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Santa Barbara International Film Festival Inc

EIN 77-0073674 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SBIFF'S MISSION IS TO ENGAGE, ENRICH, AND INSPIRE PEOPLE THROUGH THE POWER OF FILM. SBIFF CELEBRATES THE ART OF CINEMA AND PROVIDES IMPACTFUL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR THEIR LOCAL, NATIONAL, ANDGLOBAL COMMUNITIES.

Income
$11.5 million
Spending
$8.0 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
59
Volunteers
110
Highest pay
$457,992, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 54% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 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 (3)
  1. $4.3 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROMOTES AND PRODUCES THE SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, WITH EVENTS OCCURRING PRIMARILY IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY OR MARCH FOR 95,000+ PARTICIPANTS.
  2. $1.4 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A YEAR ROUND ARTHOUSE THEATRE. ITS PROGRAMMING INCLUDES DAILY SHOWINGS OF CURRENT AND CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED INDEPENDENT AND INTERNATIONAL FILMS, WEEK LONG FESTIVALS, INCLUDINGFRENCH FILMS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FILMS, RETROSPECTIVES AND A MEMBERSHIP BASED CINEMA SOCIETY.
  3. $804,245 spent. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES THE BARBAKOW FAMILY CENTER FOR FILM STUDIES THAT SERVES AS A CLASSROOM, SCREENING ROOM, COMMUNITY MEETING SPACE, MOVIE LIBRARY AND EDITING SUITE. ITS PROGRAMMING INCLUDES EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT REACH OVER 14,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR INCLUDING AT-RISK AND UNDER-SERVED YOUTH, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND TRANSIT-DEPENDENT SENIOR CITIZENS. ALL CURRENT PROGRAMS ARE AT NO CHARGE TO ITS PARTICIPANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1993.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.