Santa Barbara County Wellbeing Dashboard receives Schmidt grant

A $250,000 grant from Eric and Wendy Schmidt has been awarded to accelerate the completion of the Santa Barbara County Community Wellbeing Dashboard. The project, which began in 2024, aims to provide a comprehensive, real-time snapshot of the region's collective well-being through an accessible online platform.

The dashboard currently tracks four focus areas: health, food security, housing, and economic security. The new funding will support the development of the remaining four interconnected elements—education, peace and justice, sustainable ecosystems, and community connectedness—with full completion expected by 2027.

This community-led collaborative effort is supported by several organizations, including the Santa Barbara Foundation, the Natalie Orfalea Foundation, the Towbes Foundation, and the Schiele Family Foundation. The initiative is designed to equip residents, policymakers, and nonprofit organizations with actionable data to address regional challenges.