Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

United Way of Santa Barbara County Inc

EIN 95-1641968 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND BUILD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES BY LEADING LOCAL PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT IMPROVE SCHOOL READINESS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, AND CRISIS RESPONSE AND RECOVERY.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
24.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
93
Volunteers
430
Highest pay
$404,283, president & ceo/board secr

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: 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 24.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (5)
  1. $495,626 spent. UNITED FOR LITERACY: SINCE 1923, UWSBC HAS WORKED IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, DISTRICTS, AND EDUCATORS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN CREATING A STRONGER FOUNDATION FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, UWSBC WORKS IN TANDEM WITH LOCAL DISTRICTS TO NARROW THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP FOR STUDENTS IN LOW-RESOURCE COMMUNITIES. UWSBC PROVIDES THREE PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS K-12, INCLUDING THE FUN IN THE SUN SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM, THE UNITED LEARNING CENTER TUTORING SUPPORT PROGRAM, AND THE BRIDGE THE BREAK PROGRAM. WITHIN EACH PROGRAM IS A FOCUS ON DATA-DRIVEN ACADEMIC CURRICULUM, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND ACCESS TO THE ONGOING TOOLS AND SUPPORT THAT STUDENTS NEED TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE. AS THE NEEDS OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY EVOLVE, UWSBC ADAPTS ITS PROGRAMMATIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO BEST SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WE SERVE.
  2. $1.3 million spent. FUN IN THE SUN: THE FUN IN THE SUN SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM IS UNITED WAY'S LARGEST ACADEMIC PROGRAM, WITH OVER 28 YEARS OF PROVIDING HUNDREDS OF LOCAL STUDENTS IN LOW-RESOURCE COMMUNITIES WITH A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. THE SUMMER PROGRAM PROVIDES A FULL SPECTRUM OF SERVICES, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALIZED ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION AND LITERACY REMEDIATION, FIELD TRIPS AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES, AND A ROBUST SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING CURRICULUM. FUN IN THE SUN SERVES OVER 500 STUDENTS FROM TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN TO 12TH GRADE AND THEIR FAMILIES AT SIX CAMPUSES THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, WITH SITES AT LOCAL SCHOOLS IN CARPINTERIA, GOLETA, GUADALUPE, SANTA BARBARA, AND SOLVANG.
  3. $206,799 spent. FINANCIAL SECURITY: UWSBC'S MISSION IS FOCUSED ON CREATING A MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY. AT THE CORE OF THIS APPROACH IS HELPING LOCAL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BUILD A STRONG FINANCIAL FOUNDATION TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY TO MEET BASIC NEEDS AND ACHIEVE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY. UWSBC'S FINANCIAL SECURITY INITIATIVE INCLUDES PROGRAMS LIKE THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES THAT FACE THOSE IN LOW-RESOURCE COMMUNITIES COUNTYWIDE. WITH ROBUST PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, CORPORATIONS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, UWSBC CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH A NETWORK OF TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO INCREASE INCOME, BUILD SAVINGS, AND GAIN AND SUSTAIN ASSETS.
  4. $503,748 spent. RESILIENCY GRANTS PROGRAM: COMMUNITY WORK IN BUILDING UP AND SUSTAINING THE LOCAL CHILDCARE SECTOR, WHICH ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES THAT FACE THOSE IN LOW-RESOURCE COMMUNITIES COUNTYWIDE. WITH ROBUST PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, CORPORATIONS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, UWSBC CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH A ROBUST NETWORK OF TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO INCREASE INCOME, BUILD SAVINGS, AND GAIN AND SUSTAIN ASSETS.
  5. $548,624 spent. COMMUNITY RESILIENCY: AS A RESULT OF UNITED WAY'S EXPANDED FOCUS IN THE FIELD OF CRISIS RESPONSE, THE ORGANIZATION HAS MAGNIFIED ITS ROLE AS A COMMUNITY LEADER IN RECOVERY EFFORTS IN RESPONSE TO RECENT DISASTERS. FROM THE EXPANSION OF ESTABLISHED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PROGRAMS IN AREAS OF BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE, RENT RELIEF, AND CHILDCARE, UNITED WAY LEVERAGES A DIVERSE NETWORK OF PARTNERS AND RESOURCES TO QUICKLY ADAPT TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF RESIDENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH AND RECOVERY FROM A DISASTER. UNITED WAY OPERATES IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, DISASTER RESPONSE OFFICIALS, AND THE COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA. UNITED WAY REMAINS COMMITTED TO IDENTIFYING EMERGING CHALLENGES, ESTABLISHING DEDICATED NETWORKS OF RESOURCES AND LEADERS, AND INVESTING IN NEW COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORT FAMILIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN NEED.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1953.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.