CEC is committed to creating a more resilient and just region in the face of climate change. Through our work with the Central Coast Climate Justice Network and elsewhere, our vision includes an end to racial injustices and their resulting environmental inequities.

COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL Impact Report
DOWNLOAD IMPACT REPORT

BUILDING A RESILIENT FUTURE WITH BOLD CLIMATE ACTION

Like you, we entered 2020 with a very different idea of how our work would unfold this year. While California and the Central Coast are still facing many unknowns, at CEC there are a few things we know for sure:

First, the climate crisis is not on hiatus. While greenhouse gas emissions have mercifully dropped in the first half of the year, these are temporary reductions from the COVID-19 global pandemic that have come at a great cost and are not sustainable without true systems change. In the meantime, our region continues to experience unprecedented effects of climate change: extreme heat, catastrophic wildfire, drought, and more intense storms. The most recent IPCC report warns that we have just 10 years to make radical changes to avoid the worst-case climate scenarios. That means we don’t have a second to spare — we must lean relentlessly into the work of climate action, together.

Second, we are learning from other crises. The past months have been a real-time exercise in collectively protecting public health and grappling with the roots of racism, oppression, and environmental degradation. While there is much, much more to be done, media outlets are now more regularly spotlighting the fragility of our highly globalized food system, employers have become more comfortable with telecommuting tools, and a new awareness is growing that social and economic inequity are exacerbated by crisis — whether it be public health, economic or environmental. The CEC team is actively applying these lessons to the climate crisis — seeking out meaningful paths to community and climate resilience.

Third, massive, rapid change is possible — and the window to act is now. Navigating the combined crises of a global pandemic, an economic shutdown, structural racism, fraying political institutions, and growing climate chaos with its own related disasters is a monumental task. But through CEC’s climate resilience work, we know that the Central Coast has everything it needs to model a healthy and vibrant path forward. To do this, we must dig deep, root out injustices, build stronger systems and networks, and reinforce our safety nets. It’s time to swiftly come together as a society, acknowledge our interconnectedness, and take necessary, if sometimes painful, steps to protect our community from climate chaos — just as we’ve done in response to this pandemic.

CEC is all in on this effort. In these pages we share our successes and stories, including how building community resilience is at the center of everything we do. Ultimately, this comes down to ensuring that everyone is heard, cared for and prepared to weather the literal and figurative storms ahead. If we can do this — knit an impenetrable social fabric — it will be our region’s superpower.

Wishing you health,

“CEC’s clear voice and effective advocacy for sound environmental policies is critical, now more than ever. They are an invaluable resource in the fight against the climate crisis, educating residents on the Central Coast and beyond by launching initiatives to eliminate waste and increase resilience. It is an honor to work alongside them for the betterment of our community.”

U.S. CONGRESSMAN
SALUD CARBAJAL

CEC.
50 years of environmental activism.

In 1969, the devastating impacts of the Santa Barbara oil spill catapulted our community and the nation into action. In the spring of 1970, a group of forward-thinking 20-somethings incorporated CEC and, in their first act as a new nonprofit, held a teach-in on the first annual Earth Day. Around the country, 20 million concerned citizens attended similar events, and the modern environmental movement was born.

To help maintain the sanctity of our beautiful beach town, over the next few decades CEC incubated and scaled up dozens of game-changing programs, campaigns, and collaborations in critical areas such as recycling, hazardous waste reduction, watershed protection, environmental education, and green buildings. Projects we innovated like curbside recycling and hazardous waste collection are now part of everyday household routines across the country.

CEC.
50 years of environmental activism.

In 1969, the devastating impacts of the Santa Barbara oil spill catapulted our community and the nation into action. In the spring of 1970, a group of forward-thinking 20-somethings incorporated CEC and, in their first act as a new nonprofit, held a teach-in on the first annual Earth Day. Around the country, 20 million concerned citizens attended similar events, and the modern environmental movement was born.

To help maintain the sanctity of our beautiful beach town, over the next few decades CEC incubated and scaled up dozens of game-changing programs, campaigns, and collaborations in critical areas such as recycling, hazardous waste reduction, watershed protection, environmental education, and green buildings. Projects we innovated like curbside recycling and hazardous waste collection are now part of everyday household routines across the country.

About 15 years ago, CEC became increasingly concerned about a newer unfolding disaster: climate change. At that time no other major regional organizations were addressing this issue. We felt so strongly that the impending environmental disruption would require massive, coordinated responses at the local level that we transitioned all of our programs to new homes, sold our buildings to fund this new work, and focused 100 percent of our time, expertise, and creativity on developing a regional response to the climate crisis.

This led to current programs that lay a critical foundation for community resilience: electric vehicle adoption, regenerative agriculture, food waste reduction, solar installation, and single use plastic bans.

Today, CEC remains at the forefront of the climate movement, advocating for critical infrastructure and system reform. Tapping the energy of today’s youth activists and the gravity of climate justice groups, we seek equitable solutions to address root causes of climate change and prepare our region to weather its worst impacts. As in 1970, we have our sleeves rolled up and our boots on the ground, working together with you to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, drawdown carbon from the atmosphere, and build momentum for deep, rapid transformation.

Rethink Food.

603 ranchers and policymakers have attended a CEC on-farm educational event

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

We work to increase the use of carbon farming by demonstrating clear economic and environmental benefits to diverse stakeholders.

FOOD ACTION NETWORK

CEC has been working for years to build food resilience on a larger scale — co-leading the development of a community-driven strategic plan that annually connects and activates over 400 stakeholders to guide and strengthen the largely-invisible local food system. In collaboration with the Foodbank of Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Foundation and others, we recently launched the Santa Barbara County Food Action Network to continue implementing that plan, under the leadership of the network’s first executive director.

Rethink Food.

SBC FOOD RESCUE

We prevent produce and restaurant-quality prepared food from going to the landfill and instead direct it to organizations that feed people facing hunger in Santa Barbara County. This groundwork allows our Food Rescue Network to rapidly scale up in times of crisis. In response to COVID-19, we established an information hub to help Santa Barbara County government, nonprofit, and businesses collaboratively problem solve for short and long term food needs.

over 60 TONS of edible food kept from going to the landfill to date

Food rescue recipients

Allan Hancock College
Buellton Senior Center
Casa Serena
Domestic Violence Solutions
Father Virgil Cordano Center
Mental Wellness Center
New House II & III
Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter
Salvation Army Hospitality House
Santa Barbara City College
Sarah House
Veggie Rescue

Clean Energy.

CLEAN ENERGY 805

CEC’s advocacy helped secure unanimous votes by the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to permit the Strauss Wind Energy Project, which will DOUBLE local renewable energy and provide enough clean electricity to power 43,000 homes in our region.

CEC works to speed up our region’s transition to clean energy by advocating for Strategic Energy Plans for Santa Barbara County and the Cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria. The plans include developing back-up power plans for critical facilities, updating utility-scale solar ordinances, exploring a Community Solar Project, and establishing best practices for solar and storage permitting.

19 cities in the tricounty region have moved forward with a community choice program, as well as the counties of Ventura and Santa Barbara

Arroyo Grande, Camarillo, Carpinteria, Goleta, Grover Beach, Guadalupe, Moorpark, Morro Bay, Ojai, Oxnard, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Simi Valley, Solvang, Thousand Oaks, Ventura

The Strauss Wind Energy project will provide enough clean electricity to power 43,000 homes

COMMUNITY CHOICE ENERGY

Community Choice Energy programs provide local control over electricity procurement, creating a strong market for renewable energy while investing in regional clean technology programs. We advocate for local cities and counties to commit to Community Choice Energy programs — the single most effective tool to rapidly transition our region to carbon-free electricity. We urge participating agencies to set 100% renewable energy defaults for their communities.

Go Solar.

172kw
of solar panels on local nonprofits
803
home rooftop solar systems added to date
85%
average reduction of home utility bills through Solarize

SOLARIZE NONPROFIT

We provide no-upfront-cost solar systems to nonprofits to lower their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

NONPROFITS SERVED

  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast – Santa Maria campus
  • Girls Inc. of Carpinteria
  • Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition
  • Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center
  • Santa Barbara Rescue Mission
  • Wildling Museum

SOLARIZE

We continue to provide more affordable home solar through a group purchasing model that offers a streamlined, hassle-free process.

For more information, go to cecsolarize.org

Drive Less.

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

We build human-focused, zero-emission transportation solutions to help create communities centered on people, not cars. In recent years, CEC has advocated for stronger policies and projects in more than 10 city and county transportation plans, including the region’s first Vision Zero initiative now being implemented in the City of Santa Barbara to make streets safer for people who walk or bike.

COMMUNITY PLANNING

We continually support initiatives for sustainable community development and housing solutions that will give more people better options to live and work locally, so they can skip the long commute.

Drive Clean.

ELECTRIC DRIVE 805

CEC pursues a rapid transition to clean transportation on the Central Coast, and recently launched ElectricDrive805.org, a resource for individuals and businesses – including low-income drivers – to affordably switch to electric vehicles.

1,000 public electric vehicle charging stations in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties

ELECTRIC FLEETS

CEC’s advocacy helps convince counties and cities to make stronger commitments to electrify fleets and build more charging stations.

3,524 electric vehicle test drives at 20+ Green Car Shows

GREEN CAR SHOWS

In 2019 alone, three showcases engaged 23,000 people in education on the benefits of electric cars and bikes.

Ditch Plastic.

RETHINK THE DRINK

CEC provides hydration stations and school assembly presentations that teach students and staff to ditch single-use plastic water bottles and reduce other plastic waste. Over the last decade, we have helped 68 schools across Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

MOST RECENT SCHOOLS

  • GUADALUPE
    Mary Buren Elementary School
  • LOMPOC
    Hapgood Elementary School
  • SANTA MARIA
    St. Joseph High School
  • SANTA YNEZ
    Santa Ynez Valley Charter School
  • VENTURA
    Anacapa Middle School
    Buena High School

101 total water bottle refill stations

37,136 students and staff now have access to hydration stations

nearly 5,000,000 single-use bottles avoided

10 tons of film plastic upcycled

FILM PLASTIC UPCYCLING

CEC partners with Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners & Tailors and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper to collect and upcycle film plastic, including plastic bags, bubble wrap and bags used to wrap bread, produce, paper goods, and newspapers. We work with elementary, high school and college students to collect and sort plastic as well as to educate the public about this program.

7 regional laws passed that curb single-use plastic

STRAW & FOAM FREE

Laws we helped create are in effect to ban distribution of plastic straws, stirrers, lids and Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene).

We engage with youth in the advocacy process, encouraging them to speak at public hearings and work with us to spread the #ditchplastic message to local businesses.

Climate Justice.

CENTRAL COAST CLIMATE JUSTICE NETWORK

To build true community resilience, CEC and CAUSE co-founded the Central Coast Climate Justice Network to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to address root causes of the climate crisis that disproportionately burden our region’s most impacted communities. As part of this work, we hold and participate in workshops to educate leaders on pathways to embed equity in climate work.

CONNECTED 2050

CEC is helping the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments develop their long-range transportation plan. Our two bilingual community ambassadors are engaging vulnerable populations to ensure they have a voice in balancing transportation and housing needs with other social, economic, and environmental goals.

Connected2050.0rg / Conectados2050.org

114 government, nonprofit, and community leaders attended trainings on language justice and centering frontline communities in decision making

152 community leaders joined roundtables to prepare for the impacts of climate change

CLIMATE RESILIENCE ROUNDTABLES

The first two sessions focused on impacts of wildfire, smoke, sea level rise, and flooding. The series will continue online through 2020, addressing other identified threats from the Fourth California Climate Change Assessment: heavy precipitation events, temperature increase, drought, decreasing snowpack, and water supply.

Climate Resilience.

CLIMATE RESILIENCE ROUNDTABLES

To frame a community vision for climate resilience and adaptation in Santa Barbara County, we are holding a year long series of Climate Resilience Roundtables. We gather a diverse cross section of community leaders and stakeholders to identify potential actions and strategies for preparing for impacts of climate change.

HOME ENERGY STORAGE

In the midst of recent wildfires, the coronavirus crisis and public safety power shutoffs, we help residents understand energy storage options for preparation and safety. 

420 Santa Barbara and Ventura County residents attended battery storage workshops

Earth Day.
50 years of environmental education + action.

Widely acknowledged as the birthplace of Earth Day, Santa Barbara’s involvement began with the devastating 1969 oil spill, when concerned citizens gathered to discuss a different way of looking at environmental systems. During that time, Senator Gaylord Nelson visited Santa Barbara to view the oil spill damage. When he returned to Washington, D.C., he introduced a bill designating April 22 as a national day to celebrate the earth.

Over the next few years, the environmental movement was born across the country — including CEC. In the spring of 1970, CEC incorporated and, in its initial act as a new nonprofit, hosted Santa Barbara Earth Day, one of the first celebrations of its kind in the country.

Today, CEC’s Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is the region’s largest effort (average annual attendance of 30,000+) to educate the community about environmental issues and spur personal action.

In 2019, the festival included a Climate Crisis Summit, convening a diverse intergenerational group of 75 community leaders to foster opportunities for collaboration and solution-building.

In response to COVID-19, we hosted #TogetherWeEarthrise, an online Earth Day Festival dedicated to inspiration, community building, and climate action that has engaged over 41,000 people to date.

over 41,000 people engaged with our online Earth Day Festival in 2020

CEC Leadership & Team

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A group of strong advocates providing strategic input for CEC’s mission to create local solutions to the challenges of climate change.

John H. Steed
President

Catherine Brozowski
Vice President

Kathy Yeung
Treasurer

Charles Newman
Secretary

Nadra Ehrman
Carolyn Fitzgerald
Laura Francis
Adam Green
Karl Hutterer
Bruce Kendall
Kim Kimbell
Barbara S. Lindemann
Elliott MacDougall
Pat McElroy
David N. Pellow

PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL

A group of founders, past directors and esteemed friends who have given significantly of their time, effort and resources to the organization.

Dennis Allen
Diane Boss
Laura Capps
Jon Clark
Hal Conklin
Dave Davis
Carla Frisk
Dick Jensen
Ivor John
John Jostes
Mike Noling
Paul Relis
Michel Saint-Sulpice
Leanne Schlinger
Elizabeth Wagner
Sally Warner-Arnett

PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL

A broad spectrum of community leaders who act as ambassadors to advocate, network, and promote on behalf of CEC.

