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Cottage Medical Foundation

EIN 93-4714437 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak21 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

Cottage medical foundation is organized to promote health and to expand access to quality healthcare services in central California, providing relief to the distressed who have limited access to care. The goal of the organization is to expand both physical and virtual health infrastructure, creating educational opportunities for future healthcare workforce and expanding research opportunities to support continued growth in healthcare resources.

Income
$-284,260
Spending
$580,813
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
-17.9 months of spending
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$1.2 million, vice chair

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

Weak: 21 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (health care, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 105% of what it owns.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs.

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. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 7 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $580,813 spent. COTTAGE MEDICAL FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND TO EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING RELIEF TO THE DISTRESSED WHO HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO CARE. THE GOAL OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO EXPAND BOTH PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, CREATING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE AND EXPANDING RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT CONTINUED GROWTH IN HEALTHCARE RESOURCES. DURING 2024 COTTAGE MEDICAL FOUNDATION ENTERED INTO JOINT VENTURES WITH TWO SURGICAL CENTERS SERVING THE SANTA BARBARA AND NORTH COUNTY AREAS IN ORDER TO FURTHER ITS MISSION OF PROVIDING ACCESS TO QUALITY OUTPATIENT SURGICAL SERVICES THROUGH A COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL INPATIENT HOSPITAL CARE.

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

  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 December 2024.

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

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Worth knowing.

    Recognized by the IRS in January 2026. It is too new to have a track record.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Kp Medical Foundation (Oakland, CA), EIN 92-0685740. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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