Hutton Parker Foundation strives to provide organizational sustainability to community-based nonprofit organizations throughout Santa Barbara County and to assist agencies in achieving their highest level of peformance and delivery of services resulting in stronger, more efficient communities for all.
The Foundation specializes in providing quality office space for local area nonprofit organizations through the acquisition and development of commercial real estate properties.
Harold and Betty Hutton, entrepreneurs, adventurers and business partners, began their business as a small refining operation in Long Beach in the early 1950s and by the middle of the 70's became a leading exporter of oil and natural gas from South East Asia.
In 1975, while living and working in Indonesia, Harold Hutton passed away suddenly. After his death, Betty decided to close the company's oil operation in South East Asia and return to her roots in Orange, California. And it was there, following a short retirement she established Hutton Companies, a commercisal real estate development corporation.
In the early 80's Tom Parker was named President of Hutton Companies. It was from this point that the organization became more of a family operation. Betty watched the business grow knowing that much of the revenue would eventually fund the Hutton Parker Foundation, a dream of both Betty and Tom's.
Betty Hutton passed away in September of 1995. Today, Tom Parker continues the dream they initiated as Hutton Parker Foundation strives to make a difference in the communities it serves.
As a charitable foundation serving the nonprofit sector, are we meant to be a community leader or follower? This is a question I’ve often asked of Hutton Parker Foundation and our service throughout Santa Barbara County.
Hutton Parker Foundation is often described as innovative and creative. Foundation colleagues and nonprofit representatives alike reference our PRI Program providing low interest loans to nonprofits; our Endowment Package Program providing basic tools essential to establishing an endowment fund; our Media Grant Program providing three distinct opportunities for local nonprofits to increase awareness and exposure of their programs and services; and our Under One Roof Program providing low cost, long term office space to nonprofits as examples of innovation and creativity.
Is Hutton Parker Foundation really that creative? Has the Foundation really led the nonprofit community? I think not. Every one of the innovative and creative programs we have developed, facilitated and implemented originated from meetings and discussions with numerous nonprofit groups within our community. These ideas are the result of needs expressed from within our local nonprofit sector.
I have always believed the purpose of a private foundation is to provide support to the nonprofit sector. Our job is not to set community agendas or micro-manage programs. It is not our job to create or advocate for special or new initiatives. Our job is to listen to the nonprofit sector — to the people and organizations serving our community — and to respond to their needs.
As a result of this practice, Hutton Parker Foundation heard, loud and clear, from our nonprofit community that what is needed most, right now, is basic Core Support to help keep vital programs operating through these hard economic times.
Our nonprofit organizations have shown us the way — for decades. It is our honor to continue to support their ideas, respond to their needs and follow in their example.