Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Childrens Resource and Referral of Santa Barbara County

EIN 95-2684041 · Santa Maria, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO DEVELOP STRONG AND HEALTHY FAMILIES THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, CARE, AND RESOURCE SYSTEMS TO YOUNG CHILDREN, THEIR PARENTS, AND CAREGIVERS, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LOW INCOME AND UNDERREPRESENTED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

Income
$48.2 million
Spending
$48.3 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 96%
Employees
101
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$470,076, ceo

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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 96% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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. $38.1 million spent. ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAM: PROVIDES CHILD CARE PAYMENT FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHO ARE EMPLOYED, SEEKING EMPLOYMENT, OR WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN A JOB TRAINING OR EDUCATION PROGRAM.
  2. $3.4 million spent. CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM: REIMBURSED FOOD COSTS TO LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS WHO SERVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS.
  3. $1.8 million spent. Resources and Referral (R&R): These programs provide information to all parents and the community about the availability of child car, assist potential providers in the licensing process, provide direct services including training, and coordinate community resources for the benefit of parents and local child care providers.
  4. $2.2 million spent. OTHER STATE CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, COUNTY AND FOUNDATIONS FOR QUALITY CHILD CARE SERVICES.
  5. LINE 1- ORGONIZATION MISSION: CHILDRENS RESOURCE & REFERRAL OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION. THE AGENCY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1970 TO PROMOTE THE EDUCATION OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND PARENTS OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. THE MISSION OF THE AGENCY IS TO DEVELOP STRONG AND HEALTHY FAMILIES THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, CARE, AND RESOURCE SYSTEMS TO YOUNG CHILDREN, THEIR PARENTS, AND CAREGIVERS, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LOW INCOME AND UNDERREPRESENTED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 January 1972.

    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.