Community-led initiatives often face the same challenges, whether that is a moment of urgency or the beginning stages of building something new, such as how to act quickly without the structure of an established nonprofit.
For a variety of organizations across Santa Barbara County, fiscal sponsorships have been the support they needed to begin making an impact.
The Santa Barbara Foundation’s fiscal sponsorships provide the legal, financial, and administrative infrastructure that allows emerging projects to operate immediately. From day one, the Santa Barbara Foundation supports these organizations by accepting donations, managing funds responsibly, and providing professional guidance that enables ideas to move forward.
At its core, fiscal sponsorship bridges the gap between vision and execution.
Beyond infrastructure, fiscal sponsorship provides something equally critical: trust. By operating under the umbrella of a trusted institution like the Santa Barbara Foundation, projects are able to establish credibility with donors, partners, and the community from the outset.
Responding to Urgency: Foothills Forever
In 2021, a stretch of land in the San Marcos Foothills, more than 100 acres of open space, faced the threat of development. Community members quickly mobilized, forming a grassroots coalition that included residents and nonprofit partners determined to preserve the land.
But the challenge was not just organizing public support. It was structural.
Community leaders were able to secure an agreement to purchase the land, but only if they could raise $18 million in 90 days.
At the time, the coalition did not have nonprofit status, financial systems, or the legal ability to receive and manage large-scale donations.
That is when Nancy Weiss, a Foothills Forever leader, reached out to the Santa Barbara Foundation.
“The minute Jackie (Carrera, President & CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation) said yes, we knew that would bring exceptional community confidence to the table,” Weiss said.
“The ability to say the Santa Barbara Foundation was our fiscal sponsor showed donors that the campaign would be managed well, within legal parameters, and with best practices.”
“We really had to build the airplane while we flew it.”
Through fiscal sponsorship with the Santa Barbara Foundation, the effort gained immediate access to the infrastructure it needed. The Foundation enabled the group to accept tax-deductible contributions, process donations at scale, and ensure that funds were managed with transparency and accountability.
The impact was immediate.
Within just 90 days, the Santa Barbara Foundation’s financial team processed thousands of donations, ranging from small grassroots contributions across the community to major philanthropic gifts, helping the campaign successfully reach its $18 million goal.
Ultimately, the land was preserved.
In May of 2024, the campaign evolved into an independent nonprofit, Foothills Forever, Inc. It established an endowment to support long-term stewardship of the land, continuing its relationship with the Foundation.
Building with Intention: Central Coast Riviera Roses
While some organizations turn to fiscal sponsorship in moments of urgency, others, such as Central Coast Riviera Roses, use it to establish long-term growth.
In 2023, three women living on the Central Coast came together with a shared vision. Despite their deep ties to the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties region, there was no local chapter of The Links Incorporated, an international nonprofit organization established in 1946, dedicated to serving Black communities.
Rooted in intention, the founders saw an opportunity to extend the legacy of The Links to a region that is often overlooked due to geography and left out of broader conversations about equity and access. Central Coast Riviera Roses (CCRR) was created to address disparities with a focus on education, health equity, cultural preservation, and civic engagement.
However, CCRR faced a familiar barrier; without nonprofit status, it could not yet receive tax-deductible donations or apply for many forms of funding.
Fiscal sponsorship provided a solution.
Through a partnership with the Santa Barbara Foundation, the organization was able to operate under the umbrella of an established 501(c)(3), gaining both the infrastructure and credibility needed to begin its work immediately.
Rather than waiting years to formalize its structure, the group was able to launch programming, build partnerships, and demonstrate impact in real time.
That early support proved foundational, not only in enabling immediate action but also in positioning the organization for long-term success.
Through strategic growth and sustained community engagement, Central Coast Riviera Roses evolved into the Central Coast-Riviera (CA) Chapter, becoming the 302nd chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
Together, these stories highlight the broader impact of fiscal sponsorship. Fiscal sponsorship ensures that strong ideas are not limited by structure but supported by it. Today, these efforts shape communities across Santa Barbara County, from preserving open space to advancing equity, education, and community-driven initiatives.
To learn more about establishing or supporting fiscal sponsorships with the Santa Barbara Foundation, visit https://sbfoundation.org/give-now/give-to-fiscally-sponsored-organizations/.
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