Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
It is the mission of Goleta Valley 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
- $139.7 million
- Spending
- $104.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 23 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 351
- Volunteers
- 228
- 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 96% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 23.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 53% 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
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $91.4 million spent. Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital is a 48-bed acute-care hospital located in the City of Goleta. In 2024 the Hospital had 2,952 patient days and served 68,082 outpatients, including emergency services to 24,885 patients. The Hospital provides a wide array of inpatient and outpatient services, including but not limited to cardiac, orthopedic, wound care, breast care and emergency services. Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital is diligent to ensure that all patients have adequate access to healthcare. All patients who do not present with 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. Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital provides critical funding for community health, financial assistance programs, and external grants, while also realizing shortfalls in Medicare, Medi-Cal, and indigent care. External grants were provided which aimed at specific community needs for at risk populations (indigent health; substance abuse recovery; elderly; family counseling). In addition, the hospital provides support of nursing education, health fairs, and the provision of flu shots to the community. In 2024 the hospital spent over $15.4 million on all community benefit 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.