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United Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Santa Barbara County

EIN 23-7087814 · Santa Barbara, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN TO DEVELOP SELF-ESTEEM, VALUES AND SKILLS. THE CLUBS PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND PROGRAMS FOR ATHLETICS, GAMES, LEARNING COMPUTER SKILLS, AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING AND DAY CARE, AND VARIOUS OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT CHILDREN IN THE CITIES OF GOLETA, SANTA BARBARA, LOMPOC, BUELLTON, SOLVANG AND CARPINTERIA, CALIFORNIA. THE CLUB ALSO RUNS CAMP WHITTIER WHICH IS A CAMPGROUND THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE VARIOUS CLUBS.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
149
Volunteers
273
Highest pay
$208,695, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 107% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 70% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $482,464 spent. AFTER SCHOOL CARE:THE CLUBS DROP-IN POLICY ALLOWS EASY ACCESS FOR CARE AS NEEDED, AND OUR NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS ACCOMMODATE FAMILIES WITH VARIED WORK SCHEDULES.ASES PROGRAMS - PROVIDES LITERACY, ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, EDUCATIONALLY ENRICHING AND SAFE CONSTRUCTIVE ALTERNATIVES FOR STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH NINTH GRADE (K-9) DURING NON-SCHOOL HOURS.AN EDUCATIONAL AND LITERACY ELEMENT PROVIDES TUTORING AND/OR HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS MEET STATE STANDARDS IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECTS: READING/LANGUAGE ARTS, MATHEMATICS, HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES, OR SCIENCE. A BROAD RANGE OF ACTIVITIES IS IMPLEMENTED BASED ON LOCAL STUDENT NEEDS AND INTERESTS. THE EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT ELEMENT OFFERS AN ARRAY OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES, PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES THAT REINFORCE AND COMPLEMENT A SCHOOL'S ACADEMIC PROGRAM. EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT INCLUDES POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES, RECREATION AND PREVENTION ACTIVITIES. SUCH ACTIVITIES MIGHT INVOLVE THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, MUSIC, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, HEALTH/NUTRITION PROMOTION, AND GENERAL RECREATION; CAREER AWARENESS AND WORK PREPARATION ACTIVITIES; COMMUNITY SERVICE-LEARNING; AND OTHER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES BASED ON STUDENT NEEDS AND INTERESTS.
  2. $1.0 million spent. CAMP WHITTIER - NESTLED AMONG THE HILLS OF THE LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST, THIS PRIVATE, TUCKED-AWAY 55 ACRE RESIDENT CAMP IS BOUNDED BY HIKING TRAILS AND HOSTS AN ABUNDANCE OF WILDLIFE IN AN OAK WOODLAND AREA. CAMP WHITTIER IS A NONSECTARIAN CAMP OPERATED YEAR-ROUND 7 DAYS A WEEK AND IS AVAILABLE TO BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS, YOUTH GROUPS, SCHOOL RETREATS AND CONFERENCES, ORGANIZATIONAL CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS, CHURCH GROUPS, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GROUPS, FAMILY REUNIONS AND CORPORATE GROUPS.
  3. $3.0 million spent. ATHLETIC AND OTHER PROGRAMS:DEVELOPS FITNESS, SOCIAL SKILLS, POSITIVE USE OF LEISURE TIME, SKILLS FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT, APPRECIATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.CLUBS OFFER A VARIETY OF ATHLETICS LEAGUES TO CAPTURE THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. OUR ATHLETIC OPPORTUNITIES STRIVE TO EQUIP ALL YOUNG PEOPLE THE SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES THEY NEED TO EXCEL IN SPORTS. BUILDING GOOD CHARACTER, SPORTSMANSHIP, AND FUNDAMENTALS THROUGH A POSITIVE AND FUN ENVIRONMENT. OUR LEAGUES ARE OPEN TO YOUTH IN GRADES K-8.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1970.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.