Christine DeVries Co-chair
Michelle Weinman Co-chair

Megan Birney
Karen Brill
Linda Cheresh
Kristin Hogue
Dawn Mitcham
Wendy Read
Aaron Ritter
Missy Robertson
Stan Roden
Bret A. Stone
Jacob Tell
Sally Terrell
Deborah Williams

OUR TEAM

A small, dedicated team works tirelessly to implement CEC’s programs and advocate for policies that bring about real solutions to climate change.

Sigrid Wright CEO

Julia Blanton
Michael Chiacos
Alhan Diaz-Correa
Cameron Gray
Jennifer Hernández
Katie Hershfelt
Lisa Javellana Hill
Iris Kelly
Kathi King
Sharyn Main
Gina Nisbet
April Price
Ana Rico
Allegra Roth
Becca Summers
Nicole Wald
Sue Walker
Michael Williams

Partnerships.

CEC continues to actively cultivate a tightly woven fabric of community networks and partnerships across every focus area. These connections are critical to building the resilient community we need to stay strong in the face of increased climate impacts and other disasters.

160 current business, nonprofit and government partners

We also partner with local schools and universities to usher in the next generation of environmentalists through an ongoing internship program.

CEC Partners.

Act on Climate

  • Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at UC Santa Barbara
  • Citizens’ Climate Lobby Environmental Coalition
  • Environmental Defense Center
  • Environmental Studies Program at UC Santa Barbara
  • Get Oil Out!
  • Green Business Program
  • League of Women Voters
  • Santa Barbara County Association of Governments
  • Sierra Club Los Padres Chapter
  • Sustainable Future

Clean Energy / Go Solar

  • Asteri Solar
  • Brighten Solar
  • California Solar Electric
  • Central Coast Green Building Council
  • City of Carpinteria
  • City of Goleta
  • City of Moorpark
  • City of Santa Barbara
  • City of Thousand Oaks
  • City of Ventura
  • Clean Coalition
  • County of Santa Barbara
  • County of Ventura
  • Good Energy Solar
  • League of Women Voters
  • Santa Barbara Contractors Association
  • Sierra Club Los Padres Chapter
  • South County Energy Efficiency Partnership
  • Southern California Edison
  • Sun Pacific Solar Electric
  • Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance
  • World Business Academy

Ditch Plastic

  • Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners & Tailors
  • Adams Elementary School
  • Adams Elementary School Ocean Guardian Ambassadors
  • Adelante Elementary School
  • Audacious Foundation
  • Briggs School, Santa Paula
  • Brittingham Family Foundation
  • California Public Interest Group
  • UC Santa Barbara Chapter
  • Carpinteria Middle School
  • City of Carpinteria
  • College Elementary School, Santa Ynez
  • David Segall Music
  • Franklin Elementary School
  • Hapgood Elementary School, Lompoc
  • Johnson Ohana Foundation
  • Kellogg Elementary School
  • Ocean Guardian Ambassadors
  • La Canada Elementary School, Lompoc
  • La Cumbre Junior High School
  • La Honda Elementary School, Lompoc
  • Mary Buren Elementary School, Guadalupe
  • McKinley Elementary School
  • Monroe Elementary School
  • Mylar Mistake
  • Notre Dame School
  • Olivelands Elementary School, Santa Paula
  • Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
  • Santa Barbara School Board
  • Sustainability Committee
  • Santa Ynez Valley Charter School
  • St. Joseph High School, Santa Maria
  • St. Mary of the Assumption School, Santa Maria
  • St. Raphael School, Goleta
  • Summerland Elementary School
  • UCSB Associated Students Coastal Fund

Rethink Food

  • Allan Hancock College
  • Buellton Senior Center
  • Cachuma Resource Conservation District
  • Casa Serena
  • Central Coast Sustainability Summit
  • Chumash Casino
  • City of Buellton, Public Works
  • City of Carpinteria, Public Works
  • City of Goleta
  • City of Lompoc, Public Works, Solid Waste Division
  • City of Santa Barbara, Environmental Services
  • City of Santa Maria, Utilities Department
  • City of Solvang, Public Works
  • Domestic Violence Solutions
  • Dune Coffee Roasters
  • Father Virgil Cordano Center
  • Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
  • Gaviota Coast Conservancy
  • Kanaloa Seafood
  • Lazy Acres Market
  • Limoneira Company
  • MarBorg Industries
  • New House II & III
  • People Assisting the Homeless Santa Barbara
  • Pure Joy Catering
  • Santa Barbara City College
  • Santa Barbara County Resource Recovery & Waste Management Division
  • Santa Barbara County Public Health Department
  • Santa Barbara Foundation
  • Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
  • Sarah House
  • Social Venture Partners
  • Soil Life Services
  • Ted Chamberlin Ranch
  • University of California Cooperative Extension
  • Veggie Rescue
  • Ventura County Resource Conservation District
  • Wild Farmlands Foundation

Climate Justice

  • 350.org Santa Barbara
  • 350.org Ventura
  • Central Coast Alliance United for A Sustainable Economy
  • Environmental & Climate Justice Studies Digital Hub at UC Santa Barbara
  • Environmental Defense Center
  • Food & Water Watch Santa Barbara
  • Food & Water Watch Ventura
  • Fund for Santa Barbara
  • Future Leaders of America
  • Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project
  • Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians
  • Sierra Club Los Padres Chapter

