Highland Santa Barbara Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE 4A BELOW
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $494,007
- Spent on programs
- 51%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $541,304, director, secy/treasurer
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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 55% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 94% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1551% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $250,000 spent. THE HIGHLAND SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY AS A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 509(A)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"), TO SUPPORT AND BENEFIT THE SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION ("SBF"), A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT CORPORATION. SBF IS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UNDER SECTION 501(A) OF THE CODE AS AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE CODE AND A PUBLIC CHARITY DESCRIBED IN SECTION 509(A)(1) OF THE CODE.THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED ITS FUNDING AS ONE OF THREE CHARITABLE REMAINDER BENEFICIARIES OF A CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUST CREATED BY JAMES DONDERO, WHICH TERMINATED ON NOVEMBER 30, 2011. THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION, WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN 1928, IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY THROUGH PHILANTHROPY. SBF SUPPORTS DIVERSE CHARITABLE CAUSES IN THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS EDUCATION, THE ARTS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND NUMEROUS OTHER CHARITABLE AREAS IN WHICH ITS DONORS ARE INTERESTED. IN 2024, SBF AWARDED OVER 2,000 GRANTS TOTALING OVER $40 MILLION. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS AND BENEFITS SBF BY MAKING GRANTS DIRECTLY TO SBF IN SUPPORT OF ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSES. IN ADDITION, UPON THE DIRECTION AND ON BEHALF OF SBF, THE ORGANIZATION MAY MAKE GRANTS TO SUCH OTHER PUBLIC CHARITIES THAT SBF WISHES TO BENEFIT IN FURTHERANCE OF SBF'S EXEMPT PURPOSES.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Santa Barbara Foundation (Santa Barbara, CA), EIN 95-1866094. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.