Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara

What Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara does

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on May 29, 1962, originally as the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation and renamed in 1993. It provides need- and merit-based college, graduate, and vocational scholarships to students who have attended school in Santa Barbara County, supported by free financial-aid advisory services and the Future Scholars early-outreach summer program. The Foundation disburses its scholarships through a web-based application portal at sbscholarship.org and direct outreach at high schools and community colleges countywide, with scholarship values averaging $3,512 for undergraduates and $4,102 for graduate students and multi-year funding available up to five undergraduate or four graduate/medical years. Programmatic products include the General Scholarship Program, Art Scholarship Competition (including a new Santa Ynez Valley extension), Honors Scholarship Program, and an Employer Scholarship Program serving employees and dependents of partner companies such as Casa Dorinda, Valle Verde, Vista del Monte, and Deckers. The Foundation maintains its headquarters at 2253 Las Positas Road in Santa Barbara and a second office at 1862 S. Broadway Street, Suite 203 in Santa Maria (opened April 2025) to serve North County.

Funding comes entirely from philanthropic contributions by individuals, families, foundations, businesses, and community organizations, with the Santa Barbara Foundation alone contributing more than $900,000, supplemented by proceeds from major annual fundraising events including the South Coast Business & Technology Awards and the Community Leaders Luncheon. The Foundation reports $8.4 million in scholarships to 2,288 students for the 2026-27 academic year (a 9% increase from $7.7M to 2,125 students in 2025-26 and $7.1M to 1,787 students in 2023-24), bringing cumulative disbursements to over $137 million to more than 55,000 students since 1962. Recipients, approximately half of whom are first-generation college students, achieve a 92% six-year graduation rate compared with a 61% national average and leverage an additional $35 million in aid annually through the Foundation's advisory services. Leadership transitioned in March 2026 when Tim Dougherty was appointed Interim President & CEO following Melinda Cabrera's departure.

Name

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara

Legal name

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara

Website

https://sbscholarship.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1962 that provides college, graduate, and vocational scholarships and free financial-aid advising to students throughout Santa Barbara County, funded entirely through philanthropic donations and annual fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Scholarships and Financial Aid Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

SECONDARYBPAGAKAK

Education Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYEDALAOAB

Fundraising & Annual Giving

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Alumni Relations, Development & Campus Community Engagement

Keywords

• College scholarship funding
• Financial aid advising
• Nonprofit education grants
• Community scholarship foundation
• Student financial counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Barbara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Contributions: The Foundation operates as a nonprofit scholarship organization funded entirely through donations from individuals, families, foundations, businesses, and community organizations. The Foundation receives contributions from a wide range of donors including the Towbes Foundation, Montecito Bank & Trust, Fess Parker Winery, and numerous other community partners and sponsors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara provides scholarships and free financial aid advisory services to Santa Barbara County students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, vocational, or medical education. The Foundation offers multiple scholarship programs (General, Honors, Art, and Employer-Sponsored) along with year-round financial aid counseling, FAFSA and CA Dream Act application assistance, and early-outreach summer programs for elementary and junior high students.

