The Scholarship Foundation has received its 14th consecutive four-star rating from nonprofit evaluator Charity Navigator. The rating – Charity Navigator’s highest – indicates superior financial efficiency and transparency in Scholarship Foundation operations. The Foundation has now received 23 four-star ratings in 24 years. The nation’s largest independent charity evaluator, Charity Navigator assesses organizations each year… Read more »
Kimberly Schizas, a local developer and longtime civic leader who has served on a host of area nonprofit boards and public commissions, has joined the Board of Directors for the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. A resident of Santa Barbara County for more than 50 years, Ms. Schizas graduated from UCSB with a bachelor’s degree… Read more »
Selected once again by the U.S. Department of Education to serve as an exclusive California test agent, the Scholarship Foundation hosted a community workshop in Santa Maria on August 7 to conduct testing of the latest iteration of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the third consecutive year that the Foundation… Read more »
Calen Ouellette, an award-winning nonprofit executive with more than 25 years of leadership and philanthropy experience spanning higher education, healthcare, and social advocacy, has been named president and CEO of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. He will begin serving in his new role on August 10. “The applicant pool for this position was particularly… Read more »
Dear Friends, What an exhilarating finish to Fiscal Year 2026! In a span of less than six weeks, our organization announced almost $8.5 million in scholarships for the coming academic year, celebrated local students and supporters at gatherings in both ends of the county, and presented an especially dazzling South Coast Business & Technology (SCBT)… Read more »
For the fourth consecutive year, the South Coast Business and Technology (SCBT) Awards ceremony has grossed record proceeds on behalf of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. Seven standout organizations and individuals were honored during the 2026 ceremony, which took place June 23 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. The annual awards recognize innovation,… Read more »
The Scholarship Foundation honored hundreds of area students at consecutive awards ceremonies on May 27 and 28. Approximately 650 people attended the Foundation’s South County Scholarship Awards Ceremony on May 27 at the Courthouse Sunken Garden in Santa Barbara, and approximately 850 people attended the organization’s North County Scholarship Awards Ceremony on May 28 at… Read more »
The Scholarship Foundation has awarded college scholarships totaling more than $8.4 million to 2,288 Santa Barbara County students for the 2026-27 academic year. Most high school seniors were notified of their awards on April 24; all other recipients were notified on May 15. Of the $8,457,996 awarded this year, $4,147,018 will help support students in… Read more »
Seven standout organizations and individuals will be honored during the 2026 South Coast Business & Technology (SCBT) Awards ceremony on June 23 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. The annual awards recognize innovation, leadership, and success in the area’s business and technology sectors. Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Scholarship Foundation of… Read more »
Dear Friends, I began serving as interim president and CEO of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara a little more than a month ago, and over the intervening weeks a few things have become absolutely clear. First, the Scholarship Foundation has been blessed with a truly exceptional staff. This had long been my sense, but… Read more »
