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The Foundation for Santa Barbara City College

EIN 95-3234551 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SBCC FOUNDATION FUELS THE EXCELLENCE OF SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE BY ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, AND INVITING THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS. THE RESOURCES RAISED AND MANAGED BY THE FOUNDATION ENRICH COLLEGE PROGRAMS, REMOVE BARRIERS, AND EMPOWER STUDENTS TO SUCCEED.

Income
$10.7 million
Spending
$6.2 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
24.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 72%
Employees
14
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$345,324, ex-officio - sbcc

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 16 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 (2)
  1. $2.5 million spent. THE SBCC FOUNDATION PROVIDED $1.9 MILLION IN SUPPORT TO COLLEGE DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS DURING THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. THESE RESOURCES ALLOW COLLEGE FACULTY, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATORS TO IMPROVE EXISTING PROGRAMS, EXPERIMENT WITH NEW AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES, AND ACHIEVE OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC OUTCOMES.
  2. $1.4 million spent. THE SBCC FOUNDATION CREATED THE SBCC PROMISE IN 2016, TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY'S COLLEGE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE TO ALL RECENT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. THE SBCC PROMISE OFFERS TWO YEARS OF COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT (COVERING ALL REQUIRED FEES, BOOKS AND SUPPLIES) TO ANY LOCAL STUDENT WHO ENROLLS FULL TIME AT SBCC IN THE FALL OR SPRING SEMESTER FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THEIR SECONDARY EDUCATION WITHIN THE SBCC DISTRICT. IN THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR, MORE THAN 1,500 SBCC PROMISE STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED. RESEARCH ON COLLEGE ACHIEVEMENT CORRELATES A STUDENT'S CHANCE OF SUCCESS WITH EARLY ENROLLMENT, FULL-TIME STUDENT STATUS, AND ACCESS TO ACADEMIC COUNSELING AND SUPPORT. THE SBCC PROMISE INCLUDES ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS, PROVIDING $2.2 MILLION IN SUPPORT TO SBCC PROMISE STUDENTS IN THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. IN 2024-2025, AB19 FUNDING WAS PROVIDED BY THE SBCC SO THE FOUNDATION'S COSTS WERE REDUCED BY $1 MILLION.

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 April 1976.

    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.