Therapy Dogs of Santa Barbara Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO LIVE MORE FULFILLING LIVES THROUGH THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND.
- Income
- $294,336
- Spending
- $345,964
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $114,435, former executive director
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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 120% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 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, 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)
- $227,397 spent. WAG WELL IS A KEY COMPONENT TO OUR WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND FOCUSES ON YOUTH AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE. PROVIDING SERVICES THAT PROMOTE A HEALTHY AND WELL-BALANCED LIFE IS CORE TO OUR MISSION. BY TEACHING CHILDREN HOW TO MANAGE STRESS AND ANXIETY IN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS THEY WILL BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO BECOME THRIVING AND HAPPY INDIVIDUALS IN SOCIETY ALLOWING THEM TO LIVE MORE FULFILLING LIVES. THE PRESENCE OF THERAPY DOGS AT EACH WAG WELL SESSION ADDS AN EXTRA COMPONENT OF CALM AND LEAVES THE CHILDREN AND STAFF WITH SMILES AND POSITIVE MEMORIES OF THEIR LEARNING EXPERIENCE. ARF! IS AN INNOVATIVE LITERACY PROGRAM THAT GIVES STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR READING SKILLS AND INSPIRE THEM TO BECOME LIFE-LONG READERS BY READING ALOUD TO SPECIALLY TRAINED THERAPY DOGS. READING TO THERAPY DOGS HAS NUMEROUS THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN. INTERACTING WITH A NONJUDGMENTAL AND ATTENTIVE COMPANION LIKE A THERAPY DOG CAN CREATE A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG READERS. THE PRESENCE OF A DOG CAN HELP REDUCE ANXIETY, BOOST SELF-ESTEEM, AND INCREASE CONFIDENCE IN STRUGGLING READERS. MOREOVER, THE CALMING EFFECT OF PETTING OR BEING NEAR A THERAPY DOG CAN PROMOTE RELAXATION AND DECREASE STRESS LEVELS. THERAPY DOG VISITS: THE PRESENCE OF A THERAPY DOG HAS BEEN SHOWN TO REDUCE STRESS AND ANXIETY, PROMOTE RELAXATION, AND ELEVATE MOOD. THERAPY DOGS ALSO OFFER EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND COMPANIONSHIP, HELPING TO ALLEVIATE FEELINGS OF LONELINESS OR DEPRESSION. MOREOVER, THESE VISITS HELP TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART RATE, AS WELL AS STIMULATE THE RELEASE OF ENDORPHINS, CONTRIBUTING TO OVERALL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING. OUR THERAPY DOGS HAVE A REMARKABLE ABILITY TO UPLIFT SPIRITS AND BRING SMILES AND JOY TO THE YOUNG AND YOUNG-AT-HEART!
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.