Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CREATING EXCELLENT EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT CELEBRATE THE SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL AND ILLUMINATE OUR RICH CONNECTIONS WITH THE SEA.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 8.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 109
- Highest pay
- $166,512, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 62% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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 June 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 (2)
- $1.3 million spent. CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY TO MARITIME HERITAGE: EXHIBITSTHE SANTA BARBARA MARITIME MUSEUM'S PURPOSE IS TO PRESERVE AND PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC THE MARITIME HERITAGE OF CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL COAST, WHILE PROVIDING AN ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM TO STUDY AND RECORD HUMAN INTERACTION WITH THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT. THE MUSEUM'S MISSION STATEMENT IS CREATING QUALITY EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT CELEBRATE THE SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL AND ILLUMINATE OUR RICH CONNECTIONS WITH THE SEA. THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBITS, BOTH PERMANENT AND ROTATING, HIGHLIGHT THE LOCAL MARITIME HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST AND GIVE VISITORS AND LOCALS A SENSE OF SANTA BARBARA'S 13,000-YEAR MARITIME HISTORY. EXHIBITS HONOR PEOPLE SUCH AS COMMERCIAL DIVERS, COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN, AND LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS WHO, THROUGH EVERYDAY ACTIONS, ENRICH OUR LIVES TODAY. THE SANTA BARBARA MARITIME MUSEUM (SBMM) RECEIVES OVER 40,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY AND FOCUSES ON INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. IN 2020 SBMM RECEIVED A 10-YEAR ACCREDITATION FROM THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS (AAM), PLACING IT INTO THE TOP ECHELON OF MUSEUMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OF THE MORE THAN 35,000 MUSEUMS IN THE UNITED STATES, FEWER THAN 1,250 ARE CURRENTLY ACCREDITED BY AAM. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 THE MUSEUM ALSO COMPLETED THE FOURTH YEAR OF ITS 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH PROVIDES STAFF AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THE TOOLS TO NAVIGATE THE FUTURE COURSE OF THE MUSEUM. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 SBMM DISPLAYED "ANCHORED IN THE COMMUNITY," "COASTAL MOMENTS," FEATURING TEN LOCAL PLEIN AIRE ARTISTS, "ABOVE YOUR DREAMS," FEATURING PAINTINGS BY KEVIN SHORT, "MAJESTIC CALIFORNIA PIERS," FEATURING PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN MERKEL AND BILL DEWEY, AND "THE SWIFTEST RECOVERY: ISLAND FOX CHRONICLES," FEATURING PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHUCK GRAHAM. THE MUSEUM ALSO UPGRADED ITS "PERISCOPE" EXHIBIT. THE MUSEUM ALSO SERVED AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THE DEEPWATER DIVING MONUMENT,WHICH WAS UNVEILED ON APRIL 5, 2025, AND RECENTLY WON A SANTA BARBARA BEAUTIFUL AWARD.
- $351,646 spent. EDUCATIONTHE MUSEUM'S EDUCATION PROGRAMMING CONTINUES TO EXPAND, NOW PROVIDING PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AND BEYOND. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS PROGRAMMING HAS EXPANDED TO LOMPOC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN CARPINTERIA, IN ADDITION TO HAVING SCHOOLS FROM BAKERSFIELD AND VENTURA COUNTY VISIT. IN FY2025 SBMM SERVED 4,813 STUDENTS THROUGH 146 PROGRAMS AND 2,434 ADULTS THROUGH 50 PROGRAMS. SBMM SERVES AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THE SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL WHALE HERITAGE AREA (SBCWHA), WHICH BECAME THE NINTH SUCH DESIGNATED AREA AND ONLY THE SECOND IN THE UNITED STATES. THE MUSEUM'S WHALES ARE SUPERHEROES! PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES BOTH INSTRUCTION AND AN ART ACTIVITY TO SHOW HOW WHALES HELP WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, HELPS FULFILL THE SBCWHA'S EDUCATION ROLE. THE MUSEUM'S NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MARITIME ON THE MOVE (MOTM) PROGRAM HAS WON NUMEROUS AWARDS, INCLUDING: BEING NAMED A FINALIST IN THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS 2021 EDCOM AWARD FOR INNOVATION AND EDUCATION AWARD PANDEMIC EDITION, BEING AWARDED THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY SECRETARYS PUBLIC EDUCATION AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY, BEING ASKED BY THE COUNCIL OF AMERICAN MARITIME MUSEUMS TO PRESENT ABOUT THE PROGRAM AT THEIR 2021 NATIONAL CONFERENCE, AND RECEIVED THE EPIC AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION. THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN SBMM EDUCATION PROGRAMS ATTEND UNDER-RESOURCED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY THAT QUALIFY FOR TITLE I FUNDING AND SERVE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. ADULTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE A MONTHLY LECTURE SERIES, MUSEUM TOURS, AND A DOCENT PROGRAM. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF SBMM BOARD MEMBER ROGER CHRISMAN AND HIS WIFE SARAH, THE MUSEUM NOW HAS ACCESS TO THE TALL SHIP MYSTIC WHALER, ALLOWING YOUNG STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE OPEN-OCEAN SAILING BASED ON THE 1830'S EXPERIENCE OF RICHARD HENRY DANA, JR. STUDENTS GAIN A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF THE 19TH CENTURY LIVES OF THOSE THAT BROUGHT CARGO AROUND THE WORLD AND HAD THE SAME RESPONSIBILITIES THAT PERSIST INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. THEY EXERCISED THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF MATH, PHYSICS, HISTORY, AND ENGINEERING TO PRACTICE TRADITIONAL SKILLS SUCH AS NAVIGATION AND MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE. IN SEPTEMBER 2024 SBMM CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS GIRLS IN OCEAN SCIENCE PROGRAM FOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL FEMALES. BOTH GROUPS GOT TO GO OUT ON THE OCEAN, WORKING WITH FEMALE NATURALISTS AND SCIENTISTS, INCLUDING THOSE FROM UCSB'S JENN CASELLE LAB, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON MARINE CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH. THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PERFORMED HANDS ON EXPERIMENTS ABOARD THE NOAA RESEARCH VESSEL SHEARWATER WITH THEIR CREW. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO INSPIRE THESE YOUNG LADIES TO GO TO COLLEGE AND PURSUE STUDIES AND CAREERS IN VARIOUS OCEAN RELATED FIELDS. WHALES ARE SUPERHEROES! COMPLEMENTED SBMMS PERMANENT EXHIBIT OF THE SAME NAME. SBMM SENDS STAFF AND NATURALISTS TO CLASSROOMS COUNTYWIDE TO SHOW HOW WHALES HELP WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, AND INCLUDES AN ART COMPONENT TAUGHT BY SONDRA WEISS. STUDENTS LEARN TO APPRECIATE THE ROLE WHALES PLAY IN PROVIDING OXYGEN TO OUR PLANET, HELPING OUR OCEANS PROVIDE MORE OF THE AIR WE BREATHE EACH DAY THAN TREES DO.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 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 September 1995.
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.