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Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County

EIN 95-2491790 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak37 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CAC SERVES SANTA BARBARA COUNTY'S VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THROUGH EDUCATION AND COORDINATED SERVICES SO THEY MAY ACHIEVE ECONOMIC STABILITY, IMPROVE OVERALL WELL-BEING AND THRIVE.

Income
$27.5 million
Spending
$27.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
351
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$199,672, chief executive officer

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: 37 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 86% 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 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 42 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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, 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 (3)
  1. $18.3 million spent. CHILDREN'S SERVICES PROVIDE HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS THAT OFFER COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, HEALTH, NUTRITION AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. FULL AND PART-DAY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION ARE PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN UP TO AGE FIVE IN 24 SITES THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY WITH A GOAL OF PREPARING OUR MOST VULNERABLE YOUNG CHILDREN TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL. IN ADDITION, BOTH PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN MEETING THEIR OWN PERSONAL GOALS AND ACHIEVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY ACROSS A WIDE VARIETY OF DOMAINS, SUCH AS HOUSING, CONTINUED EDUCATION, AND FINANCIAL SECURITY. THE HEAD START PROGRAM DELIVERS SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BY FOCUSING ON THE AREAS OF EARLY LEARNING, HEALTH, AND FAMILY WELL-BEING WHILE ENGAGING PARENTS AS PARTNERS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ARE ALSO OFFERED AND BLENDED WITH HEAD START SERVICES. THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM PROMOTES THE PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS THROUGH SAFE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY ENRICHING CAREGIVING. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT PARENTS, BOTH MOTHERS AND FATHERS, IN THEIR ROLE AS PRIMARY CAREGIVERS AND TEACHERS OF THEIR CHILDREN. IN 2024, 878 INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOLERS WERE PROVIDED WITH HIGH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION ("ECE") AND HEALTH SERVICES.
  2. $2.5 million spent. FAMILY AND YOUTH SERVICES ("FYS") ENHANCES THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE A POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE FUTURE. SERVICES FOCUS ON CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MENTORING, TUTORING, HEALTH EDUCATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS HELPING FAMILIES COPE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. IN 2024, 1,792 YOUTH AGES 6-17 PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNIFY'S YOUTH PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, COMMUNIFY SERVED 34 YOUNG ADULTS IN THE TRANSITION AGE YOUTH ("TAY") PROGRAM.
  3. $2.9 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES IS COMPRISED OF A VARIETY OF SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES BY REDUCING THEIR HOME ENERGY BURDEN, PROMOTING FINANCIAL LITERACY, REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND LINKING RESIDENTS TO AVAILABLE SERVICES AND RESOURCES THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY. SERVICES INCLUDE ENERGY ASSISTANCE, WEATHERIZATION SERVICES, SENIOR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM AND EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT OUTREACH PROGRAM. COMMUNIFY'S ENERGY SERVICES WEATHERIZED 126 HOMES AND ASSISTED A TOTAL OF 1,718 FAMILIES WITH THEIR ENERGY BILLS, WHILE AN ADDITIONAL 115 SENIORS' HOMES WERE REPAIRED, ENABLING THEM TO AGE SAFELY IN PLACE. ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PORTFOLIO OF COMMUNITY SERVICES IS 2-1-1 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, A COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM. DIALING 2-1-1 CONNECTS PEOPLE TO OVER 2,000 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DISASTER RELIEF, AND PUBLIC INFORMATION RESOURCES. 2-1-1 IS A FREE SERVICE, AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY/7 DAYS A WEEK IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. IN 2024, 2-1-1 HANDLED 8,685 CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES AND ASSISTED 18,427 USERS THROUGH THE 2-1-1 WEBSITE.

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? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1967.

    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.

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.