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Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 77-0229243

James S Bower Foundation

A private foundation in Santa Barbara, CA. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 60 grants and $3.2 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2024 (period ending Dec 31, 2024), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
Jon Clark
26 W Micheltorena
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 564-8814
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

Assets and giving by year

7 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2024

    $3,170,750

    Grants listed
    60
    Assets, end of year
    $89,017,606

  • Tax year 2023

    $3,311,855

    Grants listed
    60
    Assets, end of year
    $86,066,816

  • Tax year 2022

    $3,862,100

    Grants listed
    57
    Assets, end of year
    $82,570,902

  • Tax year 2021

    $3,224,000

    Grants listed
    51
    Assets, end of year
    $96,825,144

  • Tax year 2020

    $3,320,872

    Grants listed
    50
    Assets, end of year
    $91,586,664

  • Tax year 2019

    $3,191,910

    Grants listed
    52
    Assets, end of year
    $71,269,781

  • Tax year 2018

    $2,473,250

    Grants listed
    49
    Assets, end of year
    $65,625,858

Grants paid in 2024

60 grants, largest first

As listed on the return. Grants to individuals show as “Individual”, with purpose and amount only.

  1. Community Environmental Council IncSanta Barbara, CA

    Climate change 50th anniversary campaign

    $400,000
  2. Carpinteria Children's ProjectCarpinteria, CA

    Early childhood education & family resource center

    $290,000
  3. Hospice of Santa Barbara IncSanta Barbara, CA

    Advance care planning and patient care services

    $222,500
  4. Individual

    General operating support

    $175,000
  5. Child Abuse Listening Mediation IncSanta Barbara, CA

    Coalition consultant regarding payment reform; invest in infrastructure & excellence

    $150,000
  6. Unite to LightSanta Barbara, CA

    Piloting clean, reliable energy for global climate action

    $150,000
  7. Santa Barbara Education FoundationSanta Barbara, CA

    Innovate DP; mission scholars; ollin project; kind mind program

    $112,000
  8. Center for Urban Agriculture at FaiGoleta, CA

    Phase 1 of the campaign to redesign and rebuild fairview gardens farm

    $100,000
  9. Fund for Santa Barbara IncSanta Barbara, CA

    NPRN & capacity building; social justice academy

    $80,000
  10. Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital FounSanta Barbara, CA

    Cottage/peac outreach program; goals of care program

    $80,000
  11. Santa Barbara FoundationSanta Barbara, CA

    Youth mental health 4r fund; rooted santa barbara; partnership for excellence & NPRN

    $80,000
  12. Natural Capitalism SolutionsLongmont, CO

    Clean coalition

    $60,000
  13. Legacy Philanthropy WorksSanta Barbara, CA

    Bridges to resilience conference;vandenberg sentinel landscape partnership

    $55,000
  14. Council on Alcoholism Drug AbuseSanta Barbara, CA

    The community capital campaign

    $50,000
  15. DignitymovesSan Francisco, CA

    Interim supportive housing in santa barbara county

    $50,000
  16. Individual

    Core operating support

    $50,000
  17. Gaviota Coast ConservancySanta Barbara, CA

    Gaviota coast conservancy operations

    $50,000
  18. New Venture FundWashington, DC

    America votes

    $50,000
  19. Sansum ClinicSanta Barbara, CA

    Palliative care & advanced care planning

    $50,000
  20. The Voter Participation CenterWashington, DC

    Voter mobilization

    $50,000
  21. Workmoney Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $50,000
  22. Individual