Climate Resilience

  • Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation
  • Central Coast Climate Collaborative
  • Direct Relief International
  • James S. Bower Foundation
  • Mercury Press International
  • LegacyWorks Group
  • Santa Barbara County Sustainability Division
  • Santa Barbara Foundation
  • Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
  • Sea Forward Foundation
  • State Coastal Conservancy

Drive Less

  • Coalition for Sustainable Transportation
  • CycleMAYnia
  • Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition
  • Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District
  • Santa Barbara County Association of Governments
  • Traffic Solutions

Drive Clean

  • Central Coast Alliance United for A Sustainable Economy
  • Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition
  • City of Thousand Oaks
  • City of Ventura
  • Electric Drive 805
  • Housing Authority of San Buenaventura
  • Institute for Transportation Services at UC Davis
  • Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
  • Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project
  • Plug In America
  • Port of Hueneme
  • San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District
  • Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District
  • Santa Barbara County Association of Governments
  • Sierra Club Los Padres Chapter
  • Southern California Association of Governments
  • Southern California Edison
  • Clean Energy Access Working Group
  • The Towbes Group
  • Ventura County Air Pollution Control District
  • Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance
  • Ventura Unified School District

Earth Day

  • Advanced Veterinary Specialists
  • Armand Hammer Foundation
  • Bragg Live Food Products
  • Buddha Properties
  • Bye Bye Mattress
  • Carp Events
  • Cannabis Association for Responsible Producers
  • (CARP) Growers
  • City of Santa Barbara
  • Cultivate Events
  • Explore Ecology
  • The Farmacy
  • Learningden Preschool
  • LOACOM
  • Lucidity Festivals
  • New Noise Music Foundation
  • Oniracom
  • PHAROS Creative LLC
  • Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District
  • Santa Ynez Vacation Rentals
  • Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition
  • Shryne Group
  • WA Event Management
  • West Beach Films
  • Write Kinda Girl

Donors 2019.

As we celebrate 50 years of environmental leadership, CEC is ushering our region into a new era of community and climate resilience built on a foundation of sustainable, equitable systems and networks. We are deeply grateful to the community for standing by our side as we confront the climate crisis and pursue a cleaner, greener Central Coast for today and future generations.

ECO TRAILBLAZERS

  • Anonymous
  • Audacious Foundation
  • Dipaola Foundation
  • Santa Barbara Foundation
  • Sea Forward Fund
  • Yardi

ECO INNOVATORS

  • Bank of America Foundation
  • Bella Vista Designs, Inc.*
  • Joyce and Roland Bryan
  • Cambria Estate Vineyard & Winery*
  • Cannabis Association for Responsible Producers
  • (CARP) Growers
  • City of Santa Barbara
  • The Farmacy
  • Carolyn and Andrew Fitzgerald
  • Hutton Parker Foundation
  • James S. Bower Foundation
  • Jeffrey and Mary Smith Foundation
  • Bonnie and Dick Jensen
  • Michelle and Bruce Kendall
  • KEYT/KKFX*
  • KJEE*
  • Los Angeles Clean Tech Incubator
  • MarBorg Industries
  • McCune Foundation
  • Betsy and Charles Newman
  • Oniracom*
  • Orchard Hill Family Fund
  • Patagonia
  • Rincon Broadcasting LLC*
  • Santa Barbara Independent*
  • Schlinger Family Foundation
  • Shryne Group
  • Southern California Edison
  • Suzanne and John Steed

ECO SUSTAINERS

  • Ann Jackson Family Foundation
  • Sally Warner-Arnett and Dr. G. William Arnett
  • Babich Family Foundation
  • Leslie and Ashish Bhutani
  • BMW
  • Diane Boss
  • Bright Event Rentals*
  • Charla Brown and Rob Burnett
  • Buynak, Fauver, Archbald & Spray LLP
  • Carp Events*
  • Erin and Christos Celmayster
  • County of Santa Barbara
  • Sheila and Tom Cullen
  • Cultivate Events*
  • Deckers Brands
  • Endelos Energy, Inc.
  • Explore Ecology*
  • Casey and Alex Fang
  • Fund for Santa Barbara
  • Belle Hahn
  • Nancy and Karl Hutterer
  • The Jensen Winston Family
  • Kim Kimbell
  • Janice and Jim Knight
  • Barbara and Albert Lindemann
  • LOACOM*
  • Lucidity Festivals*
  • Elliott MacDougall
  • Connie and Rob Maday
  • Pacific Beverage
  • PHAROS Creative, LLC*
  • Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians
  • Santa Ynez Vacation Rentals
  • So Delicious
  • Roxanna and Randy Solakian
  • Karl Storz
  • Sugar Mill Farms
  • Toyota
  • Union Bank Foundation
  • Elizabeth and Nate Wagner
  • Water With Life, LLC*
  • Write Kinda Girl*
  • Merryl and Chuck Zegar

