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Garden Club of Santa Barbara

EIN 95-6076112 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1916, THE GARDEN CLUB OF SANTA BARBARA IS A NON-PROFIT VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ENCOURAGING THE KNOWLEDGE AND ENJOYMENT OF GARDENING, THE ART OF FLOWER DESIGN, THE PROTECTION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND NATIVE PLANTS, THE PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC AND HORTICULTURAL RICHNESS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE ACTIVE SUPPORT OF OUR CIVIC PROJECTS. WE ACTIVELY SUPPORT THE PLANTING AND PRESERVATION OF NATIVE PLANTS THROUGH OUR SUPPORT OF SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO AND COLLABORATIONS WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS OUR LOCAL BOTANIC GARDENS AND HISTORIC PROPERTIES. OUR COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS AND CIVIC PROJECTS REMAIN THE CORE OF OUR CLUB. WE CONTINUE TO ENRICH THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR MEMBERS THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS THAT KEEP US ABREAST OF AND INVOLVED IN CURRENT TRENDS IN HORTICULTURE, CONSERVATION, AND PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$143,285
Spending
$127,303
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
19 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
0
Volunteers
67

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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $111,240 spent. CONTRIBUTIONS AND SUPPORT OF VARIOUS COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION AND HORTICULTURAL PROJECTS

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 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 June 2025.

    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 January 1986.

    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.