Passes our checks

Friends of Vada at Santa Barbara High School

EIN 73-1646663 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

What it says it does

Friends of VADA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created to support the Visual Arts & Design Academy (VADA) at Santa Barbara High School.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 29.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15
Income fell 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 15
59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

Independent board
25 of 25
12 of 12 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
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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10
Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)

$57,314 spent. Fundraising and community awareness efforts, including approx 82 parent, community and student volunteers (representing 809 volunteer hours) to support the Visual Arts & Design Academy (VADA) at Santa Barbara High School, which impacts 223 students annually and thousands of community members through art shows and community events each year. VADA Talks, a community forum and panel discussion was launched which is attracting overwhelming and positive response.
$31,960 spent. We embarked on a multiple-year capital campaign fundraising goal to raise ~$7M towards renovation of an existing building and the construction of a new building, which houses a design lab and an art studio. Conceptual design work began in 2019-2020 and students began using the new building in the beginning of 2024-2025 school year.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 June 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 September 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.