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Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History reported $10.5 million in revenue and $11.9 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $42.18 went to program services, $46.36 to management and general costs and $11.46 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 46.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $259,987 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 16% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $12MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $10MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 42.2% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 46.4% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.5% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.28 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 46.6% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 2.4% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 21.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $259,987 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.18% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 92.5 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 22 of 22 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseCollections & research:this program encompasses the activities of six research departments with a staff of curators and assistants. Each department is continually involved in developing and conserving extensive collections of specimens, artifacts, books and manuscripts, etc., that number over 3.5 million items, as well as making resources accessible to reseachers, either during actual visits or through web-based services. Expenses include staff salaries, collection acquisition, conservation, biodiversity and archeological research, production of publications, ecological field surveys, public…
Exhibits & visitor services:b. Exhibits and visitor services:the museum has two sites: its mission canyon campus and the sea center located on stearns wharf.gate attendance at the mission canyon campus in 2024 was 109,666. In addition, 6829 children and adults attended educational programs, 1659 came for community uses and 271 came specifically for research, for a total attendance at the mission canyon campus of 118,425+. (not counting the nature adventures campers see below)gate attendance at the sea center in 2024 was over 104,000. In addition, over 1500 children and adults attended…
Education:the museum's educational programs promote scientific literacy and instill a passion for nature and a commitment to learning. These rich educational experiences are provided to school children and community members.the museum participates in the "no child left inside" movement and a regional leader of the national children and nature network.teen programs - quasars to sea stars:the museum runs a nationally recognized program, quasars to sea stars, which offer four years of year-round education and work experiences for 17 high school students. Through mentorship, research…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $239,907 | $0 | $20,080 | $259,987 |
| DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $165,905 | $0 | $13,291 | $179,196 |
| BUSINESS DEVELOP OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $145,792 | $0 | $10,248 | $156,040 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $141,180 | $0 | $13,092 | $154,272 |
| DIRECTOR GUEST EXPERIENCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $122,986 | $0 | $9,757 | $132,743 |
| DIRECTOR FACILITIES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $111,847 | $0 | $9,379 | $121,226 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $91,760 | $0 | $5,402 | $97,162 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 38.00 hrs/week | $55,765 | $0 | $5,135 | $60,900 |
6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $418K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b22 · 22 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5178
- Volunteers Part I, line 6570
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| GRAPHICINK Marketing | $117,835 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
57 private foundations reported grants to Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History totaling $831K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History spent in 2024, $42.18 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Worcester Natural History SocietyWorcester, MA · revenue $10M · programs 70.5% · 2024
- The Epc Museum Dba LA NubeEl Paso, TX · revenue $10M · programs 78.0% · 2024
- Zachary Scott Theatre CenterAustin, TX · revenue $10M · programs 60.8% · FY2025
- Mingei InternationalSan Diego, CA · revenue $11M · programs 67.6% · FY2025
- Maryland Academy of SciencesBaltimore, MD · revenue $10M · programs 68.7% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History reported that 42.2% of its $11.9 million in expenses went to program services, 46.4% to management and general and 11.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $259,987, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History get its money?
Of $10.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 46.6% came from contributions and grants (including 2.4% from government grants) and 21.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-1643378 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523189349307982 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023 (amended), object 202601279349302080 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313199349317751 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223189349316967 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103199349328125 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013219349317206 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-1643378: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.