THE FOLLOWING THREE GUIDING PRINCIPLES ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL OF THE SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY'S ACTIVITIES: INSPIRING AN AWE FOR NATURE AND A THIRST FOR DISCOVERY; PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY; AND CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THESE PRINCIPLES WE STRIVE TO FOSTER A COMMUNITY THAT EXPLORES, UNDERSTANDS, AND PROTECTS THE NATURAL WORLD.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 8 reported individuals · Filing year 2024
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California.
- Base
- $240k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $13k
- Base
- $166k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $9k
- Base
- $146k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $6k
- Base
- $141k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $9k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President & CEO Above 90th percentile | $240k | — | — | $13k | $260k $277k |
Director of Development Median to 75th percentile | $166k | — | — | $9k | $179k $191k |
Business Develop Officer Highest Compensated Employee Median to 75th percentile | $146k | — | — | $6k | $156k $166k |
Chief Operating Officer Median to 75th percentile | $141k | — | — | $9k | $154k $164k |
Director Guest Experience Highest Compensated Employee 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $133k $141k |
Director Facilities Highest Compensated Employee 10th to 25th percentile | — | — | — | — | $121k $129k |
Chief Financial Officer Median to 75th percentile | — | — | — | — | $97k $103k |
Chief Financial Officer 25th percentile to median | — | — | — | — | $61k $65k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the West region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 23 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
Based on 17,098 arts, culture & humanities organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.
Funded by
Private foundations whose Form 990-PF Part XV grants matched this organization.
Down 15%
from 2023
From $308k in 2023 to $260k in 2024.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the West region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay fell 15% from 2023 to 2024, while revenue rose 10%.
- Chief Development Officer pay rose 6% from 2023 to 2024.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 7% from 2023 to 2024.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2023 and 2024.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
What does the Chief Executive Officer of SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY received $259,987 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations in California, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY falls in the top 10%. In 2024, the highest total compensation at SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY equaled 2% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY reported $10.5M in total revenue and $11.9M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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