also administers the Santa Barbara Foundation Student Loan Program, creative writing scholarships, and scholarships for high school seniors.

• State of California Resources

  Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts
  

  This registry offers guides for charitable giving and searchable databases to learn about specific charities and commercial fundraisers in the state of California.

  League of California Community Foundations
  

  The league is a statewide partnership that fosters collaboration among community foundations to advance philanthropy.

• National Resources

  Association of Fundraising Professionals
  

  Over 3,000 references and periodicals about fundraising and development.

  Board Source

  Provides tools to help increase the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by strengthening their board of directors.

  Bridgespan Group

  A nonprofit advisor and resource for leaders to accelerate social change, helping leaders scale impact, build leadership, advance philanthropic effectiveness, and accelerate learning.

  Council on Foundations 

  A membership association for grantmaking foundations and corporations to promote responsible and effective philanthropy.

  Daring to Lead

  A 2011 national study produced in partnership by CompassPoint and the Meyer Foundation, surveying 3,000 executive directors.

  The Foundation Center

  The Foundation Center offers data, analysis, and trainings to strengthen philanthropy worldwide. Information is geared toward grantmakers and grant seekers including facts on funding resources and proposal writing, directories for grantmakers, and access to the Online Librarian.

  Grantmakers for Effective Organizations

  This group works to build strong, effective nonprofits through leadership development and organizational learning.

  Guidestar

  Hosts data on over 1.8 million tax-exempt organizations, including their financial statements. Registration is free.

  The Grantsmanship Center

  The Grantsmanship Center offers training in proposal writing, while also developing a variety of low cost publications to support the grant seeking and programmatic planning of nonprofit organizations and government agencies.

  Independent Sector

  A coalition of corporations, foundations, and private voluntary organizations working to strengthen America's nonprofit organizations.

  IRS

  Tax information for charities and other nonprofit organizations.

• Social Media and Web Tools

  Facebook for Nonprofits

  A resource for nonprofit organizations to effectively use Facebook for promotion as well as to make connections with supporters and the community at large.

  Givezooks 

  Provides social fundraising that helps nonprofit organizations increase charitable giving in their local communities. 

  Google Analytics

  Tracks website traffic and marketing effectiveness to help strengthen marketing initiatives.

  How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media, Beth Kanter

  Nonprofit consultant Beth Kanter's blog sharing ideas, links, and resources about the challenges and strategies of social media for nonprofits.

  Network for Good

  An e-philanthropy site which allows nonprofit organizations to collect donations, post volunteer opportunities, and learn about internet related tools. Founded by the Time Warner Foundation, AOL, The Cisco Foundation, and Yahoo!, Network for Good strives to connect people to charities via the Internet — using the virtual world to deliver real resources to nonprofits and communities.

  Social Media News and Web Tips-Mashable

  The largest independent online news site dedicated to covering digital culture, social media, and technology.

  Twitter

  A real-time short messaging service for individuals and organizations to connect with others.

• Technology

  Google for Nonprofits

  Offers a number of tools to help nonprofit organizations promote their work, operate effectively, and raise money.

  TechSoup

  Dedicated to helping nonprofits enhance productivity through sustainable technology. The site offers free information, resources, support, and a portal to donated and discounted technology products.

• Conferences & Trainings

  Center for Nonprofit Management

  Provides Southern California nonprofit leaders and organizations with knowledge and skills needed to fulfill their mission.

  Spokes

  A San Luis Obispo-based resource center for central coast nonprofit organizations.

  Center for Nonprofit Leadership

  Housed at Ventura County Community Foundation, the Center provides leadership and skills workshops, networking opportunities, seminars and community convenings aimed at advancing nonprofit professional development and management. They also host a research library.

• Publications

  Blue Avocado

  A nonprofit online magazine which engages community nonprofits in a practical and fun dialogue on current issues facing the sector.

  Board Café   

  An online publication for and about nonprofit boards. Current articles are found at Blue Avocado.

  Bridgespan’s Knowledge Letter

  Bridgespan's newsletter of recent publications and research to strengthen the philanthropic sector.

  Bridgestar’s Leadership Matters

  A Bridgespan program which provides resources to executives on applying skills essentail to nonprofit excellence.

  The Chronicle of Philanthropy   

  A news source for nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, grantmakers and philanthropists. Along with news, The Chronicle offers lists of grants, fundraising ideas and techniques, statistics, reports on tax and court rulings, and book summaries.

  Grantmakers for Effective Organizations

  Helps grantmakers improve practices, specifically in learning for improvement, collaborative problem solving, stakeholder engagement, and scaling what works.

  The Nonprofit Quarterly

  Provides a forum for critical thinking and exploration, needed to keep the nonprofit sector robust.

  Philanthropy News Digest

  A daily news service of the Foundation Center, providing philanthropy-related articles and features culled from print and electronic media outlets nationwide.

  Stanford Social Innovation Review

  An award-winning magazine and website that covers cross-sector solutions to global problems, written by nonprofit, business, and government leaders. SSIR bridges academic theory and practice with ideas about achieving social change to inform and inspire leaders.