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Santa Barbara Museum of Art

EIN 77-0157853 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING ACTIVITIES OF THE SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART.

Income
$195,071
Spending
$296,010
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
103

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $1,205 spent. WOMEN'S BOARD: TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART TO BE USED FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS OR IN THE GENERAL FUND TO STIMULATE INTEREST IN THE ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE MUSEUM.
  2. $56,315 spent. COLLECTOR'S COUNCIL AND DOCENT COUNCIL: TO PROVIDE DIRECTION AND INFORMATION FOR THE COLLECTION OF ARTWORK AND TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM BY STIMULATING COMMUNITY INTEREST IN COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF ART. THE DOCENT COUNCIL IS MADE UP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO PROVIDE GALLERY TOURS FOR ADULTS AND MUSEUM CONNECTED ART EDUCATION TO STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY.
  3. $32,803 spent. PHOTOFUTURES CURATORIAL SUPPORT GROUP: TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHY AND NEW MEDIA COLLECTIONS BY ENGAGING MEMBERS AND SUPPORTING THE ACQUISITION OF NEW PHOTOGRAPHY AND NEW MEDIA WORKS. TO SUPPORT PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AND EXHIBITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHY AND NEW MEDIA COLLECTIONS.
  4. $205,687 spent. FRIENDS OF ASIAN ART CURATORIAL SUPPORT GROUP: PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE ASIAN ART COLLECTIONS BY ENGAGING MEMBERS AND SUPPORTING THE ACQUISITION OF ASIAN ART. TO SUPPORT PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AND EXHIBITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ASIAN ART COLLECTIONS.DEAD ARTISTS SOCIETY AND D.A.S.II CURATORIAL SUPPORT GROUPS: TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN PRE-1945 COLLECTIONS BY ENGAGING MEMBERS AND SUPPORTING THE ACQUISITION OF NEW EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN WORKS CREATED BEFORE 1945. TO SUPPORT PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AND EXHIBITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN PRE-1945 COLLECTIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1985.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.