Passes our checks

The Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara

EIN 77-0061998 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF ARCHITECTURE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

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

Strong: 93 out of 100.

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 29.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 15
52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Good: 82 out of 100.

Independent board
25 of 25
14 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15
Has a 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
5 of 5
Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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

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

Programs described in its return (1)

$60,525 spent. THE ARCHITECTURAL FOUNDATION OF SANTA BARBARA (AFSB) INCREASES THE AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE ARCHITECTURE THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. THIS YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 50 CHILDREN BETWEEN 2 AND 18 YEARS OF AGE PARTICIPATED IN THE KIDS DRAW ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS CHILDREN TO LEARN ABOUT ARCHITECTURE AND THE ARCHITECTURAL PROFESSION. THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL DESIGN COMPETITION WAS HELD IN TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH COUNTY STUDENTS. APPROXIMATELY 80 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED. TWELVE FINALISTS WERE SELECTED AND PRESENTED THEIR DESIGNS BEFORE A REVIEW PANEL OF 4 LOCAL ARCHITECTURE PROFESSIONALS. APPROXIMATELY 400-450 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN DOCENT LED WALKING TOURS OF HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SANTA BARBARA. AND OVER 200 PEOPLE ATTENDED 5 DIFFERENT LECTURES IN THE SPRING AND FALL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.
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 October 1986.
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.

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.