Crawford Idema Family Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Crawford Idema Family Foundation supports human services for the homeless and hungry, as well as programs for LGBTQ and local environmental conservation in Santa Barbara, California, and beyond.
IP TAKE: This funder offers grants for projects, general operating costs, organizational capacity building, facilities, equipment, and capital campaigns. It opens a brief application window each year, so grantseekers should plan accordingly. Because it’s so low key, contact its officers to learn more about how its grantmaking may be evolving and how it funds. However, it’s a supportive funder that’s also open-minded.
Grantseekers may submit a brief letter of inquiry from April 1 through August 15 for consideration in the current year’s grantmaking cycle. Send submissions to the attention of Philip Vander Wilden at PhilipV@crawford-idema.org.
PROFILE: Founded in 1997 through a gift from Tom and Nancy Crawford, the Crawford Idema Family Foundation supports organizations “benefiting society by strengthening institutions dedicated to helping individuals lead healthy and productive lives.” The foundation maintains a low public profile. As a result, it does not operate a website and employs only one formal staff member. Overall, it seeks to support organizations that “provide opportunities, services, and training for individuals to lead independent, productive, and healthy lives,” “enhance understanding, tolerance, compassion, and a sense of shared community between all people,” “promote a community of caring and compassion,” and “promote the preservation of the natural environment.” Its main focus areas address economic disparity, racial or gender prejudice, and substance abuse.
Grants for LGBTQ
The Crawford Idema Family Foundation promotes social and economic empowerment for all individuals, including the LGBTQ community. In this space, the foundation prioritizes increasing the availability of programs for LGBTQ youth, providing access to counseling and support for LGBTQ youth and their families, challenging misconceptions and stereotypes of the LGBTQ community, and increasing the prominence of positive gay and lesbian role models. Grantees include Pacific Pride Foundation.
Grants for Housing, Community Development, Food Systems, and Economic Development
The Crawford Idema Family Foundation supports organizations that “provide opportunities, services, and training for individuals to lead independent, productive, and healthy lives” in Santa Barbara and Southern California. It funds efforts to alleviate homelessness, including food banks, traditional housing, substance abuse treatment, employment aid, and mental health counseling. Grantees include Transition House, Food Bank of Santa Barbara County, Community Counseling Center, Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Casa Serena, and Sarah House.
Grants for Environmental Conservation
The Crawford Idema Family Foundation broadly supports organizations that “promote the preservation of the natural environment” in Santa Barbara, California, and beyond. It primarily focuses on land usage, wildlife conservation, and local green spaces. Grantees include Environmental Defense Center, Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, and Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens.
Important Grant Details:
While the foundation does not have grant limits, its tax filings indicate that most awards range between $5,000 to $20,000. In a recent year, it gave away $500,000. Crawford Idema has one grantmaking cycle per year with decisions made by the board in early November. Grantseekers may submit a brief letter of inquiry from April 1 through August 15 for consideration in the current year’s grantmaking cycle. Applicants should send their submissions to the attention of Philip Vander Wilden at the address provided below or contact him via email at PhilipV@crawford-idema.org.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Crawford Idema Family Foundation
100 Main Street, Suite 325
Concord, Massachusetts 01742
(978) 315-0505
