Funders › California

Brittingham Family Foundation

Santa Barbara, CA · EIN 26-2992045. Reported 357 grants totalling $5,661,204 to 106 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$5,000median grant
$5,661,204granted, 2021-2025
106recipients, as named on its returns
89%of grantees funded again the next year
$57.9Massets, latest filing

Does this foundation accept applications?

Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Brittingham Family Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,500 and $10,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $250,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

$1,000 - $5,000
123 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
95 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
76 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
29 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
19 grants
$100,000 and Up
15 grants

Every organization it funded

This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
University of Wisconsin FoundationMadison, WI$477,244442025
Fractured Atlas Productions IncHartsdale, NY$350,0001952025
Crane Country Day SchoolSanta Barbara, CA$305,400742025
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA$291,000742025
Jewish Federation of Greater SbSanta Barbara, CA$250,000112025
Uniondocs IncRidgewood, NY$250,000112025
USC Marshall School of BusinessLos Angeles, CA$250,000332025
Santa Barbara Center for Performing ArtsSanta Barbara, CA$233,7501152025
Community InitiativesOakland, CA$200,000222025
Elings Park FoundationSanta Barbara, CA$200,000222024
Four Winds IncDear Harbor, WA$185,000752025
Aspen Wildfire FoundationAspen, CO$155,000212025
Lobero Theatre FoundationSanta Barbara, CA$150,000652025
US Olympic & Paralympic FoundationColorado Springs, CO$150,000112025
Thacher School IncOjai, CA$145,3101452025
Aspen Center for Environmental StudiesAspen, CO$126,0001052025
Scholarship Foundation of Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA$121,000652025
Cedars-SinaiLos Angeles, CA$100,000222022
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital FoundationGoleta, CA$100,000432025
Stanford University - Office of DevelopmentStanford, CA$80,000542024
Heal the OceanSanta Barbara, CA$75,000552025
Rex FoundationSan Anseimo, CA$75,000222025
Santa Barbara Neighborhood ClinicsSanta Barbara, CA$75,000752025
US Olympic and Paralympic FoundationColorado Springs, CO$75,000112024
Santa Barbara Bucket BrigadeSanta Barbara, CA$65,000442025
CASA Del Herrero FoundationSanta Barbara, CA$55,000212025
Planned Parenthood Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA$55,000552025
Dream FoundationSanta Barbara, CA$50,0001052025
Surf Happens FoundationSanta Barbara, CA$50,000552025
Transition HouseSanta Barbara, CA$50,000332025
Mayo ClinicRochester, MN$49,000112021
Santa Barbara Education FoundationSanta Barbara, CA$47,500652025
Aspen Valley Hospital FoundationAspen, CO$42,500552025
Sb County Immigrant Legal Defense CenterSanta Barbara, CA$40,000442025
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural HistorySanta Barbara, CA$35,000552025
Immigrant Hope Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA$32,500552025
O-Higher EdOjai, CA$27,500222025
Wilderness Youth Project IncSanta Barbara, CA$27,500552025
Coastal Ranches ConservancyGaviota, CA$25,000552025
Santa Barbara Historical MuseumSanta Barbara, CA$25,000442025
Foodbank of Santa Barbara CountySanta Barbara, CA$22,500552025
Unity ShoppeSanta Barbara, CA$22,500442025
Endowment for Youth CommitteeSolvang, CA$20,000222022
Hearst Castle Preservation FoundationSan Ramon, CA$20,000332025
Neighbors for a Better San FranciscoSan Rafeal, CA$20,000222025
Santa Barbara Rescue MissionSanta Barbara, CA$20,000552025
Stanford University - Athletic DeptStanford, CA$20,000222022
The Alcazar TheatreCarpinteria, CA$20,000222025
Harvard-Westlake SchoolLos Angeles, CA$17,500552025
Rooted in Santa Barbara CountySanta Barbara, CA$16,000222024
Family Service AgencySanta Barbara, CA$15,000332025
Hospice of Santa Barbara IncSanta Barbara, CA$15,000332025
Aspen Valley Ski-Snowboard Club IncAspen, CO$13,500442025
Community Environmental CouncilSanta Barbara, CA$12,500552025
Foundation for Sb City CollegeSanta Barbara, CA$12,500552025
Organic Soup KitchenSanta Barbara, CA$12,500552025
Aspen FilmAspen, CO$12,000222025
Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara IncSanta Barbara, CA$10,000112025
Carpinteria Children's ProjectCarpinteria, CA$10,000112025
Fish Reef ProjectSanta Barbara, CA$10,000112025
Human Rights Watch IncLos Angeles, CA$10,000112023
Little Village FoundationSolvang, CA$10,000222025
Montessori Ctr Sch at Sb & Students IncGoleta, CA$10,000112025
Music Associates of Aspen IncAspen, CO$10,000112025
Santa Barbara Audubon SocietySanta Barbara, CA$10,000112025
Santa Barbara Humane SocietySanta Barbara, CA$10,000442025
Steadfast La FoundationLos Angeles, CA$10,000112025
Family Therapy Institute of Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA$9,000552025
Rocky Mountain InstituteBasalt, CO$8,500332023
Leading From WithinSanta Barbara, CA$7,000332023
Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA$6,500552025
Cancer Foundation of Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA$6,000222025
Santa Barbara Wildlife Care NetworkSanta Barbara, CA$6,000332025
Angels Foster CareSanta Barbara, CA$5,000552025
Aspem Wildlife FoundationAspen, CO$5,000112024
Aspen Historical SocietyAspen, CO$5,000112025
Aspen JournalismAspen, CO$5,000222025
California Avocado Festival IncCarpinteria, CA$5,000112025
Land Trust for Santa Barbara CountySanta Barbara, CA$5,000552025
Lange FoundationLos Angeles, CA$5,000552025
Los Padres Forest WatchSanta Barbara, CA$5,000552025
Montecito Firefighters Charitable FoundationSanta Barbara, CA$5,000112021
MusicaresSanta Monica, CA$5,000112025
Nature Track FoundationLos Olivos, CA$5,000112025
Neighborhood Youth Association IncVenice, CA$5,000222025
Pasadena Humane Society & SPCAPasadena, CA$5,000112025
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky MountainsDenver, CO$5,000112025
Polytechnic SchoolPasadena, CA$5,000552025
Rescue Mission AllianceOxnard, CA$5,000112021
Star Jasmine FoundationSanta Barbara, CA$5,000112025
Tip the Spear Landmine Removal IncMilton, FL$5,000112024
Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of SbSanta Barbara, CA$5,000112025
Wishtoyo FoundationVentura, CA$5,000112025
Showers of BlessingGoleta, CA$3,500222022
Catalyst CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA$3,000332025
Community Counseling Center IncSanta Barbara, CA$3,000222022
BacklinePortland, OR$2,500112025
Grateful Dead Studies AssociationScotts Valley, CA$2,500112025
Las MadrinasLos Angeles, CA$2,500112022
Rose Bowl Aquatics CenterPasadena, CA$2,500112021
Advancement ProjectLos Angeles, CA$2,000222022
American Jewish CommitteeNew York, NY$2,000112025
Montecito Trails FoundationSanta Barbara, CA$2,000222022
Mountain Rescue AspenAspen, CO$2,000222022
Storyteller Children's Center IncSanta Barbara, CA$2,000222022
Rooted Santa Barbara CountySanta Barbara, CA$1,000112025

