Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts

The Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts, administered by the Santa Barbara Foundation, is designed to strengthen nonprofit arts organizations throughout Santa Barbara County. Through this program, the Foundation seeks to build organizational capacity and support programming that delivers high-quality performing arts experiences. The Fund aligns with the Foundation’s broader mission of addressing community needs through inclusive, accessible, and culturally competent strategies that enrich the local arts ecosystem. Funding is open to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits or fiscally sponsored groups, with an emphasis on equity and regional diversity across the county. Grants from the Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts may be used for either general operating support or specific programmatic initiatives. Funded activities may include program support, expansion of existing programs, pilot efforts, collaborative projects that increase community access, and productions or presentations that reflect a wide range of artistic traditions. Applicants are expected to demonstrate a clear alignment with the Fund’s priorities, which include responsiveness to increased demand, organizational capacity-building, cultural competence, and efforts to eliminate barriers to participation—particularly for low-income and marginalized groups. Organizations applying to the Towbes Fund are evaluated not only on the strength of their proposal but also on how they contribute to a balanced portfolio of grantees. The Foundation considers factors such as geography, population served, size of the organization, prior funding history, and mission alignment with the Fund. Applications are reviewed against a defined rubric that assesses purpose and strategic use of funds, financial stewardship, access and equity, collaboration, and cultural competence. Each of these categories is scored on a scale from 1 to 5, with stronger applications demonstrating clear planning, intentional partnerships, meaningful community engagement, and sustainability beyond the grant period. The maximum award available is $15,000, and while full funding is possible, applicants should anticipate partial awards due to the competitive nature of the program. Each organization may apply once per calendar year. Grant funds must be expended within one year of the award date, and a final report is due within 13 months of the award, ideally no later than 30 days after project completion. Awards are made in two annual cycles: a spring cycle, with an application window from February 6 to March 13 and awards made in April; and a fall cycle, with applications open from September 4 to October 9 and awards issued in November. Eligible applicants must serve Santa Barbara County and either hold 501(c)(3) status or apply through a qualified fiscal sponsor. Applications missing a valid EIN number will not be reviewed. Additional eligibility and fiscal sponsor requirements can be found on the Foundation's website. For program questions, Deanna Vallejo, Senior Program Officer, and Jessica Sanchez, Senior Director of Donor Relations, are available by phone or email to provide support throughout the application process. The official program guidelines, including a downloadable PDF and scoring rubric, are publicly accessible for all prospective applicants.

Proposals that clearly articulate strategic use of funds, demonstrate equity in access, and show financial planning will score higher.