Product overview

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara operates as a single-focus nonprofit organization providing college scholarship programs and financial aid advisory services to Santa Barbara County students. The core offerings include the General Scholarship Program (undergraduate, graduate, and vocational funding), Art Scholarship Competition, Honors Scholarship Program, and Employer Scholarship Program. Supporting services include Financial Aid Advisory Services (free counseling countywide), the Future Scholars Summer Program (early outreach to elementary and junior high students), and annual events including the South Coast Business & Technology Awards, Community Leaders Luncheon, and Annual Awards Ceremonies. The organization maintains offices in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria to serve North and South County constituents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Scholarship Program Primary scholarship program offering undergraduate, graduate, and vocational funding to Santa Barbara County students. Awards are based on financial need, motivation, and academic potential, with undergraduate funding available for up to five years and graduate/medical funding for up to four years. Average award of $3,512 for undergraduates and $4,102 for graduate students.
• Art Scholarship Competition Annual competition for high school seniors in South County and Santa Ynez Valley, awarding college scholarships to winning student artists. Winners receive $3,000 or $3,500 scholarships, with Best of Show recipients receiving an additional $1,000.
• Honors Scholarship Program Scholarship program for academically high-achieving students, with application deadline of November 15.
• Employer Scholarship Program Special scholarship program for employees and their dependents of partner companies including Alexander Gardens, Casa Dorinda, Valle Verde, Villa Alamar, Vista del Monte, DAC International, Deckers, La Cumbre Country Club, MTD, Montecito Bank and Trust, OSR Enterprises, with separate eligibility requirements from the General Program.
• Financial Aid Advisory Services Free countywide financial aid counseling and advising services provided by full-time program advisors in North and South Santa Barbara County, helping students and families navigate the FAFSA, scholarship applications, and college financial planning. The service was introduced in 1975.
• Future Scholars Summer Program Innovative summer outreach program providing county elementary and junior high school students with foundational information about college-level study, financial aid, and career options to encourage early college planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% six-year graduation rate vs. 61% national average for scholarship recipients
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Santa Maria Valley Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2025Hosted ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Foundation's new Santa Maria office in partnership with the Chamber.
• Partners in EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram empowering students for the world ahead through business, school, and community collaboration. Part of the Foundation's community outreach and student support network.
• Santa Barbara FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the Scholarship Foundation's largest partners, contributing more than $900,000 in scholarship funds. Santa Barbara Foundation trustees also serve as featured speakers at awards ceremonies.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central CoastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew 'Future Scholars' program partner providing expanded instructional opportunities for county youth through summer programming.
• People's Self-Help HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture Scholars program partner expanding outreach to underserved youth through community housing programs.
• Lompoc Middle SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture Scholars program partner introducing middle school students to college concepts and financial aid information.
• El Camino Junior High School (Santa Maria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture Scholars program partner engaging junior high students in college planning activities.
• American Scandinavian Foundation of Santa BarbaraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation has proudly administered scholarships for the American Scandinavian Foundation since 1971.
• Architectural Foundation of Santa BarbaraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide architectural/design-related scholarships including the Ensberg Jacobs Design Art & Architecture Scholarship and Lutah Maria Riggs Scholarship.
• Fess Parker WineryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Santa Ynez Valley Art Scholarship Reception and community partner sponsor.
• Casa DorindaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministered Casa Dorinda Scholarship Fund since 1998, providing scholarships to employees' children. 30 students received $105,000 in 2018; fund has awarded 621 scholarships totaling $1,241,476 since inception.
• Valle VerdeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministered Valle Verde Scholarship Fund since 2005 for employees and their dependents. Awarded 202 scholarships totaling $432,906. Eight students received $19,880 in 2018.
• Allan Hancock CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Achieve program helping community college students complete associate's degrees and transition to four-year institutions. North County awards ceremony venue.
• Santa Barbara City CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Achieve program providing year-round support for community college students to successfully transition to four-year colleges and universities.
• Housing Authority of the City of Santa BarbaraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer partnership serving local high school students through educational outreach programs.
• Lompoc High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer partnership providing financial aid workshops and college readiness programming.
• Westmont CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for summer programming serving local high school students.
• Lompoc Teen CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for 'Yes I Can/Si Se Puede' college readiness program through the Lompoc Teen Center.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Scholarship America: The largest U.S. nonprofit scholarship and education support organization, Scholarship America operates a structurally similar model of administering scholarship programs and financial aid advising, but at national scale rather than community-by-community.
• Santa Barbara Foundation: The Foundation's single largest institutional partner, the Santa Barbara Foundation is a community-based grantmaking foundation with overlapping donor base, geographic footprint, and scholarship/grantmaking programs targeting Santa Barbara County students and nonprofits.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: A national nonprofit providing scholarships and support services to Hispanic and first-generation college students—directly overlapping the Scholarship Foundation's 50% first-generation recipient base and similar mission of expanding college access.

Emerging players

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast: A youth-development organization and Future Scholars program partner serving the same Santa Barbara County student population. While focused on broader youth services, the overlap in target demographics and college-readiness programming makes it a thematic peer.
• Bold.org: An emerging digital scholarship platform that aggregates and administers scholarships for individual donors and corporate sponsors, representing a technology-led approach to the same niche of community/employer-sponsored scholarship administration.

Regional players

• Ventura County Community Foundation: An adjacent-county community foundation operating with similar grantmaking and scholarship-administration services in Ventura County, representing both a comparable peer and a natural expansion-adjacent geographic territory.
• United Way of Santa Barbara County: A local community-impact nonprofit operating in the same Santa Barbara County geography with overlapping donor networks and education-focused grantmaking, including financial stability and youth-success programs that intersect with the Foundation's mission.

Broad incumbents

• Cleveland Foundation: One of the oldest and largest U.S. community foundations, providing scholarship administration, donor-advised funds, and education grantmaking as part of a broader portfolio—illustrating an institutional evolution pathway for mature community-based scholarship providers.
• California Student Aid Commission: The state agency administering Cal Grants and other California student aid programs, including the CA Dream Act applications that the Foundation actively helps students complete—operating in the same financial-aid advising and scholarship-administration space but at state scale.
• Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo: An established community foundation with combined grantmaking, scholarship administration, and donor-advised services in a defined region, providing a comparable community-foundation template that the Scholarship Foundation could evolve into as its corpus grows.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sbscholarship
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/sbscholarship
• Facebookfacebook.com/sbscholarship
• Instagraminstagram.com/sbscholarship
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scholarship-foundation-of-santa-barbara

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara