Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
It is the mission of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to provide superior health care for and improve the health care of our communities through a commitment to our core values of excellence, integrity, and compassion.
- Income
- $1.1 billion
- Spending
- $985.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 13.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 91%
- Employees
- 3,733
- Volunteers
- 760
- Highest pay
- $2.1 million, president & ceo
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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $832.5 million spent. Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital is a 519-bed acute-care hospital located in the City of Santa Barbara. In 2024, the Hospital had 99,978 patient days, served 146,603 outpatients, including emergency services to 55,596 patients. The Hospital provides a wide array of inpatient and outpatient services, including but not limited to the areas of cardiology, orthopedics, neurology, trauma, labor & delivery, psychiatric, neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care, pediatrics, laboratory, imaging, therapy, diabetes, oncology, emergency and rehabilitation services. The hospital is diligent in ensuring that all patients have adequate access to care. All patients who do not present insurance are automatically screened for eligibility in government health programs and are assisted in applying for financial assistance if the patient does not qualify for any other assistance. Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital provides critical funding for community health needs through health care related community activities , financial assistance and external grants, while also realizing shortfalls in Medicare, Medi-Cal, and indigent care. Activities include screenings and health fairs; classes, clinics, lectures, and seminars; community services; community collaborations; and coalitions/committees. External grants aimed at specific community needs included assistance to at risk populations (indigent health care and housing; substance abuse recovery; support for at risk elderly; hospice care; health care education for our schools & families, family counseling, aging transportation, access to care, and nursing education as well as operating pediatric and other specialized clinics at shortfalls. In 2024, the hospital spent over $225 million on these various programs.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1938.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.