James S Bower Foundation
Historical FunderSanta Barbara, California · EIN 77-0229243 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$3.2M
Organizations funded38
Typical grant$30,000
Total assets$89M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $20,000 and $50,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | JON CLARK |
|---|---|
| Address | 26 W MICHELTORENA, SANTA BARBARA CA 93101 |
| Phone | 8055648814 |
| Form and materials | ALL APPLICATIONS DONE ELECTRONICALLY. SEE INSTRUCTIONS AND CONTACT INFO ON WEBSITE (JSBOWERFOUNDATION.ORG) |
| Deadlines | SEE WEBSITE FOR CYCLE SUBMISSION |
| Restrictions | THE FOUNDATION LIMITS ITS GRANTS TO FOUR CATEGORIES: EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC, RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
13% of grants went outside California.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Environmental Council Inc | Santa Barbara, CA | Climate change 50th anniversary campaign | $400,000 |
| Carpinteria Children's Project | Carpinteria, CA | Early childhood education & family resource center | $290,000 |
| Hospice of Santa Barbara Inc | Santa Barbara, CA | Advance care planning and patient care services | $222,500 |
| Child Abuse Listening Mediation Inc | Santa Barbara, CA | Coalition consultant regarding payment reform; invest in infrastructure & excellence | $150,000 |
| Santa Barbara Education Foundation | Santa Barbara, CA | Innovate dp; mission scholars; ollin project; kind mind program | $112,000 |
| Center for Urban Agriculture at Fai | Goleta, CA | Phase 1 of the campaign to redesign and rebuild fairview gardens farm | $100,000 |
| Fund for Santa Barbara Inc | Santa Barbara, CA | Nprn & capacity building; social justice academy | $80,000 |
| Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foun | Santa Barbara, CA | Cottage/Peac outreach program; goals of care program | $80,000 |
| Santa Barbara Foundation | Santa Barbara, CA | Youth mental health 4R fund; rooted santa barbara; partnership for excellence & nprn | $80,000 |
| Council on Alcoholism Drug Abuse | Santa Barbara, CA | The community capital campaign | $50,000 |
| New Venture Fund | Washington, DC | America votes | $50,000 |
| Sansum Clinic | Santa Barbara, CA | Palliative care & advanced care planning | $50,000 |
| The Voter Participation Center | Washington, DC | Voter mobilization | $50,000 |
| Workmoney Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Storyteller Children's Center Inc | Santa Barbara, CA | General operating support | $40,000 |
| Blue Sky Sustainable Living Center | New Cuyama, CA | Resilient cuyama valley | $30,000 |
| Community Initiatives | Oakland, CA | Central coast climate justice network | $30,000 |
| Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare | Lompoc, CA | Lompoc equity project | $30,000 |
| San Marcos High School Royal Pride | Santa Barbara, CA | San marcos building community wellness project | $30,000 |
| Wilderness Youth Project | Santa Barbara, CA | General operating support | $30,000 |
| At Still University of Health Scien | Kirksville, MO | Bachelor's and master's degree programs in social work | $25,000 |
| Gateway Educational Services | Goleta, CA | Lift every student | $25,000 |
| Lompoc Teen Center | Lompoc, CA | Yes i can/si se puede, lompoc teen center | $25,000 |
| Los Padres Forest Watch Inc | Santa Barbara, CA | Room to roam project | $25,000 |
| Savie Health Corp | Lompoc, CA | Savie health clinic in lompoc | $25,000 |
| United Way of Santa Barbara County | Santa Barbara, CA | Academic achievement partnership | $25,000 |
| Environmental Defense Center | Santa Barbara, CA | Santa barbara channel clean energy transition project | $20,000 |
| Girls Inc of Carpinteria | Carpinteria, CA | Core program support | $20,000 |
| Openminds Mental Health Services | Santa Barbara, CA | Psychological assessment training program | $20,000 |
| Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Inc | Santa Barbara, CA | Biodiversity impact & advocacy initiative | $20,000 |
| Family Service Agency of Santa Barb | Santa Barbara, CA | Lompoc community changers program | $15,000 |
| Girls Inc of Greater Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | Sbusd lunchtime program | $15,000 |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA | Peac nursing program | $14,250 |
| Family Therapy Institute | Santa Barbara, CA | Shared crossing research initiative | $10,000 |
| Martin Luther King Jr Committee | Annapolis, MD | General operating support | $10,000 |
| The Freedom to Choose Project | Santa Barbara, CA | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Santa Barbara Museum of Natural His | Santa Barbara, CA | Repatriation of native ancestors & sacred objects | $5,000 |
| The Dalmatian Dreams Foundation Dba | Santa Barbara, CA | Dreams for santa barbara seniors | $5,000 |
The return also lists 22 grants to individuals ($902,000). We do not publish the names of individual recipients.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,170,750 | 60 |
| 2023 | $3,311,855 | 60 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 14, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202523189349105102
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 77-0229243
- Profile updated Nov 6, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.