Our partnering nonprofit agencies identify clients already in their system that need emergency financial assistance and have exhausted all other options for support. Working together, we are able to quickly cover crisis needs and help relieve a little of the stress they are enduring.

The agency social worker fills out our Crisis Gap Funding Application with the client and submits it to The Starfish Connection.

Our funding committee reviews the application and if approved, we issue payment direct to the vendor. Approved crisis funding is available up to $2500 per recipient.

Our process is unique and predicated on the belief that a small act of generosity can have a life altering affect. That we all have a responsibility to help our neighbors through tough times and that giving is a form of self-healing.

These trusted partners are the key to our Crisis Funding program. Each of these organizations is providing critical services to our neighbors and we are proud to work with them. Because of them, we are able to issue funding typically withing 24 hours.

Thank you for your tireless work in our community!

HOSPICE OF SANTA BARBARA

MENTAL WELLNESS CENTER

HEARTS ALIGNED

TEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION

LEAP

If you are a tri-county area nonprofit organization and are interested in working with The Starfish Connection, please fill out our application.

To qualify for a Starfish Connection crisis funding, clients must meet the following criteria:

Client must be receiving services from a partnering nonprofit agency. The client needs a one-time, emergent financial gift in one of the following areas:

Housing: Rental/housing assistance, emergency temporary housing after displacement

Transportation: if it impedes a person getting to school, treatments or palliative care, auto repair, MTD bus pass, gift card for fuel, past due car payment/s

Emergency displacement supplies: Food, clothing, school supplies, lodging

Other: Burial or cremation assistance, appliances/furniture for families/individuals who are critically ill.

All the the following statements must be true:

Service needed is not available from other organizations or the client has exhausted the support available.

Clients must be able to provide proof of need i.e.: car repair bill, past due utility bill, tuition statement/books/materials list, burial or cremation invoice so that Starfish Connection can pay the invoice directly to the provider. A w9 must be furnished for funding requests over $600