Open; October 16–November 13, 2026 application window for 2027 funding. Funder public page does not state closing hour. Maximum $50,000 per applicant subject to County budget approval.
California — Santa Barbara County 2027 Racial Equity Grants (Up to $50,000)
The Fund for Santa Barbara is accepting applications for the County of Santa Barbara's 2027 Racial Equity Grant. Eligible established, historically marginalized local organizations addressing systemic racism may request up to $50,000 for 12 months. Apply by November 13, 2026; exact cutoff time is not stated on the public funder page.
FundingUp to $50,000 per eligible organization for a 12-month grant. The $467,500 combined 2027 cycle fund is overall program funding, NOT an individual applicant award. Universal match and reimbursement schedule not specified in accessible official 2027 FAQ.
DeadlineNovember 13, 2026; RFP opened October 16. Optional pre-application reviews available through November 6, 2026. No exact cutoff hour/time zone published on the public 2027 funder page; verify through Submittable.
Last verified2026-10-25
Required next actionRead official 2027 four-page eligibility and exclusions FAQ https://fundforsantabarbara.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2027-REG-FAQ.pdf and grant page https://fundforsantabarbara.org/reg-county-of-sb/. Verify established organizational mission, Santa Barbara County eligibility, EIN or fiscal sponsor, bank account, nonfundable costs and grant-funded lobbying exclusion. Prepare 12-month budget and submit through official Fund for Santa Barbara Submittable portal by November 13, 2026; optional pre-application review available until November 6.
Broad Eligibility
Established historically marginalized Santa Barbara County organizations serving people harmed by systemic racism, with a core mission of addressing systemic racism and ongoing work. EIN/Tax ID or fiscal sponsor plus own or sponsor bank account. No new initiatives. No political campaigns, direct individual aid, capital/equipment, unrelated direct services, geographic work outside County, or grant-funded lobbying/legal strategy/501(c)(4) activities.
Atlas Analysis
Santa Barbara County's 2027 Racial Equity Grant provides up to $50,000 per eligible established local organization for a 12-month capacity-building and systemic-change project. The $467,500 figure is the entire funding pool, not a per-applicant award. The official FAQ requires an existing mission addressing systemic racism, relevant Santa Barbara County services, and a Tax ID or fiscal sponsor. Funds cannot be used for lobbying, legal strategy, political campaigns, capital equipment, direct individual payments, or projects outside the county. Applications close November 13, 2026; the public funder page does not state an exact cutoff hour.
The Fund for Santa Barbara, in partnership with Santa Barbara County, is accepting applications for the 2027 Racial Equity Grant (REG). The program provides organizational capacity support for qualifying local groups working to address systemic racism and advance systemic, cultural and policy changes in Santa Barbara County.
Applicant funding: An organization may request up to $50,000 for a 12-month grant period, subject to County budget approval. The funder describes $467,500 in overall 2027 program funding; this is the combined grant pool, not a per-applicant award. The public 2027 FAQ does not specify a universal matching-fund requirement or a standard reimbursement schedule; verify additional award terms in the live application and grant agreement.
Who is eligible: An established historically marginalized organization based in Santa Barbara County, serving community members directly affected by racism, with addressing systemic racism as a core organizational mission and ongoing relevant work. New initiatives are ineligible. Applicants need a Tax ID/EIN or fiscal sponsor and their own organizational bank account or that of the sponsor. Applicants also must satisfy the Fund’s general funding guidelines and priorities.
Eligible aims and important exclusions: The fund supports organizational capacity, community leadership, coalition-building, advocacy, strategic communications, organizational development and evaluation aimed at systemic change. Grant funds cannot pay for political campaigns, private interests, direct labor organizing, stand-alone direct services without a social-change component, payments directly to individuals, buildings, capital ventures, equipment, or work outside Santa Barbara County. The REG FAQ also explicitly excludes the use of grant funds for lobbying, legal strategy, or 501(c)(4)-type work, even though those activities appear among broader organizational-priority examples; applicants should observe this spending restriction.
Application: The request-for-proposals period runs from October 16 to November 13, 2026. Optional pre-application review is available through November 6. The funder does not publish a precise cutoff hour on its public 2027 grant page. Applicants should review the complete four-page 2027 REG FAQ and submit through the Fund for Santa Barbara Submittable portal before November 13.
Official sources: 2027 Racial Equity Grant announcement, official 2027 FAQ and active funding-application portal instructions; checked October 25, 2026.
Source verificationReferenced source · fundforsantabarbara.orgAtlas last verified this record 2026-10-25. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
