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Northern Santa Barbara County United Way Inc

EIN 95-6006513 · Santa Maria, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NSBCUW IS ORGANIZED TO IMPROVE LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. NSBCUW WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE PRESSING COMMUNITY ISSUES THROUGH ITS VARIOUS PROGRAMS.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
54
Volunteers
99
Highest pay
$115,680

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $1.6 million spent. FINANCIAL STABILITY PROGRAMS ALLOW LOW-INCOME WORKING FAMILIES TO WORK TOWARD FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE THROUGH SUCH PROGRAMS AS VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) FOR PREPARATION OF TAX RETURNS WITH A FOCUS ON OBTAINING THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND ASSISTANCE WITH BUDGETING AND PLANNING.
  2. $640,036 spent. HOME4GOOD PROGRAM USES AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, AND REDUCE THE IMPACTS OF HOMELESSNESS IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
  3. $145,753 spent. AMERICORPS PROGRAM MEMBERS SERVE IN AGENCIES THAT HELP VETERANS AND PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OBTAIN HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE FORMERLY HOMELESS AND CONNECT TO OTHER MAINSTREAM SERVICES TO INCREASE SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
  4. $11,840 spent. LITERACY 2.0 IS A TRANSFORMATIVE INITIATIVE ADDRESSING THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF LITERACY AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY. WITH PROVEN PILOT PROGRAMS AND STRONG COMMUNITY ALIGNMENT, PHASE 2 DEEPENS IMPACT BY FOCUSING ON THREE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: EARLY LITERACY, FINANCIAL EDUCATION, AND PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT. TOGETHER, THESE EFFORTS PREPARE YOUTH FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1961.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.