ECO WARRIORS

  • Advanced Veterinary Specialists
  • Jennie Cushnie and Dennis Allen
  • Allen Construction
  • Armand Hammer Foundation
  • Boone Graphics*
  • Brighten Solar Co.
  • Brittingham Family Foundation
  • California Fuel Cell Partnership*
  • Laura Capps
  • Judi and Brian Cearnal
  • Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition
  • Misha and Kit Cooper
  • Heather Copp
  • Cox Communications
  • Edible Santa Barbara*
  • Electric Bikes of Santa Barbara
  • Feast and Fest*
  • Nadine Gilles
  • Good Energy Renewables
  • Green Star Coffee*
  • Van Henson
  • Kristin and Richard Hogue
  • Impact Hub*
  • Kaplan Family Foundation
  • KCRW*
  • KCSB-FM 91.9*
  • The Learningden Preschool*
  • Ruth Loomer
  • M & M Foundation
  • Matilija Pure Water*
  • Gloria and John McManus
  • Mission Wealth Management
  • Dawn Mitcham
  • Montecito Bank & Trust
  • Pedego Electric Bikes
  • Stacy and Ron Pulice
  • Rite Care Childhood Language Center*
  • Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District
  • Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition*
  • Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District*
  • Santa Barbara Nissan
  • Jennifer Smithwick
  • Tesla*
  • Jack Theimer
  • TV Santa Barbara*
  • UCSB Associated Students Coastal Fund
  • Shelley and Kenny Van Zant
  • Voice Magazine*
  • Robert Wallace
  • Elizabeth Weber
  • Kathy and Stephanie Yeung

ECO ANGELS

  • B & B Foundation
  • Baltoro Trust
  • Kyle and Matt Begley
  • Deborah Bettencourt
  • Kim and Jason Blanton
  • Wendy and Chris Blau
  • John Bowers
  • Bragg Health Foundation
  • Emma Bridges
  • Karen and Peter Brill
  • Lalla and Rinaldo Brutoco
  • Buddha Properties
  • Bye Bye Mattress
  • California Solar Electric
  • C’est Cheese*
  • Channel Islands Restoration
  • Marcia and John Mike Cohen
  • Catherine Brozowski and Steve Conner
  • Dancing Tides Foundation
  • Jean and Dave Davis
  • Deanna and Gene Dongieux
  • Andre Dongieux
  • Emily and Dan Engel
  • Ensberg Jacobs Design Inc
  • Julie Hendricks and Brian
  • Fahnestock
  • Sharon Granoff
  • Elaine and Michael Gray
  • Dena and Adam Green
  • Green Project Consultants*
  • Amy and Michael Grenier
  • Aurora and Rick Grimm
  • Daniel Gunther
  • Hendricks-Felton Foundation
  • Barbara Hirsch
  • Hope Ranch Living*
  • Dennis Huggins
  • Husqvarna
  • Lisa and Thomas Jackson
  • Mark Jacobson
  • Jano Graphics*
  • Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation
  • Laura Macker Johnston
  • Karen and John Jostes
  • Martha and Edward Kaufman
  • Lydia Kindheart
  • Peter Lavigne
  • Lawrence C Ng Family Foundation
  • Leaf Filter North America LLC
  • Craig Lewis
  • Maps.com
  • Bonnie and Pat McElroy
  • Janet McGinnis
  • MedBridge
  • Mercury Press International*
  • Sharon and Stephen Metsch
  • Betty and Mike Noling
  • Wendy and James Read
  • Kristen and Aaron Ritter
  • Phyllis dePicciotto and Stan Roden
  • Dawn Sanchez
  • Santa Barbara Certified Farmer’s Market*
  • Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation
  • Santa Barbara Channelkeeper*
  • Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History*
  • Arjun Sarkar*
  • Holly and Lanny Sherwin
  • Anthony Shih
  • Diane Meyer Simon
  • Judy and Jack Stapelmann
  • Story Bikes
  • Lois Phillips and Dennis Thompson
  • Visit Santa Barbara*
  • Deborah Williams and Rance Wall
  • Betty Warner
  • Laura and Geof Wyatt
  • Carolyn Cogan and Jules Zimmer

