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Santa Barbara Rescue Mission

EIN 95-6134271 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SANTA BARBARA RESCUE MISSION IS A MINISTRY OF CHRISTIAN PEOPLE BRINGING PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, EDUCATIONAL AND SPIRITUAL RESOURCES TO ALL WHO STRUGGLE WITH HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$5.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
18.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
45
Volunteers
380
Highest pay
$191,291, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 September 30, 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. $1.7 million spent. MEN'S TREATMENT PROGRAM: THE MEN'S RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM IS A 12-MONTH, FAITH-CENTERED, 12-STEP SOCIAL MODEL PROGRAM. RESIDENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH A LIVING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT ADDRESSES THE ISSUES OF ADDICTION IN A HOLISTIC WAY. THE PROGRAM'S CORE TENET IS THAT RECOVERY OCCURS IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD, OTHERS, AND SELF. THE 12-MONTH DURATION OF THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS SUFFICIENT TIME TO STABILIZE, REFLECT AND ADDRESS DEEPLY-INGRAINED BEHAVIORS, THINKING AND CONSEQUENCES OF YEARS OF ADDICTION. INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, GROUP FACILITATION, INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF TREATMENT COMPLETION AND, ULTIMATELY, LONG-TERM RECOVERY.
  2. $789,683 spent. WOMEN'S RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM: BETHEL HOUSE PROVIDES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMOTES HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND A STAFF OF PROFESSIONALS WHO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES OF WOMEN SEEKING RECOVERY. THE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM IS A 12-MONTH, FAITH-CENTERED, 12-STEP SOCIAL MODEL PROGRAM. RESIDENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH A LIVING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT ADDRESSES THE ISSUES OF ADDICTION. INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, GROUP FACILITATION, INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF TREATMENT COMPLETION. MOST CLIENTS WILL HAVE STRUGGLED WITH ADDICTION FOR OVER A DECADE, WITH LONG STRETCHES OF INCARCERATION AND HOMELESSNESS, AS 64% OF INDIVIDUALS ENTERING TREATMENT COME VIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE MANDATES.
  3. $989,209 spent. HOMELESS GUEST SERVICES: THE SANTA BARBARA RESCUE MISSION IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION BETWEEN OXNARD AND SANTA MARIA THAT PROVIDES HOT MEALS AND OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS PER YEAR FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT. SHELTER IS PROVIDED EVERY NIGHT FOR APPROXIMATELY 80 MEN AND 40 WOMEN. FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, THE MISSION PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 51,000 MEALS AND 35,000 OVERNIGHT STAYS FOR THE HOMELESS OF SANTA BARBARA.
  4. $215,633 spent. LEARNING CENTER: THE LEARNING CENTER, A COMPONENT OF THE RECOVERY PROGRAM, HELPS CLIENTS TO GAIN NEW SKILLS AND REGAIN OLD ONES. IN ORDER TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS, INDIVIDUALS IN RECOVERY MUST OVERCOME EDUCATIONAL OBSTACLES. CLIENTS ARE ASSESSED AND PROVIDED AN INDIVIDUALIZED CURRICULUM OF WRITING, READING, COMPUTER SKILLS, PARTICIPATING IN LIFE SKILLS CLASSES, AND STRENGTHENING MATH SKILLS. THIS ALSO INCLUDES RESUME WRITING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT WHICH PREPARES INDIVIDUALS FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT AND LIVES OF PRODUCTIVITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THOSE THAT HAVE NOT COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL ARE ABLE TO ESTABLISH A SOLID EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION THROUGH GED COMPLETION AND LITERACY WORK. ASSESSMENT TESTS DETERMINE PROGRAMS THAT BEST FIT THEIR NEEDS AND GOALS. THEIR INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE OF SUCCESS IS CRUCIAL THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF THIS PORTION OF OUR PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 May 1966.

    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.