Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Montecito Retirement Association

EIN 23-7425754 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE MONTECITO RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION IS TO OPERATE AT CASA DORINDA A LIFECARE PROGRAM WITH A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF ITS SERVICES SO THAT ITS RESIDENTS MAY CONTINUE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES WITH DIGNITY, SECURITY AND AS INDEPENDENTLY AND FULLY AS THEY ARE ABLE.

Income
$41.8 million
Spending
$40.6 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-21.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
371
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$590,658, ceo

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 75% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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 (2)
  1. $35.4 million spent. CASA DORINDA PROVIDES THREE LEVELS OF CARE AND SERVICE TO ITS RESIDENTS. THE MEDICAL CENTER PROVIDES NURSING SERVICES IN ITS 52-BED SKILLED NURSING FACILITY. IN 2024, THE MEDICAL CENTER SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 34 RESIDENTS PER DAY, 10 ON A TEMPORARY BASIS AND 24 REQUIRING PERMANENT CARE. AN AVERAGE OF 34 RESIDENTS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE WITH DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES IN THE PERSONAL AND MEMORY CARE BUILDING. IN RESIDENTIAL LIVING, APPROXIMATELY 314 SENIORS RECEIVED HOUSING AND HOSPITALITY SERVICES, ALONG WITH SUPPORTIVE AND INTERMITTENT CARE DELIVERED THROUGH THE ON-SITE CLINIC AND IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE STAFF.
  2. OTHER SERVICES OFFERED TO SENIORS ON THE CASA DORINDA CAMPUS INCLUDE: DINING, MAINTENANCE, HOUSEKEEPING, SECURITY, LIFE ENRICHMENT, HEALTH AND FITNESS ACTIVITIES, THERAPIES, SOCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE THREE LARGEST, ARE WITHIN THE UMBRELLA OF CONTINUING CARE.

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 April 1993.

    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.