Pilgrim Terrace Cooperative Homes
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICE ASSISTANCE TO THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED IN SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.
- Income
- $586,280
- Spending
- $900,028
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 39.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 49%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $83,452, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 39.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 54% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 December 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)
- $787,283 spent. Pilgrim Terrace Cooperative Homes provides social services to the low-income seniors & people with disabilities residing on the property. To reduce food insecurity, the organization served free, healthy lunches to 93 residents Monday through Friday using produce from its urban farm. In 2025, over 10,000 three course meals were served. Pilgrim Terrace harvested 9,096 pounds of produce that was used in the meals and donated to the residents on-site. The program also addressed their mental wellness through social opportunities including field trips, art, and mobility classes with 213 sessions held over the course of the year. Pilgrim Terrace began a new compost program where approximately 20 cubic yards of microbial rich compost was used to regenerate soil in both Pilgrim Terraces garden and properties in the surrounding Santa Barbara area. This contributed to ecosystem improvements, local access to nutrient-dense produce, and greenhouse gas reductions through soil carbon sequestration. Pilgrim Terrace also operates a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program open to the general public to address broader food insecurity, promote healthy lifestyles, and serve as a trustworthy source of nutrient-dense food grown with sustainable methods. In 2025, the CSA program served 123 members which over 64% of whom were low-income in Santa Barbara County. Due to the affordability of the program, 336 farm share boxes were purchased by these members over the course of the year. Additional produce was supplied to restaurants and in total, including the CSA program and resident population, 25,652 pounds of hyper localized, nutrient-dense produce provided to the Santa Barbara community. This harvest-to-plate model not only helped retain nutrients in food but limited the reliance of long distance shipping for fresh produce and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 2.1 to 2.3 metric tons of CO2. Pilgrim Terrace also maintained a Community Garden program with 55 plots serving 145 individuals, enabling community members to cultivate their own produce. 54% of participants were also low-income. Lastly, to support Santa Barbara youth, Pilgrim Terrace established student projects at three different schools in 2025. At Dos Pueblos High School, 8 aeroponic towers were provided to the school. Students were supervised and educated on sustainable food systems, eco-friendly agricultural, and nutritional benefits. Produce grown amounted to 5,800 salads served in the student cafeteria to provide healthier options free of charge. This project saved over 34,000 gallons of water via aeroponic farming, avoided using 29 kilograms of plastic, and reduced 232 kilograms of carbon emissions in doing so. Students demographics at Dos Pueblos that had access to these salad options included 60% in ethnic minority groups with 46% of the school being economically disadvantaged and 45% of the total student population qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches. At San Marcos High School, approximately 150 pounds of nutrient-dense produce was donated to the schools cafeteria to enhance meal quality. Students benefiting from these meal enhancements included 1,107 economically disadvantaged students with 58% of the students receiving free or reduced-price lunches. For the total population, 67.4% belonged to ethnic minority groups. At La Cumbre Junior High School, Pilgrim Terrace began leadership projects where students supported low-income seniors & people with disabilities through mental health programs. Programs also included fundraising for food security in Santa Barbara. Students involved in these programs were a part of a population that is 92.9% ethnic minority and 90% economically disadvantaged.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.