Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Santa Barbara Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Anima

EIN 95-1643377 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SANTA BARBARA HUMANE OPERATES TWO CAMPUSES LOCATED IN SANTA BARBARA AND SANTA MARIA PROVIDING CARE FOR COMMUNITY-OWNED AND HOMELESS ANIMALS. BOTH CAMPUSES OFFER AFFORDABLE HIGH QUALITY VETERINARY CARE, COMPASSIONATE BEHAVIOR TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND A RELINQUISHMENT PROGRAM FOR OWNERS WHO CAN NO LONGER CARE FOR THEIR PETS. HOMELESS ANIMALS RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE, SHELTER, AND BASIC BEHAVIOR TRAINING UNTIL THEIR ADOPTION.

Income
$9.4 million
Spending
$9.4 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
25.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
105
Volunteers
377
Highest pay
$289,706, ceo

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 34 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (3)
  1. $4.5 million spent. VETERINARY CARE: FAMILIES UTILIZED SHELTER CLINIC SERVICES FOR CARE FOR THEIR ANIMALS FROM BASIC SERVICES LIKE VACCINES TO MORE INTENSE NEEDS LIKE ENUCLEATIONS AND AMPUTATIONS. OF THE 41,497 SERVICES PERFORMED IN 2025 AT AFFORDABLE COSTS, 5,166 FAMILIES UTILIZED THE DONOR-SUPPORTED TLC VETERINARY FUND. BECAUSE PROHIBITIVE VETERINARY COSTS ARE A COMMON REASON WHY FAMILIES RELINQUISH THEIR PETS, THIS PROGRAM ULTIMATELY KEPT ANIMALS HEALTHY AND IN THEIR HOMES.
  2. $2.5 million spent. SHELTERING AND ADOPTIONS: OUR SHELTER RECEIVES ANIMALS FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES: OWNER-SURRENDERS, TRANSFERS, AND STRAYS. EACH ANIMAL THAT ARRIVES REQUIRES BASIC MEDICAL CARE, AND MOST NEED STERILIZATION SURGERY BEFORE THEY CAN BE ADOPTED. A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR PROGRAM EXPENSES IS DEVOTED TO ENSURING THESE ANIMALS LIVE IN A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. OUR DEDICATED STAFF PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE CARE, INCLUDING VETERINARY TREATMENT AND MEDICATION; BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT AND TRAINING; NOURISHING FOOD; DAILY SOCIALIZATION, EXERCISE, AND ENRICHMENT; AND THE SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR SEAMLESS SHELTER ADOPTIONS. IN 2025, WE TOOK IN 1,024 ANIMALS SURRENDERED BY THEIR OWNERS, 960 CATS AND DOGS FROM OVERCROWDED SHELTERS ACROSS CALIFORNIA, AND 420 LOCAL STRAY ANIMALS. THANKS TO THE INDIVIDUALIZED, QUALITY CARE THEY RECEIVED AT SANTA BARBARA HUMANE, 2,223 ANIMALS FOUND LOVING HOMES IN 2025.
  3. TRAINING: OUR DOG TRAINING CLASSES ARE A VITAL 'SAFETY NET' FOR PREVENTING SURRENDERS DUE TO BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. WHEN OWNERS STRUGGLE WITH BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES, WE OFFER AFFORDABLE OR FULLY SUBSIDIZED GROUP CLASSES AND CONSULTATIONS TO HELP KEEP PETS IN THEIR HOMES. IN 2025, 778 DOGS PARTICIPATED IN THESE CLASSES AND ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS WITH THEIR OWNERS, SUCCESSFULLY DIVERTING HUNDREDS OF POTENTIAL INTAKES AND STRENGTHENING THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND. OUR MANAGER OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINER, DEVELOPS CLASSES THAT COVER PUPPY SOCIALIZATION, BASIC MANNERS, CLASSES FOR SHY DOGS, AND STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING REACTIVITY. SHELTER DOGS ALSO BENEFIT FROM INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING PLANS CRAFTED BY OUR BEHAVIOR & ADOPTION SPECIALISTS, USING POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES.

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 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 December 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 December 1954.

    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.