Casa Del Herrero
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CASA DEL HERRERO'S MISSION IS TO MAINTAIN, PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE HOUSE, FURNISHINGS, GARDENS AND HISTORY OF THE STEEDMAN/BASS ESTATE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, VISITING PUBLIC, SCHOLARS, EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 59%
- Reserves
- 32.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 96
- Highest pay
- $109,626, exec. director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 32.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 235% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1559% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (1)
- $820,588 spent. WHEN VISITORS COME TO CASA DEL HERRERO, OR THE "HOUSE OF THE BLACKSMITH", THEY ARE TRANSPORTED BACK TO MONTECITO IN THE 1920'S AND 1930'S - THE HEYDAY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER GEORGE FOX STEEDMAN. DESIGNED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON SMITH, THE CASA IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF SPANISH COLONIAL REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE IN AMERICA. IT IS INLCUDED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND MAINTAINS NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS IN PART DUE TO ITS ECLECTIC MIX OF COUNTRY PLACE ARA AND MOORISH INSPIRED GARDENS CREATED BY RALPH STEVENS, LOCKWOOD DE FOREST, AND FRANCIS T. UNDERHILL. TODAY, THE 11-ACRE ESTATE OPERATES WITH THE GOAL OF PRESERVING THE HOUSE AND GROUNDS, AS WELL AS THE STEEMAN FAMILY'S COLLECTION OF FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH-CENTURY FINE AND DECORATIVE ART OBJECTS FROM THE "GOLDEN AGE" OF SPAIN, BOOKS, SKETCHBOOKS, DRAWINGS, AND HORTICULTURAL RECORDS. CASA DEL HERRERO IS PRESERVED AND STEWARDED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, CASA DEL HERRERO IS VISITED BY MORE THAN 2,500 PEOPLE, WHICH INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS TAKING THE GUIDED TOUR, SCHOOL CHILDREN ,AND LIFELONG LEARNERS. VISITORS ON THE GUIDED TOUR INLCUDE THE MONTECITO AND GREATER SANTA BARARA COMMUNITIES IN ADDITION TO THE INDIVIDUALS VISITING FROM THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND BEYOND. NINETY MINUTE TOURS ARE AVAILABLE ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS AT 10:00 A.M. AND 2:00 P.M., AND REQUIRE ADVANCED RESERVATIONS.CHILDREN HAVE THE BENEFIT OF LEARNINGS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE, THE ART COLLECTION, AND GARDEN PLANTS THROUGH SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS WHILE LIFELONG LEARNERS ARE OFTEN COMPRISED OF GARDEN ENTHUSASITS AND ARTISANS. TWENTY-ONE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE A GREAT BENEFIT GIVING MORE THAN 1,000 HOURS TO SUPPORT CASA'S NEEDS INCLUDING LEADING THE GUIDED TOURS, AND PROVDING GARDEN MAINTENANCE. IN ADDIITON, FRUIT FROM THE CASA'S EXTENSIVE ORCHARD IS GIVEN TO THE FOODBANK OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AS PART OF ITS BACKYARD BOUNTY PROGRAM. WITH MORE THAN 500 POUNDS OF FRUIT GLEANED AT A TIME, THE CASA IS CONTRIBUTING THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF PRODUCE TO THE ONE IN FOUR INDVIDUALS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.ADDITIONALLY, COMMUNITY OUTREACH WAS PROVIDED THROUGH THE YEAR IN THE FORM OF DONOR ENGAGEMENT, MEMBERSHIP, EVENT INVITATIONS, PUBLICITY AND ADVERTISING, AND COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 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 2024.
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 July 1993.
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.