William & Lottie Daniel Fund Child Care Scholarship Grant

The William and Lottie Daniel Fund Child Care Scholarship, administered by the Santa Barbara Foundation, offers a targeted opportunity to support working families in Santa Barbara County by subsidizing child care costs through grants awarded to nonprofit organizations. These scholarships are designed to enhance access to affordable, high-quality child care, particularly for families who earn slightly above the income eligibility for state subsidies but continue to face significant financial barriers. The Daniel Fund operates under the Foundation’s broader Child Care strategic focus area, reflecting a long-standing commitment to community well-being through early childhood development and family support initiatives. Santa Barbara Foundation’s Strategic Plan for 2024–2028 identifies child care as a top priority due to the persistent affordability crisis and the high cost of care, particularly for families with young children. Research cited by the Foundation indicates that families earning around $84,356 annually may spend up to 40% of their income on child care for one infant and one preschool-aged child. This scholarship program helps alleviate that burden by directing resources to licensed nonprofit child care facilities that already serve or plan to expand service to economically disadvantaged families. Facilities must use the grant funds to subsidize program fees specifically for current residents of Santa Barbara County. The program targets nonprofit organizations that are licensed to provide child care services and are in compliance with California’s Community Care Licensing Division requirements. Applicants must either be certified 501(c)(3) organizations or operate under a qualified fiscal sponsor. They must also demonstrate financial sustainability, employ appropriately trained staff, and operate a year-round child care program with minimal closures. Eligible programs may serve children from birth to age 5 and school-aged children through grade 6, with preference given to providers serving children 0–5. Child care programs must implement age-appropriate curricula, engage in quality improvement systems such as QRIS or NAEYC accreditation, and adopt best practices for parent engagement and child development assessment. To apply for the Daniel Fund Grant, organizations must use the Santa Barbara Foundation's SmartSimple online portal. Registration is required and must be completed by an authorized representative of the applying organization or fiscal sponsor. Once registered, applicants must complete their organization profile across four tabs (General, Organization Information, Capacity Building, and Board Information) to unlock access to the application. Applications open on April 1, 2026, and close on April 28, 2026. Awards will be announced in June 2026, and the grant period lasts up to one year from the award date. A final report is due within 13 months via the SmartSimple system. There are no matching fund requirements associated with the Daniel Fund. However, organizations must ensure that families contribute to tuition costs based on an agency-adopted sliding fee scale. Families selected to receive scholarships must reside in Santa Barbara County, have working parents or guardians, and enroll children in the program full-time. The program also emphasizes continuity of support in cases where child placements change, such as during foster care transitions or housing instability. Prospective applicants are encouraged to schedule a pre-application consultation with Beatriz Garcia, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Initiatives, to discuss the suitability of their proposals. For technical support during the application process, Erika Schultz, Senior Administrative Assistant, is available. This opportunity reaffirms the Foundation’s investment in improving early childhood outcomes and supporting local families through collaborative, community-focused grantmaking.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the funder prior to drafting their proposal to ensure alignment with priorities.