Central Coast Community Organizing Training
Upcoming Training:
Aug. 21-23, 2026 in Santa Maria
Registration deadline has been extended to July 23!
There are only a few spots left!
We recommend you register before the deadline.
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$200 per person - Tier 2: If your organizational budget is more than $500,000
$100 per person - Tier 1: If your organizational budget is $500,000 or less
$50 per person - Students
If cost is a barrier, please email garciaalex@fundforsantabarbara.org to discuss different discount options.
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Registration is limited to three participants per organization.
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Payment is non-refundable but spots can be transferred to other staff in your organization.
What is the Central Coast Community Organizing Training?
The Central Coast Community Organizing Training (CCCOT) is a three-day training led by CAUSE Action staff. This three-day training is an opportunity for new and emerging organizers to learn the essentials of grassroots community organizing. It is a bilingual space with simultaneous interpretation available. This project is a partnership between the Fund for Santa Barbara, the McCune Foundation, and CAUSE, with additional funding support from the Santa Barbara Foundation, Natalie Orfalea Foundation and Schiele Family Foundation.
New and emerging community organizers will:
Relationship Building & Recruitment
Learn the concrete skill of relationship building and recruitment via personal visits, house meetings, classroom presentations, tabling, and more.
Develop Strategic Campaigns
Be trained in tangible skills including developing campaigns, conducting a power analysis, and crafting persuasive messages.
Understand Power
Strengthen understanding of how grassroots organizing can shift structures of power and injustice.
Hands-On Experience
Gain hands-on experience with door-to-door canvassing and one-on-ones!
Training the Next Wave of Organizers 🌊
2026 CCCOT Sponsors
CCCOT Testimonials
“As someone new to organizing, this gave me a great foundation to bring back to my organization.”
2023 Participant
"The information presented was so concrete and can easily be adapted into my work & being in a bilingual space was awesome!”
2024 Participant
"Starting from the basics, learning about organizing principles & approaching tactics and strategizing is extremely valuable learning."
2025 Participant
Frequently Asked Questions
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The intended audience is new and emerging community organizers, staff at local nonprofits who integrate community organizing practices into their work, and grassroots community leaders and activists with those organizations.
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This training is offered once a year and rotates between Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Ventura. The location this year will be in Santa Maria on August 21-23, 2026.
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Yes, the training is intentionally facilitated in both English and Spanish, and we offer simultaneous interpretation for all individuals who are not fluent in both languages.
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There is a lot to cover in this three-day training, so please expect full days of classroom style instruction with small group and one-on-one discussions. The training also includes canvassing out in the community. We advise you wear comfortable shoes & a hat for the neighborhood canvassing portion. Notebooks, pens and handouts will be provided
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Registration opens on May 18, 2026 at which time a link with the registration website will be posted on this website and sent out via email. Online applications are accepted on a first come first serve basis, so early registration is recommended as the training fills up quickly. There is a limit of 2-3 staff per organization. Please reach out to garciaalex@fundforsantabarbara.org if you have further questions.
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Tier 2: If your organizational budget is more than $500,000: $200/person.
Tier 1: If your organizational budget is $500,000 or less: $100/person.
Student Discount: $50/person
Two meals per day included.
Training fee is non-refundable.