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Doctors Without Walls-Santa Barbara Street Medicine

EIN 33-1210731 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To provide free, volunteer medical care for the most vulnerable, underserved populations in Santa Barbara County, when and where they are in need, including in times of disaster, and to provide education and training to our volunteers and others to promote the excellent practice of humanitarian medicine in our own community.

Income
$820,348
Spending
$691,240
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
14.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
7
Volunteers
146
Highest pay
$39,000, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $446,658 spent. Doctors Without Walls-Santa Barbara Street Medicine (DWW) has been providing medical assistance to the underserved populations in Santa Barbara County for 17 years. DWW programs address the timely treatment of the medical needs of Santa Barbara County's most vulnerable populations, the working poor and homeless. Our volunteer teams screen, diagnose, record and treat the diseases and illnesses of our clients, in the early stages, so that medical problems do not become acute. DWW conducts medical van weekly daytime street outreach missions (7) and backpack-based walking evening street medicine outreach missions (3). DWW has reopened the weekly Women's Free Homeless Clinic (WFHC) in partnership with Transition House (2 Fridays). Immediately following the Friday clinic, the WFHC conducts medical outreach.
  2. $58,817 spent. The mission of the Women's Free Homeless Clinic (WFHC) is to provide a safe, trusting, female-only environment in which the unsheltered or marginally sheltered women of Santa Barbara can access medical and mental health care and referrals to community resources. This is achieved by a research-based integrative approach that addresses their basic human needs, while supporting health and further growth. The integrative approach incorporates the following guidelines: meeting immediate physical needs; building trusting relationships; coordinating care with other potential service areas for the individual and addressing behavioral issues as they pertain to the physical health of the individual. WFHC clients will see a clinician for medical needs, receive acupuncture, assistance with applying for housing, insurance, or school, they will be able to do laundry, take showers, attend mental health groups with a mental health specialist, attend self-defense classes, as well as yoga.
  3. $51,850 spent. Our Companion Care teams provide services to our clients in developing care plans and helping clients navigate the healthcare system by accompanying and introducing clients to local medical homes, specialists, or other needed resources. During COVID-19, DWW continued to provide medical services to the most vulnerable populations in Santa Barbara County by practicing street medicine in encampments, abandoned buildings, freeway onramps and offramps and wherever they are. Our Companion Care teams provided education and medical services to reduce the spread of the pandemic while still providing the best medical care possible for unsheltered populations. In April 2023 DWW started our Enhanced Care Management Program providing both clinical and non-clinical care to the unsheltered homeless.

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 November 6, 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 October 2008.

    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 November 4, 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.