Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE A VIBRANT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT GENERATES AND PROMOTES EXCELLENCE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS AND ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE REGION BY OFFERING OUTSTANDING AND DIVERSE ENTERTAINMENT, INCLUDING EVENTS OF CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL VALUE.
- Income
- $11.9 million
- Spending
- $9.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 36%
- Employees
- 199
- Volunteers
- 77
- Highest pay
- $237,400, executive chairman
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
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 14 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
- $679,383 spent. PRESENTATIONS: THE SANTA BARBARA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS OWNS AND OPERATES THE GRANADA THEATRE, A 1,553-SEAT, FULLY-RENOVATED HISTORIC THEATRE LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN SANTA BARBARA. GRANADA THEATRE CONCERT SERIES PERFORMANCES FEATURE A WIDE VARIETY OF TOP-LEVEL PERFORMERS AND ATTRACTIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
- $72,188 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: THE SANTA BARBARA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IS HOME TO THE JURKOWITZ CENTER FOR COMMUMITY ENGAGEMENT WHICH DEVELOPS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES FOR INCREASING PARTICIPATION BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND AUDIENCES AT THE GRANADA THEATRE WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON DIVERSE AND WIDELY INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS OF ALL AGES FROM THE COMMUNITY. PUBLIC TOURS: TOURS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THAT OFFER A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE HISTORIC GRANADA THEATRE AND ARE DESIGNED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON EDUCATING AND BUILDING FUTURE AUDIENCES TO SUPPORT THE ARTS.
- $5.2 million spent. RENTAL OPERATIONS: THE GRANADA HOSTS EIGHT OUTSTANDING RESIDENT COMPANIES, INCLUDING THE SANTA BARBARA SYMPHONY, OPERA SANTA BARBARA, STATE STREET BALLET, COMMUNITY ARTS MUSIC ASSOCIATION (CAMA), UCSB ARTS & LECTURES, SANTA BARBARA CHORAL SOCIETY, MUSIC ACADEMY OF THE WEST AND BROADWAY SHOW PRESENTER, AMERICAN THEATRE GUILD. OTHER PRESENTERS, INCLUDING GOLDEN VOICE AND LIVE NATION BRING ADDITIONAL EXCITING PERFORMERS AND ACTS TO THE GRANADA STAGE. THE GRANADA STAGE ALSO FEATURES EVENTS PRESENTED BY MANY OF THE AREA'S LOCAL NONPROFITS AND THE MCCUNE FOUNDERS ROOM OFFERS A UNIQUE SETTING FOR PERFORMANCES, WEDDINGS, MEETINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
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
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 June 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 January 1984.
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.