ECO HEROES

  • Whitney Abbott
  • Corey Anderson
  • Rebecca and Steven Berkus
  • Jill Feldman and Arnold Brier
  • Julie Capritto
  • Darlene Chirman
  • Nancy Weiss and Marc Chytilo
  • Stephane Colling, Wine Source
  • Christine and Robert DeVries
  • Nadra Ehrman
  • Whitney and James Ellis
  • Cynthie Tin Oo and Dan Fishbein
  • Mark Frank
  • Frances Gilliland
  • Seraphim Albrecht and Geoff Green
  • Randall Hahn
  • Dan Higgins
  • Helena and Gary Hill
  • Katherine and Matthew Hitchcock
  • Rian Ingersoll
  • Stephanie Sohn Jackson and David Jackson
  • Jean and Ivor John
  • Beryl and Neil Kreisel
  • Louise LaMothe
  • Dan’l Lewin
  • Gretchen Lieff
  • Helen Kay Ludeman
  • Mindy and Justin Mahy
  • Emma Malina
  • Gina and Bob Nisbet
  • Noozhawk*
  • Steve Ortiz
  • Gail Osherenko and Oran Young
  • Paul Relis
  • Christiane Schlumberger
  • Matthew and Catherine Stoll
  • Danielle and Bret Stone
  • David Swanson
  • Dianne and Daniel Vapnek
  • Carol Vernon
  • Russ Waldrop
  • Julianna and David Wexler
  • Debbie and Robert Wright
  • Crystal and Cliff Wyatt

ECO PARTNERS

  • Acme Hospitality*
  • Sherrie and Ronald Adler
  • Angela Antenore
  • Elisa and Joseph Atwill
  • Claire Bailey
  • Lisa Bass and Thad Bordofsky
  • Misty and Zachary Bordofsky
  • Laura Bridley
  • Gay Bryant
  • Kelly Carlson
  • Danyel Dean and Peter Castellanos
  • Donna Massello Chiacos and Lee Chiacos
  • Marni and Michael Cooney
  • Robert Dautch
  • Draughtsmen Aleworks
  • Sally and Terry Eagle
  • Edhat*
  • Jodi Fishman-Osti
  • Carey Fitzgerald
  • Mickey and Dick Flacks
  • Tisha Ford
  • William Goldsmith
  • Michelle Howard
  • Mary Howe-Grant
  • Jennifer Hulford
  • Vijaya and Rao Jammalamadaka
  • Cecilia Villasenor and Jay Johnson
  • Victoria and Matt Juarez
  • Ariana Katovich
  • Siri and Bob Marshall
  • Laura and Russell McGlothlin
  • Sally MacIntyre and John Melack
  • Steve Miley
  • Lois Mitchell
  • Joan and Bill Murdoch
  • Elyse Newman
  • Joan Newman
  • Donald O’Dowd
  • Wyatt Olsen
  • Kendall Pata
  • Sarita Relis Photography*
  • Marsha and Alan Roberson
  • Carol Sacks
  • Kelly and Jeremy Smith
  • Sustainable Vine Wine Tours*
  • Stephanie and Jeff Theimer
  • Betsy Thies
  • Jenna Tosh

ECO FRIENDS

  • Peter Adams
  • Molly Barnes
  • Meghan and Eric Behr
  • Merryl Brown
  • Paula Burnham Johnson
  • Lois Capps
  • Chauru Chaubal
  • Susan and Jon Clark
  • Marian and Stephen Cohen
  • Renee Crawford
  • Melissa Cunningham
  • Michele and Bill Cuttler
  • Adrianne and Andy Davis
  • Joan Dewberry
  • Michael Duvall
  • Robin Elander
  • Hannah-Beth Jackson and George Eskin
  • Claire and Lars Fackler
  • Joyce and Terry Fernandez
  • Ann Dusenberry and Brad Fiedel
  • Phillip Fine
  • Lena Firestone
  • Chuck Flacks
  • Charles Forslund
  • Tracy and Paul Freeman
  • Natalie Gaynes
  • Betty and John Gerig
  • Penelope and Andrew Gottlieb
  • Michael Guinane
  • Carol Keator and Cheri Gurse
  • Lila Trachtenberg and George Handler
  • Lee Heller
  • Lindsay Helmick
  • Barbara Widmer and Dave Hennerman
  • Jane and Terry Honikman
  • Ken Hough
  • Allissa Hummer
  • Mikki Jee
  • Rachel Johnson
  • Eric Johnson
  • Sharon Keigher
  • Hugh Kelly
  • Anne Kelly
  • Dierdre Kieckhefer
  • Bee Klein
  • Katie and John Koehn
  • Amanda and Alex Koper
  • David Landecker
  • Nancy Leffert
  • Jennifer LeMay
  • Julie Lopp
  • Leslie and Peter MacDougall
  • Jon Margolis
  • Matter Family Office
  • Daniel Mault
  • Ashlyn McCague
  • Danuta Charwat-McCall and Mike McCall
  • Wendy and Rick Mokler
  • Angela Moll
  • E. Allen Mosher
  • Steve Nelson
  • Michael Newman
  • Anne Newman
  • Carla Frisk and Jeff Newton
  • Aliza Nizet
  • Sigrid Wright and Matt Parisi
  • Susan Parker
  • Margaret Peavey
  • Doris Patmore and Owen Phinney
  • Dolores and Bill Pollock
  • Phyllis and Elliot Prager
  • Edgar Rhodes
  • Elizabeth and Yann Ricard
  • Jane Warner and Howard Rothman
  • Marian and Steve Rothstein
  • Nasanin Sohrabi
  • Stacey Byers and Luke Swetland
  • Angela Tanner
  • Vivienne Leebosh and Ralph Thomas
  • Stacey and Chris Ulep
  • Vista Del Monte
  • Paul Wack
  • Michelle Weinman
  • Pegeen and Kevin White
  • Arnette and Anthony Zerbe
  • Mark Zorensky

* denotes in-kind gift

“The work CEC provides to combat climate change is important — they are a true powerhouse organization and the Central Coast is lucky to have them.”

