OVERVIEW: The Santa Ynez Valley Foundation supports basic needs, human services health, seniors, youth, arts and culture and education in Southern California.
FUNDING AREAS: Basic needs, human services health, seniors, youth, arts and culture, education
IP TAKE: There are four opportunities each year to get involved with SYVF, a funder that has broad interests and an accessible application process.
PROFILE: Established in 1991, the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation (SYVF) is a community foundation based in Solvang, California. Stuart C. Gildred, a local philanthropist and horse breeder and trainer, founded SYVF. The foundation aims to "improve the lives of people in the Santa Ynez Valley and Los Alamos by investing in programs that feed the poor, promote health, nurture seniors, challenge our youth and inspire the community to make a difference. It funds local efforts for basic needs, human services health, seniors, youth, arts and culture and education.
The Santa Ynez Valley Foundation supports a wide variety of causes at the local level. Each year, SYVF awards a handful of grants in each of its categories of interest. In recent years, the foundation has been awarding the most grants for health and human services. It also responds to urgent needs with emergency funding. As a general rule, SYVF does not support environmental projects, media or book projects, research, government agencies, religious institutions or labor organizations.
Grants range between about $1,000 and $25,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the “who we help” page of the funder’s website. Grantmaking focuses on Santa Ynez Valley and Los Alamos in Southern California. Past local grantees include Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA, Solvang Elementary School District Education and the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. It uses a common grant application for regular requests and evaluates requests in January, April, July and October. Download the application on the SYCF website. Direct general questions to the staff at syvf@verizon.net or 805-688-2991.
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