72 of 106 (68%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.

Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 89%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.

What the money was for

Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 296 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.

Education
62 grants
Arts & Culture
60 grants
Human Services
45 grants
Environment
39 grants
Health Care
18 grants
Recreation & Sports
13 grants
Food & Nutrition
10 grants
Public Safety & Disaster Relief
9 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
202169$853,810$5,000
202262$774,000$5,000
202357$612,000$5,000
202470$1,401,880$5,000
202599$2,019,514$5,000

Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.

Where its money goes

66% of its giving went to organizations in California. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.

California
$3.7M
Colorado
$614K
New York
$602K
Wisconsin
$477K
Washington
$185K
Minnesota
$49K
Massachusetts
$6K
Florida
$5K

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Funders that support the same organizations

These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund74 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc69 shared recipientsNational Philanthropic Trust48 shared recipientsSanta Barbara Foundation46 shared recipientsVanguard Charitable Endowment Program43 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc37 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $5,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in California.
  3. Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
  4. Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.

Related guides

Foundations funding education in CaliforniaEvery funder in this groupFoundations funding arts & culture in CaliforniaEvery funder in this groupFoundations funding human services in CaliforniaEvery funder in this groupFoundations funding environment in CaliforniaEvery funder in this group

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from Brittingham Family Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.

Address of record on the latest return: 1482 E Valley Road 703, Santa Barbara, CA, 93108. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.

EIN 26-2992045 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.