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMEMBER
MONIQUE LIMÓN

Financials 2019.

Statement of Financial Position 2019 December 31, 2019 (with comparative totals for 2018)

2019

2018

ASSETS

Cash and Cash Equivalents

$ 139,221

$ 232,997

Accounts Receivable

229,590

141,530

Contributions Receivable

50,649

60,000

Other Receivable

16,730

16,730

Prepaid Expenses

17,259

3,156

Fixed Assets, Net

2,861

3,955

Endowment Assets

Endowment Investments

2,530,687

2,290,037

Investment in General Partnership

290,000

290,000

Total Endowment Investments

2,820,687

2,580,037

Total Assets

$ 3,276,997

$3,038,405

LIABILITIES

Accounts Payable

$ 90,214

$ 70,274

Accrued Expenses

34,367

32,903

Deferred Income

10,000

–

Unrelated Business Income Tax Payable

9,271

15,000

Total Liabilities

143,852

118,177

NET ASSETS

Without Donor Restriction

Undesignated

221,582

230,191

Board-Designated Quasi-Endowment

2,690,180

2,449,530

2,911,762

2,679,721

With Donor Restrictions

Purpose Restrictions

90,876

110,000

Time Restricted for Future Periods

–

–

Perpetual in Nature – Endowment

130,507

130,507

221,383

240,507

Total Net Assets

3,133,145

2,920,228

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

$ 3,276,997

$ 3,038,405

Statement of Activities 2019 December 31, 2019 (with comparative totals for 2018)

2019

2018

Without Donor Restriction

With
Donor Restriction

TOTAL

TOTAL

OPERATING

REVENUE

Grants and Contracts (Government)

$ 452,711

–

$ 452,711

$ 308,465

Earth Day Program

249,899

–

249,899

288,790

Solarize Program

51,644

–

51,644

44,013

Total Revenue

754,254

–

754,254

641,268

PUBLIC SUPPORT

Special Events, Gross

$ 229,763

–

$ 229,763

$ 249,319

Less: Direct Costs

(120,668)

–

(120,668)

(114,537)

Special Events, Net

109,095

–

109,095

134,782

Contributions

420,269

18,800

439,069

350,817

Grants and Contracts (Private)

12,955

162,698

175,653

194,494

Total Public Support

542,319

181,498

723,817

680,093

Total Public Support and Revenue

1,296,573

181,498

1,478,071

1,321,361

Net Assets Released from Restriction

200,622

(200,622)

–

–

EXPENSES

PROGRAM SERVICES

1,318,421

–

1,318,421

1,181,415

SUPPORTING SERVICES

Management and General

187,916

–

187,916

139,254

Fundraising

246,490

–

246,490

184,899

Total Supporting Services

434,405

–

434,405

324,153

Total Operating Expenses

1,752,827

–

1,752,827

1,505,568

Change in Net Assets from Operating Activities

(255,632)

(19,124)

(274,756)

(184,207)

2019

2018

Without Donor Restriction

With
Donor Restriction

TOTAL

TOTAL

NONOPERATING

REVENUE

Investment Income (Loss)

$ 491,150

–

$ 491,150

$ (37,540)

Distribution from Investment in GP

79,992

–

79,992

–

Change in Valuation of Investment in GP

–

–

–

(10,000)

Gain / (Loss) on Disposal of Assets

–

–

–

–

Total Nonoperating Revenue

571,142

–

571,142

(47,540)

EXPENSES

Depreciation

1,094

–

1,094

1,183

Unrelated Business Tax

–

–

–

15,000

Bad Debt

6,000

6,000

Strategic Planning

76,375

–

76,375

6,710

Total Nonoperating Expense

83,469

–

83,469

22,893

Change in Net Assets from Nonoperating Activities

487,673

–

487,673

(70,433)

Total Change in Net Assets

232,041

(19,124)

212,917

(254,640)

Net Assets, Beginning of Year

2,679,721

240,507

2,920,228

3,174,868

Net Assets, End of Year

$ 2,911,762

$ 221,383

$ 3,133,145

$ 2,920,228

EIN 94-1728064
26 West Anapamu Street
2nd Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805.963.0583

For 50 years, CEC has been a force at the forefront of the environmental movement, spurring local action on the California Central Coast to affect global change.

Our work is rooted in personal action, designed to build deep community resilience, and fueled by community support.

JOIN OUR FAMILY
Create climate resilience on the Central Coast

Photos by: Sarah Block, Community Environmental Council Archives/Isaac Hernandez, J. Andrew Hill, Scott Huenemeier, Kathi King, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, Sarita Relis, Shutterstock.

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