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Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative Inc

EIN 27-3262168 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative (SBAC) is an inclusive group of artists and arts supporters committed to sustaining and growing all forms of the arts in Santa Barbara. SBAC welcomes all to participate in the focused support of individual artists and arts organizations that contribute to the unique cultural ecology of our community.

Income
$422,301
Spending
$406,802
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
3
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$95,365, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2025, 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 (1)
  1. $288,985 spent. The chief focus of the SBAC for the last decade has been the building of the Community Arts Workshop, a space called for in a community-wide City Arts Master Plan published in 1985, and meeting a broadly identified need for affordable arts space. The SBACs origins are as an ad hoc committee organized in 2007 in response to the changing landscape for arts funding in Santa Barbara. A series of community meetings and conversations were convened to discuss loss of arts funding; loss of affordable space; an identified siloing of resources, organizations, communities, and opportunities; and other concerns. In response, a group of artists, arts organizations and concerned citizens came together to identify new and innovative ways to sustain the arts for future generations. A need was identified in the community for an organization that existed to stand in the gapsone that existed to collaborate, find and foster new opportunities, and broadly work to build the health of the local art scene. Since that time, the SBAC has collaborated to pilot and grow dozens, if not hundreds of projects and eventssome of which have become lasting programs of the SBAC like the Community Arts Workshop, Pianos on State, and Funk Zone Mapssome of which are now run by other organizations and individuals. We look for opportunitiesprojects or resources that would benefit the whole cultural ecosystem that no one else is suited to do, and work to connect resources to help make them happen. With the Campaign for the Community Arts Workshop completed, in 2025 through 2028 we are focusing our resources and fundraising efforts to support new programs like Opening Doors, Art KIT, Area Meeting, and the Community Arts Residency, expanding volunteer support by mobilizing Outreach Committee members, continuing development of the ArtZone apps potential as a promotional service for our local arts and culture sector, among other development goals.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2012.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.