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Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society

EIN 95-3080681 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (SBCGS) IS TO PROMOTE STUDY AND RESEARCH IN GENEALOGY BY PROVIDING ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING THEIR FAMILY HISTORY.

Income
$209,077
Spending
$192,143
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
57.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
0
Volunteers
86
Highest pay
$3,595, director-at-large

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

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 57.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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: 94 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $132,803 spent. THE SOCIETY MAINTAINS A 20,000 VOLUME RESEARCH LIBRARY THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT NO CHARGE. THE SOCIETY PUBLISHES A QUARTERLY JOURNAL, AND A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER. SOCIETY MEMBERS HAVE EXTRACTED SELECTED LOCAL HISTORICAL RECORDS WITH MANY PUBLISHED ON THE SOCIETY'S WEB SITE. CLASSES, SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, AS WELL AS OUTREACH PROGRAMS INCLUDING TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS TO YOUNG PEOPLE ARE A PART OF SOCIETY ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE THE SOCIETY IS ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE FOLLOWING: OPERATION OF LIBRARY; INCLUDES INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT, SUPPLIES AND BOOK REPAIR, JANITORIAL AND UTILITIES COSTS, EDUCATION; INCLUDES MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH LECTURE AND DISCUSSION GROUPS AND PERIODIC SEMINARS DEVOTED TO ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC TOPICS. ACQUISITION OF LIBRARY HOLDINGS; INCLUDED BOOK AND OTHER DOCUMENT PURCHASES AND SUBSCRIPTION TO PAY DATABASES.

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 December 1986.

    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.