[Santa Barbara Foundation](https://sbfoundation.org)

March 2027 (Full application deadline, projected)

Up to $10,000 for a one-year period; typical awards are one year only.

Supports Santa Barbara County organizations in recruiting, retaining, and supporting youth mental health providers to address the urgent youth mental health crisis.

--- ## Description The Youth Mental Health Providers Recruit, Retain, Rest and Recuperation (4R) Grant Program, launched in 2023 by Carrie Towbes in partnership with the Santa Barbara Foundation, is designed to address the acute youth mental health crisis in Santa Barbara County. The program provides grants to organizations delivering direct behavioral healthcare to children, youth, and their families. The 4R Grant aims to help organizations attract and retain mental health professionals, support providers facing secondary trauma, and implement innovative, collaborative staffing strategies. Priority is given to organizations with clear goals, strong compensation strategies, and robust evaluation plans, all with the overarching objective of improving youth social emotional health and mental wellness in the community. --- ## Due Dates - March 2027 (anticipated/projected full application deadline) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Maximum grant amount: up to $10,000 - Grant duration: one year - Typical award: one-year project period --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must be certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or use a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. - Organizations must provide direct behavioral healthcare services to youth, families, and caregivers in Santa Barbara County. - Public entities (e.g., schools, universities, libraries) may apply through an affiliated or supporting 501(c)(3) organization. - Applicants must have mental health professionals (licensed clinicians or those earning hours toward licensure) providing direct services. - Priority is given to organizations with: - Clearly defined goals and outcomes - Professionalized compensation strategies - Plans to evaluate pay structures and measure program impact --- ## Application Process - Applications are submitted via the Santa Barbara Foundation’s SmartSimple online grant portal. - Required documents include: - Organizational profile - Program Budget Form - Narrative responses addressing goals, staffing strategies, scope of impact, evaluation methods, and pay structure review - Review the [Application & Submittal Procedures](https://sbfoundation.org/nonprofits/application-and-submittal-procedures/) and [Eligibility Criteria & FAQs](https://sbfoundation.org/nonprofits/eligibility-criteria-faqs/) before applying. - Strong applications will demonstrate: - Well-documented recruitment and retention strategies - Substantial community impact - Clear, feasible plans for measurement and evaluation - Comprehensive pay structure evaluation --- ## Additional Information - The Foundation considers geographic spread, population served, and organization size to ensure balanced grantmaking. - Scoring rubric prioritizes applications that strongly meet all program criteria (strategy, impact, evaluation, pay structure). - Only one application per organization is typically allowed per cycle. --- ## External Links - [Program Page: Youth Mental Health Providers 4R Grant Program](https://sbfoundation.org/nonprofits/4r/) - [2026 Program Guidelines (PDF)](https://sbfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026_YMHP_4R_Guidelines.pdf) - [Application & Submittal Procedures](https://sbfoundation.org/nonprofits/application-and-submittal-procedures/) - [Eligibility Criteria & FAQs](https://sbfoundation.org/nonprofits/eligibility-criteria-faqs/) --- ## Contact Information | Name / Department | Email | Phone | |-------------------|----------------------------|-------------------| | Jamie Perez (Program Contact) | [jperez@sbfoundation.org](mailto:jperez@sbfoundation.org) | (805) 880-9395 | | Hazel Naftzger (Technical Assistance) | [hnaftzger@sbfoundation.org](mailto:hnaftzger@sbfoundation.org) | (805) 880-9377 | | General Inquiries | [info@sbfoundation.org](mailto:info@sbfoundation.org) | (805) 963-1873 | | Programs Department Team | [Programs@SBFoundation.org](mailto:Programs@SBFoundation.org) | (805) 963-1873 |

Youth Mental Health Providers Recruit, Retain, Rest and Recuperation (4R) Grant Program

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