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Santa Barbara Police Activities League

EIN 77-0523426 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SANTA BARBARA POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE (SBPAL) BUILDS BRIDGES BETWEEN YOUTH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH MENTORSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT. WE MAINTAIN AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY FOR ALL YOUTH AGES 11-18, WITH A FOCUS ON THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE YET FOUND THEIR VOICE OR NICHE. OUR GOAL IS TO EMPOWER YOUTH TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL, AND FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS SBPAL HAS MAINTAINED A 100% GRADUATION RATE, WITH ALL GRADUATES PURSUING COLLEGE, MILITARY SERVICE, OR TRADE SCHOOL. SINCE 1999, SBPAL HAS EXPANDED FROM SERVING 50 YOUTH TO PROVIDING NO-COST PROGRAMMING TO OVER 1,300 YOUTH ANNUALLY, HELPING THEM DEVELOP SELF-CONFIDENCE, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.

Income
$657,511
Spending
$594,403
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
13.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
7
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$78,165, 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
  1. $261,013 spent. THE PAL TWELVE35 TEEN CENTER SERVES AS A CENTRAL HUB FOR YOUTH AGES 11-18 IN DOWNTOWN SANTA BARBARA. OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 3:00-6:30 PM WITH NO REGISTRATION FEES, THE CENTER PROVIDES A SAFE, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR OVER 1,000 YOUTH EACH YEAR. TEENS ENGAGE IN ACADEMIC SUPPORT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, MENTORSHIP, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
  2. $10,810 spent. THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH 15 PARTNER AGENCIES, SBPAL COORDINATES THE CAMPERSHIP ALLIANCE, WHICH DISTRIBUTES OVER 500 CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS TO YOUTH AGES 3-18 EACH YEAR. SBPAL SERVES AS THE CENTRAL HUB FOR QUALIFYING, REGISTERING, AND ALLOCATING SCHOLARSHIPS, AND PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION AS NEEDED. THIS PROGRAM ENSURES EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ENRICHING SUMMER EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.
  3. $162,147 spent. SBPAL ORGANIZES COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS TO STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. TRUNK OR TREAT ENGAGES 30 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE OVER 1,000 CHILDREN IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. WINTER WONDERLAND PROVIDES MORE THAN 150 GIFTS AND A HOLIDAY MEAL TO LOCAL FAMILIES IN NEED. SBPAL ALSO OPERATES THE BRIDGE MENTORING PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE POLICE ADVISORY CADRE, WHERE POLICE OFFICERS MENTOR YOUTH MULTIPLE TIMES A MONTH THROUGH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FISHING, SNORKELING AND SURFING. THIS PROGRAM BUILDS TRUST, DEVELOPS LIFE SKILLS, AND PROVIDES CONSISTENT GUIDANCE TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN ACHIEVING FUTURE SUCCESS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2000.

    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 October 21, 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.