Every April, Earth Day is a chance to pause and recognize the people who show up, not just one day a year but every day, to protect the landscapes, coastlines, and trails that define this region. In Santa Barbara County, much of that work is being done by local nonprofits on the front lines of conservation, restoration, and public access.
Central to this work is equitable access, ensuring that our county’s natural spaces are open and welcoming to all residents. This Earth Month, the Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF) is proud to celebrate the $564,000 awarded through Conservation, Environment, and Public Trails (CEPT) Grants in 2025, and the 26 organizations putting those funds to work in 2026. From preserving ecosystems to restoring habitats to keeping public trails open and accessible, it’s the dedication of these groups that makes this investment meaningful.
These grants continue a legacy of environmental stewardship that dates back to one of the most pivotal moments in the ecological movement in Santa Barbara County: the 1969 Union Oil Platform blowout in the Santa Barbara Channel. Today, that same spirit drives SBF’s commitment to sustainability and conservation.
From restoring coastal habitats to repairing beloved trails, this year’s CEPT recipients are tackling a wide range of projects that matter to our community. Highlights include:
Many of these examples reflect a spirit of partnership, with organizations working alongside community groups, public agencies, and other nonprofits to multiply their impact.
With funding for land conservation facing increased uncertainty, the organizations doing this work are more important than ever. We are grateful for nonprofits providing local, community-based support to keep Santa Barbara’s natural spaces healthy and accessible for everyone.
As Tatyana Venegas Swanson, SBF’s Director of Grantmaking, puts it: “We’re honored to collaborate with our donors to ensure that generations to come understand the value of our natural resources and know how to love and protect them.”
SBF is proud to support the following organizations this year:
Boy Scouts of America • Channel Islands Parks Foundation • Channel Islands Restoration • Coastal Ranches Conservancy • Ellwood Friends (fiscally sponsored by Legacy Philanthropy Works) • Environmental Defense Center • Explore Ecology • Fish Reef Project • Lompoc Valley Parks Recreation & Pool Foundation Inc. • Los Padres Forest Association Inc. • Los Padres Forest Watch • Montecito Trails Foundation • Runners for Public Lands • Sage Trail Alliance • Santa Barbara Audubon Society • Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Inc. • Santa Barbara Channel Keeper • Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation • Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden Foundation Inc. • Surfrider Foundation • Land Trust for Santa Barbara County • True Nature Society DBA Quail Springs • University of California Santa Barbara • United Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County • Westmont College • Your Children’s Trees
Interested in supporting conservation work in Santa Barbara County, or curious about how the CEPT Grant Program works? Learn more at https://SBFoundation.org/grant-opportunities.
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