Santa Barbara Historical Museum

Analysis

Santa Barbara Historical Museum is a registered charity in United States, based in Santa Barbara, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in August 1947, 79 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending June 2024, Santa Barbara Historical Museum reported income of $1.6m and spending of $1.7m, spending 105% of what it took in. Across the 6 years on record, from June 2019 to June 2024, income grew from $1.1m to $1.6m (+50%), an average of +8.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2021, when income rose by 117%. Over the whole period it spent 96% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Santa Barbara Historical Museum sits at the 90th percentile: it is larger than about 90% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 84th percentile, and in the 85th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Samsat ($1.6m), Sylvia Earle Alliance Mission Blue ($1.6m) and Little Theatre on the Square Inc ($1.6m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2024, revenue came from contributions and grants 43% and program service revenue 1.1% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $123k (7.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $530k. It paid $5,915 in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $9.8m against liabilities of $116k, net assets of $9.7m. It reported 25 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.