Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SANTA BARBARA (MCASB) SEEKS TO ENRICH LIVES AND INSPIRE CRITICAL THINKING THROUGH MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ART AND IDEAS OF OUR TIME. MCASB PROVIDES SANTA BARBARA AND THE CENTRAL COAST WITH EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMMING THAT ENCOURAGE DISCOVERY, CULTIVATE NEW PERSPECTIVES, AND CHALLENGE THE WAY WE SEE AND EXPERIENCE THE WORLD, OURSELVES, AND EACH OTHER.
- Income
- $423,053
- Spending
- $624,409
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- -21.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $77,772, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 145% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 48% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 58% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 July 31, 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)
- $449,323 spent. SERVE. AS A CULTURAL CENTER LOCATED AT THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN SANTA BARBARA, WE ARE COMMITTED TO LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITY'S DIVERSE NEEDS. WE ARE DEDICATED TO BEING A SAFE SPACE FOR LEARNING AND EXPLORATION - INCLUSIVE IN ALL ASPECTS OF RACE, RELIGION, AGE, GENDER IDENTITY, ABILITY, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. WE ASPIRE TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE IN ORDER TO (CO)CREATE COMPELLING, RELEVANT PROGRAMMING THAT ADAPTS TO AN EVER-CHANGING SOCIAL DYNAMIC.CONNECT. WE ASPIRE TO BE A PLATFORM FOR OPEN, RESPECTFUL, AND IMPACTFUL DISCOURSE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. THROUGH COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, AREA NONPROFITS, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES, HOSPITALITY PARTNERS, AND MORE, MCASB IS ABLE TO EXTEND OUR PROGRAMMING TO REACH A BROAD AND DIVERSE PUBLIC. IMPACT. MCASB IS PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS, AND SOCIETY, THROUGH ENGAGEMENT WITH CONTEMPORARY ART AND CULTURE. MCASB'S EXHIBITIONS INFORM OUR EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMMING, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO INSPIRE CURIOSITY, CULTIVATE EMPATHY, AND BROADEN PERSPECTIVES THROUGH THE ART AND IDEAS OF OUR TIME.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending July 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1979.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.