    Sbusd programming and case management

    $40,000
  23. Storyteller Children's Center IncSanta Barbara, CA

    General operating support

    $40,000
  24. Blue Sky Sustainable Living CenterNew Cuyama, CA

    Resilient cuyama valley

    $30,000
  25. Community InitiativesOakland, CA

    Central coast climate justice network

    $30,000
  26. Freedom 4 YouthSanta Barbara, CA

    Education & youth support programming expansion

    $30,000
  27. Individual

    [individual] EQUITY PROJECT

    $30,000
  28. San Marcos High School Royal PrideSanta Barbara, CA

    San marcos building community wellness project

    $30,000
  29. Individual

    General operating support

    $30,000
  30. Wilderness Youth ProjectSanta Barbara, CA

    General operating support

    $30,000
  31. At Still University of Health ScienKirksville, MO

    Bachelor's and master's degree programs in social work

    $25,000
  32. Gateway Educational ServicesSanta Barbara, CA

    Lift every student

    $25,000
  33. Individual

    Lompoc human trafficking prevention pilot

    $25,000
  34. Lompoc Teen CenterLompoc, CA

    Yes i can/si se puede, lompoc teen center

    $25,000
  35. Los Padres Forest Watch IncSanta Barbara, CA

    Room to roam project

    $25,000
  36. Santa Barbara Partners in EducationSanta Barbara, CA

    Program evaluation project phase II

    $25,000
  37. Savie Health CorpLompoc, CA

    Savie health clinic in lompoc

    $25,000
  38. Transition HouseSanta Barbara, CA

    Mom's infant care center

    $25,000
  39. United Way of Santa Barbara CountySanta Barbara, CA

    Academic achievement partnership

    $25,000
  40. Individual

    Jim bower golf tournament fore community outreach

    $20,000
  41. Coastal Ranches ConservancyGaviota, CA

    Gaviota coast task force project

    $20,000
  42. Environmental Defense CenterSanta Barbara, CA

    Santa barbara channel clean energy transition project

    $20,000
  43. Girls Inc of CarpinteriaCarpinteria, CA

    Core program support

    $20,000
  44. Leading From WithinSanta Barbara, CA

    Implementing shifts in our social sector

    $20,000
  45. Openminds Mental Health ServicesSanta Barbara, CA

    Psychological assessment training program

    $20,000
  46. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden IncSanta Barbara, CA

    Biodiversity impact & advocacy initiative

    $20,000
  47. World Telehealth InitiativeGoleta, CA

    Volunteerism to alleviate provider burnout

    $20,000
  48. Individual

    [individual]! PEACE BUILDERS: LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOR TEENS

    $15,000
  49. Individual

    Lompoc community changers program

    $15,000
  50. Girls Inc of Greater Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA

    Sbusd lunchtime program

    $15,000
  51. Individual

    Mentorship for black/african american students

    $15,000
  52. Westmont CollegeSanta Barbara, CA

    Peac nursing program

    $14,250
  53. Individual

    Early years advocacy program

    $10,000
  54. Family Therapy InstituteSanta Barbara, CA

    Shared crossing research initiative

    $10,000
  55. Martin Luther King Jr CommitteeAnnapolis, MD

    General operating support

    $10,000
  56. Individual

    Long covid medical education program

    $10,000
  57. The Freedom to Choose ProjectSanta Barbara, CA

    General operating support

    $10,000
  58. Individual

    Financial empowerment partnership w/peac

    $7,000
  59. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural HisSanta Barbara, CA

    Repatriation of native ancestors & sacred objects

    $5,000
  60. The Dalmatian Dreams Foundation DBASanta Barbara, CA

    Dreams for santa barbara seniors

    $5,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Environment10 grants $730,00034% of the total
  2. Education7 grants $521,25024% of the total
  3. Philanthropy and grantmaking4 grants $215,00010% of the total
  4. Crime and legal aid3 grants $180,0008% of the total
  5. International aid1 grant $150,0007% of the total
  6. Health3 grants $95,0004% of the total
  7. 5 other causes7 grants $245,00011% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. California41 grants $2,483,750
  2. District of Columbia2 grants $100,000
  3. Colorado1 grant $60,000
  4. Wisconsin1 grant $50,000
  5. Missouri1 grant $25,000
  6. Maryland1 grant $10,000

Officers, directors and trustees

4 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Harvey Bottelsen Thru 123124CHAIRMAN Hours 3Pay $30,000
  • Christopher A JacobsSECRETARY Hours 3Pay $30,000
  • David Alvarado Thru 123124TREASURER Hours 3Pay $30,000
  • Jon ClarkPRESIDENT Hours 40Pay $288,200

The return

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