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Womens Fund of Santa Barbara

EIN 82-5169678 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WOMEN'S FUND OF SANTA BARBARA IS A VOLUNTEER-LED COLLECTIVE DONOR ORGANIZATION THAT ENABLES WOMEN TO COMBINE OUR CHARITABLE DOLLARS INTO SIGNIFICANT GRANTS ADDRESSING THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES IN SOUTH SANTA BARBARA COUNTY. THE WOMEN'S FUND EDUCATES AND INSPIRES WOMEN TO ENGAGE IN MAKING LASTING CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.WE MAKE LARGE GRANTS TO NONPROFIT AGENCIES BASED ON OUR OWN THOROUGH RESEARCH. WE EDUCATE AND INSPIRE OUR MEMBERS TO BECOME MORE ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY.SINCE INCEPTION, THE WOMEN'S FUND HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 1,400 MEMBERS, DISTRIBUTING GRANTS OF $12,825,000.THE MISSION OF THE WOMEN'S FUND REMAINS THE SAME: TO ENABLE WOMEN TO COMBINE THEIR CHARITABLE DOLLARS, PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT GRANTS FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES IN SOUTH SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
13.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
217

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 December 31, 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. $1.3 million spent. IN MAY 2025, THE WOMEN'S FUND AWARDED $1,250,000 IN GRANTS TO 11 NONPROFIT AGENCIES, FUNDED BY DONATIONS RECEIVED IN 2024. GRANT RECIPIENTS WERE RECOMMENDED BY OUR MEMBERS FROM A BALLOT OF ELIGIBLE AGENCIES AND PROJECTS. OUR RESEARCHERS HAD CONDUCTED A THOROUGH REVIEW OF EACH NONPROFIT'S GOALS, FINANCIALS, LEADERSHIP, SUSTAINABILITY, AND MEASURABLE RESULTS, ENSURING THAT ALL PROJECTS ON THE BALLOT WERE COMPELLING AND WORTHY OF SUPPORT. SEE SCHEDULE I FOR THE LIST OF 2025 GRANTS AND OUR PROCEDURES TO MONITOR THE USE OF THE GRANT FUNDS.
  2. $46,023 spent. THE WOMEN'S FUND IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A LARGE COMMUNITY OF EDUCATED, STRATEGIC GIVERS WHO ARE INSPIRED TO MAKE LASTING CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE IMPACT OF COLLECTIVE GIVING. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC INCLUDE EVENTS, MEETINGS, AND A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER. ALL ARE DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES IN SOUTH SANTA BARBARA COUNTY. IN 2025, THE WOMEN'S FUND VIRTUAL BALLOT REVIEW MEETING WAS ATTENDED BY 394 MEMBERS AND A RECORDING OF IT WAS ACCESSED ANOTHER 400 TIMES. THE WOMEN'S FUND GATHERED 352 ATTENDEES IN PERSON FOR ITS ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF GRANTS, HIGHLIGHTING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 15 LOCAL NONPROFITS. IN ADDITION, IT PRODUCED FIVE IN-PERSON EDUCATION EVENTS ATTENDED BY 253 PEOPLE AND TWO NEW MEMBER MEETINGS ATTENDED BY 199 PEOPLE. VARIOUS OTHER MEMBER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WERE ATTENDED BY A TOTAL OF 183 MEMBERS. ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 70% OF THE ALMOST 3,000 PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED THE NEWSLETTER EACH MONTH OPENED IT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 May 2019.

    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.